Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-15
CLAWS ADMITS HE
WROTE ARTICLE ON
BALLINCER IN PAPER
1t Intimated WhiteWaShing of
Secretary and the interior
Department Received No
PAY and Didn't White Heads
MADE NO CRIMINAL
CHARGES, HE ADDS
(By Associated Prsss.)

took the stand prepared for a grilling
cross-examination by attorneys represent
ing the opposition.
The committee room, where the hear
ing was held, was crowded. Most Of the
spectators, as usual. were entirely women.
Attorneys Brandeis and Cotton, repre-
senting CLAWS and occupying the position
of prosecutors, were opposed TO-DAY oy
Attorneys Fortress and Rasch, represent
ing Mr.. Ballinger and others OF the IN
terror department
When CLAWS was RECALLED to the stand
Mr.. Brandeis announced there were some
corrections to be made in the record Oh
the witness testimony. Chairman Nelson
suggested these be put in later, but Mr..
Vertrees objected, saying he did not wish
in the midst of his cross-examination to
be met by the statement that II was a
mistake.
DRAWL CAUSES ERROR.
CLAWS, thereupon, proceeded to make
the corrections, most of the mistakes, 1t
appeared, having been due to his drawl
and lisp. His RS are always pro-
nounced "W," so in one place in the
record his testimony read:
There is a parchment reef" Claws
declared he said There is approximate
Iy," ETC. Many of the corrections merely
had to do with typographical errors.
Where the record read entirely coal,
| CLAWS declared he had said practically
ALL" Where he referred to Francis j.
Heney several times, the record spelled
"Heinnev"
Mr.. Vertrees began the cross-examina-
ton. He inquired first what knowledge
Mr.. CLAWS had as to the amount of coal
in Alaska
The Cunningham claims. CLAWS said,
covered but a small part of the coal
areas of Alaska-about 80 claims out of
900. Mr.. vertrees drew from him that
the Cunningham claimants were the first
of the Alaskan claimants to pay up on
their claims and that in numerical order
they were entitled to first consideration
n any Investigation.
WROTE COLLIER ARTICLE.
CLAWS said he wrote the article which
on November lS appeared in a weekly
, paper, and was entitled THE White
Washing of Ballinger; Are the Guggen-
helms In Charge OF the Department of
, the INTERIOR" but that he was not re-
! sponsible for the heading or the sub
heads explaining the paragraphs.
Did you receive anytnins for that
article?"
mot a cent"
your testimony before the committee
then makes the statement of the facts
as you understood them?''
Yes. SIR
But you have made no direct accusa-
tions?"
mo sir"
! CLAWS said he had presented the facts
to let the people draw their own infer
; ences.
ssIOid vr,, Internationally rafrain from,
making any charger"
Yves. sir
What did you think the facts
showed?"
NOT IN SAFE HANDS.
They proved to me that didn't think
the Interior department was in safe
hands"
Il do not want your conclusion, but
what definite misconduct on the part of
anyone did the facts SHOVE"
There is no charge Of criminality," re-
piled CLAWS; you have to take all the
facts together and form your own con-
clusion. You couldn't take any one fact
and form a right conclusion"
What officers did you think were not
protecting the peoples INTEREST,"
"Ballinger and bennett. And Pierce
too, rendered that decision interpreting
the act of May 30. 1905 Schwartz took
some action I could not understand"
You thought the facts established off,
cial misconduct on the part of Ballinger
and Dennett?"
YES"
Anybody else?"
NO OPINION ON OTHERS.
"Conclusively as to those two men. I
had not formed an opinion as to the
others"
Whom did you want to accuse?"
Mr.. Ballinger and Mr.. bennett"
You say Ballinger and bennett were
guilty of misconduct but you make no
charge of corruption?'
'If had thought the facts warranted
a charge of corruption 1 would have gone
to the grand jury instead of to the pres
ident."
Then you did not believe there was
any corrupt motive or conduct?'
mo"
Did you think it was error of judg-
ment their not protecting the interests of
the people?'
NO. sir, the facts were that it was in
territorial"
"Yet you say it was corrupt"
Perhaps you and don't have the same
view OF the meaning Of corrupt l think
when a man acts corruptly he acts Grim.
inally. There are no charges of criminal
ity here"
I'm the list of the names of all the
land Offices people who have been mem
toned in the case, CLAWS said he exon
Grated everyone of misconduct except Bal
linger, Pierce and bennett.
CLAWS said that any wrong done by
Schwartz had been due to thoughtlessness
or under orders of his superior. OF Pierce
he said:
NO ATTACK ON PIERCE.
II want to make a correction about Mr..
! Pierce. / think he was erroneous in his
construction of the law, and not that he
was guilty of any wilful wrongdoing."
Then you make no attack upon his Of
| fetal integrity"
mo. sir
And this leaves us only Mr. bennett
and MIR. Ballinger under accusations of
wrongdoing?"
YES"
At this point the luncheon recess was
ordered. Representative Graham Demo-
craft declared that the attorney was cut
ting the witness off ih the middle of his
answers, as CLAWS speech was so slow
as to amount almost to a defect Mr.. Yer
dress apologized and said he had only
meant to interrupt the Witness when his
nswers were going farther than the ques-
tons warranted.