Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-03
BALLINGER TO
HIRE ATTORNEY
SECRETARY ANXIOUS TO CON-
FUSE CLAWS
Senator Nelson Realizes Seriousness
of Situation, and Lawyer Will
Be Engaged to Direct Cross
Examination
[special to The Herald.l

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-Realizing
that the serious charges preferred by
the deposed forestry field chief, Louis
r. CLAWS, whose straightforward eX-
pose of the inner workings of the de-
partment of the interior even Senator
Nelson and equally able inquisitors on
the congressional investigation commit
tee were unable to weaken, have placed
both Secretary Ballinger and his vol
irtarr' sponsor, President Taft, in the
limelight of unfaVorable popular crltl-
cism, Secretary Ballinger was told by
Senator Nelson and his allies to engage
an attorney to defend him. Ballinger
at once complied.
Ballinger had hoped, it is said by his
friends, to prove his innocence without
the aid of a legal representative at the
hearing, but the ability of Senator Mel
son, although constantly brought to
bear sarcasticaly and otherwise in fa-
Vor of the secretary, has proved un-
availing, and Nelson by his advice to
Ballinger has practically admitted that
CLAWS has presented a series of start
ling accusations invulnerable to the
congressional inquisitors, and necessi-
tating the presence of a shrewd attor-
ney, whose cross-fire and sweat-boX
methods, it is hoped, will confuse Gla-
Wis.
Acting on the suggestion of Nelson
that 1.-The other side should be repre-
sented by an attorney who would take
on himself the task of cross-eXamining
witnesses it was announced that at the
future hearings of the committee H. H.
Schwartz, chief of the field service;
Fred bennett, commissioner of the land
office, or Secretary Balinger-and prob
ably all three-Would retain attorneys.
Proceedings Feeble
At the close of the investigating COM
mittee's session Monday afternoon Sem
ator Nelson said the cross examination
of Louis r. CLAWS had proceeded
"feebly," because of the lack of counsel.
AS a matter of fact the cross-eXamin-
alton consisted largely. of questions
asked by members of the committee
and designed to accentuate the political
phases of the testimony CLAWS had pre-
viously given.
CLAWS and those interested with him
are represented before the committee
by three lawyers who have spent some
weeks preparing for the hearing, and
who know the history of the case by
heart.
Few members of the investigating
committee have shown any familiarity
with the records whatever, and Senator
Nelson himself referred to the situation
as unfortunate"
The matter, it was said, was called to
the attention of Attorney General
Wickersham to see if some representa-
tive of the department of justice might
not act as counsel for the government
departments under investigation 1t
was pointed out that the only way the
committee could get at the tacts was
to have the case presented in orderly
fashion from both sides, and that it
was unfair to the committee to place on
them the entire burden of cross-exam-
ination to test the credibility of the
witness.
Wckersham Active
The attorney general took the matter
up with several members of the cabinet
yesterday.
The result of the cabinet conference
was to recommend that some one
should be represented by counsel and
either Mr.. Schwartz or Mr. bennett, 4
Continued Page IwO.