Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-05-20
TAFT'S 'WH|TEWASH'
Of BALL|NGER
PRoBERS GET TAFT LETTER
EXPLAINING ENUMERATION
OF INTERIOR CHIEF.
CLAIM ATTY.-GEN. WROTE 1T

Original Memorandum 10 Sought
Frederick kerby, ousted Steno-
Qrapher, Is Put on Witness
Stand.
| Washington, May 13.-President
Taft's explanation of the circum-
stances under which his letter exon
Grating Secretary Ballinger from the
CLAWS charges and dismissing L. r.
CLAWS from the service was presented
by Chairman Nelson to the Ballinger-
Pinchot investigating committee.
Attorney Brandeis, counsel for
CLAWS, has laid great emphasis upon
the presidents letter of exoneration
and dismissal, contending that the
memorandum upon which it was based
was prepared in Secretary Ballinger's
department by Assistant Attorney
General Lawler. The president in
letter which he addressed to Senator
Nelson last Sunday says he had the
Lawler memorandum before him when
he prepared his communication, but
that he also had notes and memoranda
given him by the attorney general,
who had agreed with the president in
| the conclusion he had reached in the
matter.
After Original Memorandum.
While Commissioner bennett of the
general land office was under cross
examination last Saturday Attorney
BrandeiS indicated that he intended
to raise the question why the Lawler
memorandum had not been furnished
| together with the other papers on the
case which the president has sent to
the committee. A carbon copy of the
Lawler memorandum was furnished
the committee by Attorney General
Wickersham coincident with the publ
cation of the statement of Frederick
M. Kerby, the stenographer in Balm
gers Office, that he had assisted Law
Ter in preparing the document and
that it was similar in many respects
to the presidents letter. Attorney
General Wickersham sent an explana-
tory letter to the effect that the docu-
ment had been overlooked in previous
searches of the department files. 1t
is expected that Attorney Brandeis
will endeavor to locate the original
memorandum.
Frederick NJ. Kerby, the discharged
stenographer of the interior depart
ment, took the witness stand when
bennett finished his testimony.
kerby Calm and Confident.
Taking up the subject of Kerby's
statement Vertrees asked him if he
information.
Il have never considered it neces-
sary BEFORE" was the reply. Kerby
said this was the only instance he
could recall in which he had done so.
Kerby said he was friend to Secre-
tary Garfield and that he had exchang-
ed one or two letters with the latter
since he left the governments service.
He said neither of these letters related
to the matter which he has since made
public but that subsequently he had
conversation with Garfield at which he
first mentioned the matter to Hugh A.
Brown, formerly private secretary to
Garfield. He said he had met Brown
in his Office and the latter had asked
him what knew about the presidents
letter generating Secretary Ballinger.
'T told him / knew considerable
about it, said the witness, "as we
practically wrote it in the secetary's
office"
Kerby said he went to Pinchot's
home one night when he learned Gar
field was there and he changed to find
Pinchot and Brandeis there also. He
said Garfield appeared surprised to see
him.
After Kerby had told Garfield his
story Garfield told him he did not want
him to endanger his position and would
not have him called as witness I'M
less it was necessary.
He Had Seen CLAWS Go.
DENLY: "Why did you assume that
giving testimony would necessitate
your dismissal?''
Kerby: Il knew what happened to
Claws
The witness added that he had not
entered into an analysis of the tmpor-
lance of the matter. He said he be-
lieved, as had proved to be the case,
that the matter would create a sensa-
ton, and that Mr.. Ballinger would
not care to retain him if he made
communication of that character.
Chillicothe, O., May 18.-Six years