The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-08
SOME REAL LIVE
WASHINGTON GOSSIP


representatives will be Democratic by
at least Is majority" said Rep. James
T. Lloyd, of Missouri, chairman of the
national Democratic congressional com
mittee. Mr. Lloyd keeps in touch
with sentiment as perhaps no other
man in Washington, and his reputa-
ton for conservative political state
ments makes his representation one
of unusual importance.
No more political jobs for Louis H.
CLAWS. who was deposed as a special
agent of the forestry bureau following
his activity against coal and timber
land thieves. He has acquired a small
orchard at White Salmon, Wash, and
intends to engage in the fruit business
permanently.
Republicans are GobbIers.
Although the investigation of the
Ballinger-Pinchot controversy has
| hardly begun, three prominent Repub-
| lican members of congress have been
| already revealed as being secretly lin
the race to gobble up valuable govern
ment lands.
The three men whose names have
been thrown upon the screen for fur
ther investigation are United States
Senator w. B. Hepburn of Idaho, and
Representatives James McLachlan Of
California, and NJ. P, Kinkaid of Ne
braska.
| A profound sensation was caused by
the manner in which the attention of
the committee was drawn to the con-
nection of Senator Hepburn, of Idaho,
with the fraudulent Cunningham
claims, and the manifest participation
of this senator in the attempt to work
| through these claims, in violation of
general law and the special statute for
bidding a member Of congress to in
terest himself in claims against the
government.
Hepburn, according to the diary Of
| Clarence Cunningham, agent of the
coal grabbing syndicate, was to receive
one claim of $50 acres, which Gun
bingham was to carry for him. In re-
turn, he was to use his influence to
push the claims to a settlement.
The printed record shows that two
years later Hepburn wrote to Cunning
ham declaring that he would have
nothing to do with the claim; but this
was after he had been for two years a
member of the senate, and after pro-
ceedings had been started against the
late Senator Mitchell OF Oregon, Tor
participation in land frauds in that
state. The case against Hepburn
looks even worse than the case against
Ballinger.
Attorney Brandeis, representing
CLAWS, offered in evidence the journal
of Clarence Cunningham, OF Wallace,
/ Idaho, (Senator Heyburn's home town.
which contained this teH-tale entry:
Have agreed with w. B. Hepburn,
IN consideration for his services as at
torney, to carry him for one claim of
100 acres in the coal, free of cost to
him, and he agrees to do all our legal
work in procuring titles, etc.
.McLachlan's name was drawn into
publicity by CLAWS being asked by
Senator Nelson what errand had
brought him to Washington on a Ger.
tain occasion.
I came to interview a congressman
who had claim in the Green group,
replied CLAWS.
WHO was that congressman" ask
ed Rep. Madison, one of the investigat.
ing committee.
Mr.. McLachlan Of California"
Did you see him or get an affidavit
from him?"
No. replied CLAWS. MIR. BaIlinger
much of that sort of thing in the past
l wouldn't see him if l were you,' Mr.
Ballinger said.'
And you didn't see him?"
mo"
/ CLAWS further testified to having re
ceived an affidavit from Harry White
former mayor of Seattle, in which
White said that Ballinger, in addition
!, to representing people in the Cunning
ham group of coal land claimants, also
represented Congressman Kinkaid OF
Nebraska.
CLAWS told of having made an ora
report on the Alaska coal cases to Act
ing Commissioner bennett at Portland
CLAWS was surprised to hear Dennett
say that he (Dennett) did not think
: there should be any criminal prosecu
lions. bennett said he thought il
would be sufficient If the claims could
be Cancelled.
: Rep. James, one of the investigators
r appeared amazed at this piece of test
} mony.
. What criminal offense had these
: claimants committed?" asked Rep
I James.
: Conspiracy to defraud the United
5 States
5 Rep. James-"And that involved
/ perjury"
{ Yes
: Rep. James-"But bennett took the
: view that if they were kept out o.
7 the land that was sufficient"
9 Yes"
! Told What He Knew
i And that's all of my connection
officially-with these cases.
When Louis r. CLAWS thus CLOSED