Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-31
FINAL WORD SAID
BY ATTORNEYS IN
BALL|NGER CASE
With a Blaze of Fireworks the
Congressional Investigation
Came to an End Saturday
Afternoon in Washington

WASHINGTON, May 2s.-The Balm
ger-Pinchot investigation ended today in
a blaze of verbal fireworks. The oratori-
cal efforts closed the open hearings and
the attorneys who have been engaged
in the case now will prepare briefs for
submission to the committee. which will
meet June IL to receive them.
when 1 came into this case, stran-
ger to Mr.. ,Ballinger," exclaimed Attor-
new Vertrees, in closing his address,
these were my Instructions: so far as
1 am concerned there is no bottom to
this, said Mr.. Ballinger, as to my sub
ordinates 1t is not a matter of knowledge,
but IL believe those about me are honest,
but whether they are or not, let this
investigation proceed in every direction in
which it may Whatever your report
may be 1 realized fully that you cannot
save him from the injury that has been
done, but at the same time 1 know the
report must be in accordance with the
evidence and the facts in this case and
that his official career is without spot or
STAIN"
VERTREES CORRUPTED?
'I am afraid Mr.. Vertrees has been
corrupted since he came here from the
southwest" was Attorney Peppers part
ing shot in defense Of Mr.. Pinchot. I'm
sophisticated as he was, he came in con-
tact with a spirit of suspicion and 1 think
he scented a conspiracy where there was
none. What there was was a series Of
successive blows dealt by Mr.. Ballinger
against interests which were vital TO
group Of men who had dedicated their
lives to a cause. l share the RESPONSE
bility of showing that the conception OF
a man of great capacity and Independent
resources, devoting himself to the IN
terests of the people with no hope Oh re-
ward and no hope of ambition, Is as lar
beyond the ken of some people when
they come into his presence that appre-
citation is impossible and unintentional
detraction is inevitable"
'BRANDEIS LAST WORD.
Claws attorney, Mr.. Brandeis had the
last word.
"Here was a man disgraced, condemn
ed not only without hearing, without see
ing the hundreds and hundreds or pages
of evidence which was collected by AS
s,stant Attorney Lawler. but without
knowledge that there was charge
against him. Why, why, was ne sacrl-
ficed? 1t rests deep in the conception
which actuated Mr.. Ballinger and the
man who stood with him, and II Is the
convention of a class OF privilege that
men high in exalted station must DC
protected at all costs, but a man merely
ON humble servant of the government,
had no rights If for the protection OF
Rallinger 1t is necessary to condemn IN
nocent men. He is nothing but an ln1e-
rior official. .r
In Mr.. Brandois' closing speech refer
once was made to Vertrees statement
tbat~Rallinger's administration was one
of law and not of men,.
"OF LAWYERS, NOT MEN.
"Rather of lawyers and not OF men,
suggested Brandeis. lawyers VINO nave
been ever ready to resort to loose con-
struction of the law when private inter-
ests were threatened and a strict con-
struction of It when the public's interests
was involved"
Rrandeis said II Ballinger, as secretary
had left to his subordinates, which he
said he did not believe, the handling
of the Cunningham cases. he was I'M
faithful to his public trust. Replying to
Vertrees' inquiry as to why he had not
cross-examined Schwartz, 1.-The man who
handled the cases." Brandeis said be-
cause he had already had an opportun-
ity to question the man who was re-
Gponsible.
He made a scathing attack upon Mr..
RaIlinger's alleged evasiveness and ina
bility to remember on the witness stand
and unfavorably compared him as a
Atness to CLAWS, whom he termed the
Pest witness you ever had before you"
u He paid a high tribute to the Pinchot