New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-20

witness Shows Anti-BaIIinger
Campaign Began at ex-SeC-
retary'S Home.
CLIFFORD PINCHOT THERE
injector Newell Told Him He
Meant to Make Ballinger
the Goat" LAWYER Cross
Examined.
Examined.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]


pnchot and James r. Garfield deter
mined at West Mentor. Ohio. the home
Of the latter, to make q campaign
against Secretary Ballinger as early as
LILY IS 1909, and that on October % Of
that year T. H Newell, director of the
Reclamation Service. asserted his deter
minarion TO make BaIlinger the goat,
was brought out at the Ballinger-
pinchot hearing this afternoon by the
testimony of Z. T. Perkins, Of the
Reclamation Service.
Mr. Perkins, although an unwilling
witness, supplied the connecting links in
:he story Of the formation of the con-
. spiracy TO force the retirement of Sec
rotary BaIIinger from the public service.
n was wholly unexpected, and came
from witness who had every appear
snce Of knowing more than he cared to
tell Mr.. Perkins is in charge OF the
Chicago office OF the Reclamation Ser
vice. and his relations with James r
Garfield. Clifford Pinchot and Director
Newell We're intimate up TO November
Of last year
Mr Perkins told the committee Of an
interview with Director Newell at Chi
eago on October %, 1909. AT that time
they discussed the so-caIled black tent
lectures Of the Reclamation Service.
These were illustrated lectures given at
county fairs and other places in ex-
planation of the work of reclamation.
were conducted without cost TO the gov
eminent, and were intended TO direct the
attention Of prospective settlers TO the
advantages of taking up homes near the
irrigation projects Of the government
They derived their name from the fact
that they We're given in a tent which
was necessarily black in order that the
ftereopticon pictures might show to the
best advantage. When it became known
that railroads interested in the settle
ment Of the Western states were paying
the cost Of these lectures they We're or
dered discontinued by Secretary Bal
linger Mr. Perkins had told the com
nittee that these lectures were begun
without the knowledge of Mr. Ballinger
and that they had the approval Of
Director Newell
Referring TO the interview Of October
- Mr. Perkins said that he and Dr. |
SECTOR Newell discussed the black tent |
lectures and the criticisms which had |
been made Of the service on account Of |
those lectures He said he told Mr. |
Newell that Secretary BalIirger had 1
never authorized the lectures and that /
Fl was not right for Mr. Newell to try |
70 make it appear in his letters that the |
Secretary was responsible.
Would Make saliinger the Goat
You should not try to vindicate Bal /
hnger in the black tent matter" said /
Newell. according TO Perkins's testimony, |
4 want to make BalIinger the goat"
You can't do it" replied Perkins; /
hes too big man
Never mind" replied Newell i am /
gong TO do IT, anyhow"
What did You next hear from Mr.
Newell asked Judge Nertrees
The next thing was that a report had
been made against me calling for my
dismissal" said Mr.. Perkins. l.
II appears that Mr.. Perkins was
member Of the ''irrer circle until ne
told Newell that Secretary BalIinger was
When Mr.. Perkins visited Washington it
vas the custom Of Mr.. Newell TO enter
tain him AZ his home at dinner the
night OF his arrival and Chief Engineer
Davis took him 20 his home for dinner
the next night Mr. Perkins said he re
sarded NJ. Newell rs one OF his best
friends and vas anxious that he should
- retained al the head of the Reclama-
uon Service. IN common with others he
hsard the various reports that Secretary
ssilinger intended to get another man
lef this place, and every time he saw
Ar Newell after March /, 1909 the sub
Jet vas discussed.
On June II, 1909, Mr. Newell wrote a
personal letter TO g J. Blanchard, sta
ns'ician OF the Reclamation Service, ask
ing thai q hot campaign" be kept w in
tposition 70 any change in the head Of
~s Service. This letter. which was
erEed confidential" was sent 10 Mr..
Ens by Nr Blanchard with a view to
'3slng aim urge his friends in Chicago
Elsewhere 10 bring pressure to bear
seretary Ballinger in the interest OF
ar Newell
ne letter. which was offered in evi-
ee contained references to &c. P"
ms suggestion that the time was
ps Tor energetic action 20 save MI
Jewell The witness identified &c. Z"
Hhord Pinchot. He also read letters
'eiegrams received by him from MI
hieho; inviting him 10 meet him at the
1hio
Meeting at GsrHeId's Home.
ar Perkins went to Mentor on July 49,
:. where ne had q conference with
a. Garfield. Mr.. Pinchot and Thomas r
mp secretary Of the National Conser-
no. association. He said the purpose
conference was to devise ways
!, means 20 procure the retention OF
Newell AT the head Of the Reciama-
service Following this conference
Perkins had many Of his influential
'os Trite letters indorsing Mr.
Di'nd telegram and 4 letter subse-
10y written by Mr.. Shipp 10 Mr.
Hihs' saying in effect that Mr.. Newell
USED to do what Mr.. Pinchot wanted
% %. were then offered i'm evidence
N1rfvr