Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-05-20
DISMISSED STENOGRAPHER is
CALLED BEFORE INVESTIGAT-
ING COMMITTEE.
TAFT'S LETTER IN RECORD
Chairman Nelson Presents Presidents
Explanation of Statement Elk
ating Secretary.
BRANDEIS WANTS "oTHER SIDE"

WASHINGTON D. G. May 17.-Pres
ident Taft's explanation of the circum-
stances under which his letter, exonerat-
ing Secretary BalIinger from the CLAWS
charges and dismissing L. r. CLAWS,
was prepared, was presented by Chair
man Nelson 20 the Ballinger-Pinchot in
vestigating committee when the hearing
was resumed today. 1t will be printed
as part of the record of the committee.
Frederick M. Kerby, formerly ste
nographer in Mr.. Ballinger's office, who
was dismissed Monday, on the ground
that he divulged confidential infor-
nation bearing ON the preparation
Of the Lawler memorandum, was
called to the stand soon after
the hearing began. After Chairman
Nelson had laid the Presidents letter to
him before the committee, Mr. Bran
deis said he thought Mr.. Kerby's state
ment and the Presidents denial of last
Saturday should go into the record with
it. Mr.. Nelson said that no statement of
Kerby was before the committee, where
upon Mr.. Brandeis said Mr.. Kerby was
present and was willing to testify.
kerby said he went to Mr.. Pinchots
home one night when he learned Garfield
was there, and he CHANGED to find Mr..
Pinchot and Brandeis there also. He
said Garfield appeared surprised to see
him.
After Kerby had told Garfield his
story the latter told him he did not want
to endanger his position and would not
have him called as a witness unless 1t
was necessary.
Mr.. DENLY: why did you assume
that giving testimony would necessltate
your dismissalY'
Mr.. Kerby: Il knew what happened to
CLAWS"
Mr.. Kerby said he gave his statement
to Robert w Wilson, a Cleveland news
paperman, who had been introduced to
him a week ago Sunday night by his
newspaper friends.
Friendly Toward Ballinger.
| KERRY said his feelings toward Balm
ger personally were friendly; that the
latter had always treated him like a son.
Mr.. DENLY: Ibid anybody suggest to
/, you that Improperly Of your remaining
with man who had treated you as a
son, after you had made public some Of
his confidential informatjOn?'
Mo-
Kerby insisted that he did not consid-
or there was any improperly in what he
did.
KERRY at great length detailed the cir
cumstances which led him to make pub
lie his statement. He told of visits to
him by various newspapermen. He said
he had many conferences with them Re-
ferring to his understanding that if he
lost his position he would be provided
with another, he said:
"Otherwlse l could not have done what
l did"
''Then it was agreed said Mr.. Yer
trees, before you made your statement
that if you would make it, you would be
taken care OFF,
mot because | made the statement,
but because / would be fred replied
Kerby.
Later Wilson and Arnold, he said,
brought Colver and Hickey, two other
newspaper men, to talk the matter over
with his wife. He told them it would
not be proper to make the statement
they suggested and they appeared to be
satisfied with that decision on his part.
Mr.. CoIver told him he had come
from Cleveland for story and instead
had found a man..
Anytime l wanted to get out of the
interior department" the witness said,
''he would see that | was taken care Of.
He said they were constantly on the
lookout for young men whom they could
use and he would be ready to offer me d
position at anytime.
Denies Ballinger Statements.
'"The next day | read the testimony of
Secretary Ballinger in which he denied
any knowledge of the LAWYER memoran-
dunn and he made statements which | did
not believe to be true. The committee
apparently wanted none Of that testi-
mony and the matter was closed. In my
opinion. therefore, | could not be called
as a witness to rebut testimony that was
not admitted on direct examination. Mr..
Lawer had also made the statement that
no copies of that memoranda had been
retained. That was not true for in fact
four copies of the memoranda were
made.
mir. Brandeis told me-" he continued,
"that he believed the action of the com
mittee cut me off from showing what
the facts were. l came to the conclu-
sion that the only thing for me to do
was to make the facts public. Mr. Bal
linger had said all the facts should be
made public and [ determined to give
the story to the newspapers"
KERRY declined to agree with Senator
Sutherland that he was a cautious patri-
OF in making sure OF new job before
he risked losing his old one.
Senator Root Is Bitter.
Senator Root was particularly bitter
in his questions to the witness.
"Do you think it was reputable
transaction?' he demanded, Ito go to
persons unfriendly to your superior with
confidential information of his depart
ment?"
II did under the circum tances," re-
oiied Kerby 1.-The country had the right
10 any facts my superior had before
him"
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