The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1910-05-21
The Farce Is Ending

EOPLE of the United States, should be very glad that the Bal
lingerPinchot investigation is practically ended. The in
vesigation-so caled-has dragged through several months
and at an enormous expense, and the people regard it as the greatest
of the many farces that are pulled off at Washington in the name of
politics. No one has ever believed that any testimony injuring Bal
lnger would be permitted to go o. the records if the committee
could prevent it, since the committee was originally appointed, along
purely political lines, with a Republican majority. 1t has been only
the bulldog insistence of Attorney Brandes that has brought, I'M
expectedly to the committee, such damaging evidence as has been
brought into the affair.
The dating back of the letter; the
failure of the Attorney Generals office to find the Lawlor Memoran-
dunn until Kerby had dropped his bombshell into the investigation;
the refusal Of the committee to require Wickersham to produce the
data; the refusal of Ballnger to swear whether or not the letters in
question had been dated back-all these go to show a deliberate at
tempt to save the face of the administration.
All the steps in the Glavis-BalLnger matter. from the moment
the president received the CLAWS charges to the present time, seem
sent, determined and desperate efforts have been made to whiewah
Balllnger and blackwash his accusers. Even the congressional com
mlttee OF investigation shows by its every act and ruling that its ma
Jorny is determined to shield Bal[nger and give CLAWS and Pinchot
the worst of it. 1t grants all of Balinger's requests and hampers and
trammels CLAWS and Pinchots attorneys in all possible ways.
The people of the country have the right to know the exact truth
in regard to Balinger. Any attempt to shield him or hamper CLAWS
or Pinchot IS a betrayal of the public interests which the people are
entirely justified in resenting and denouncing, no matter who is re-
sponslble Tor It, No man, not even the president, is justified in with
holding from the people all the evidence in the case. The people, be-
ing the party most in interest, demand all the facts in order that they
rather than the president or a committee, evidently determined TO
apply another coat of whitewash to the accused Ballinger, may for
mulate the verdict in his case.
The disclosures already made in the Balinger case indicate dark
devious methods, deliberate attempts to falsify the record, sup
OF evidence against Balinger, a deliberate attempt to paint
ballnger white, no matter how guilty he may be, and to paint his ac
cusers black, no matter how much of right and Justice thew may have
on their side. Such a condition of affairs is not complimentary to the
president; and no explanation that he may make will satisfy the pee
PIE 'ha' ulaVls had a fair hearing before the president, or that his
'harges were given that unprejudiced hearing which was demanded
their gravity, the position of him to whom thew were made, and
he evidence already produced before the investigating committee
which the president ought to have had and weighed before he allowed
oallnger to write his own exoneration.