The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-06-14
Poor Old Bill.


The Charleston Evening Post,
commenting on the action of Fres-
ident Taft in regard to Congressman
Harrison, says Poor Old Bill seems
never to tire of blundering over the
miserable Ballinger-Pinchot affair,
AMI its ramifcations. The cause Of
Mr.. Taft's coarse manner was what
Mr. Harrison on one occasion said
about that noted case On the floor of
the House in refer:nce to a public
document that was being discussed.
"Among the documents furnished
to Congress by the President on re-
quest of the legislative department
of the government, was letter of
the Attorney General bearing the
cate of September II, 1909, review
ing the charges made by CLAWS
against Ballinger. Upon this review
it was represented by the sequence
of the file, the President had largely
based his letter of September 13, eX-
onerating Ballinger completely. 1t
subsequently developed, through
statement of the Attorney General
himself, that the letter dated Septem-
ber II had been written several
weeks. later.
"On May 13 last Representative
Harrison, speaking in the House OF
Representatives, declared that the
confession of the Attorney General
amounts to conclusion that Presi-
dent and Attorney General had
agreed to furnish to Congress mis-
leading information to supply an Of
fetal document as Of one date, which
was really weeks later" So when
Mr.. Harrison called at the White
House on official business last Thurs
day, he was informed that the Pres
ident would not see him. 1t being CIV
en- out that he had made the state
ment quoted, in the House, to the
displeasure of the President.
"The President evidently regards
the charge against his administration
as one of rare gravity. His refusal
to see the author Of it indicates his
estimate of the alleged act. If,
therefore, Mr.. Harrison's character
ization of the administrations act
was justified, the administration
stands self-condemned of the offense.
The establishment of Mr.. Harrison's S
charge should be undertaken in the
House, and we presume it Will be,
and the President may yet have to
explain just why the letter was false
ly dated by Mr.. Wickersham.
''Mr. Harrison's charge is, on its
face, established. The President
may be able 10 retire it by other evil
dence. The facts are perfectly clear.
The Attorney General has himself
stated that the Letter which he sent
to Congress bearing the date of Sep
tember II was not written until sew
eral weeks after that date, but this
statement was not made until the
integrity of the date had been ques-
toned and the letter had been dis
sected to establish the real date Of
its composition. 1t was sent to Con-
gress as a true copy of letter dated
September IL, on which date it had
not been written" In. conclusion
asks this clincher:
"If it was not sent to Congress for
the purpose of misleading and OF
supplying IAN official document as
of one date, which was really many
weeks later" then for what purpose
was it sent? That is for the Presi-
dent to explain" Poor Old Bill has
put himself in most ridiculous
position, from which he will find 1t
hard to extricate himself. In his
coarse treatment of Mr.. Harrison, he
did not only violate the Constitution
of the United States, but made a fool
of himself besides. 1t is no use for
President Taft to try and save Bal
linger. He has already been con-
victed in the public mind, and all
the white wash the partizans on
the investigating committee may put
ON him wi1l\not change the verdict.