Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-17
STENOCRAPHER
WHO ASSAILED
TAFT is FIRED
Continued From Page ~

clusion that jealousy between the
bureau Of the interior department, and
the forestry bureau probably explained
the attitude of the interior department
officials, but that the limitations OF
bad faith of CLAWS against Mr.. Balm
ger and the others, required that the
statement be submitted to them for
answer. Accordingly, copies Of the
statement were sent to Secretary Bal
linger, to Assistant Secretary Pierce,
to Commissioner bennett and to Chief
Of the Field Serv:,e Schwartz.
Mr.. Ballinger was at Seattle, but
upon receipt Of the charges, he came
to Washington to prepare his answer.
On Monday, Sept. 6, Mr. Ballinger
reached Beverly, accompanied by Mr..
Lawler, the assistant attorney general
Of the department of Justice, assigned
to the interior department. Mr.. Bal
linger sent to my house on that day,
the answers Of the various persons
concerned, together with volumln-
Gus record Of exhibits. I had con-
ference with him, the evening of the
day he came, Sept. 6 and then on the
! following evening, Sept. 7.
| Read Until 8 A. M.
+ talked over the charges with Mr..
Ballinger the first evening and asked
such questions as suggested them
selves, without intimating any conclu-
sion, and said I would examine the an
swers and the record; and would see
him the next day. I sat up until
o'clock that night, reading the answers
and exhibits; so that at my next con-
ference, I was advised Of the contents
of the entire record, and had made up
my mind that there was nothing IN the
charges upon which Mr.. Ballinger or
the others accused. could be found
guilty of either Incompetence, 1neffi-
cheney, disloyalty to the interests OF
the government, or dishonesty.
In the discussion Of the second even
ing, Mr.. Lawler, who was present al
my suggestion, discussed the evidence
at same length. I said to~Mr LAWYER
that I was very anxious to write full
statement Of the case and set out the
reasons for my decision, but that the
time for my departure on long west
ern trip, occupying two months, was
lust one week from that day; that !
had six or seven speeches to deliver at
the beginning of that journey, and that
could not give the time to the prepa-
ration of such detailed statement
and the opinions I would like to render
in the matter. I therefore requested
Mr.. Lawler to prepare an opinion as II
he were president.
During the eight, ninth and tenth,
gave such consideration to the CLAWS
record as was consistent with previous
engagements, but paid no attention tc
the speeches. On the ninth, l tele'
graphed the attorney egenarl to come tt
Beverly in oder that I might consul.
him in respect to the case. He arrived
there Saturday afternoon, Sept IL
and pursuant to an appointment mace
by telephone. he came to my home or
Sunday morning, Sept. IL. He ther
delivered to me the draft Of the opin'
ion prepared by Mr.. Lawler, and sale
that he had had an opportunity or
coming from New York to read the
I then said to him that had made uI
my mind as to my conclusions, ant
had drafted part Of my opinion, bu
that I wished him to examine the fu]
: record and bring me his conclusion
before I stated mine. He took tn
whole record away.
Used Only Few Paragraphs.
| During the day, I examined tn
! draft opinion of Mr.. Lawler, but 1T
thirty pages did not state the case II
the way in which I wished 1t stated
, 1t contained references to the ev1denc
which were useful, but its criticism
| Mr.. Pinchot and Mr.. CLAWS I did no
think it proper or wise to adopt: onl
, used a few paragraphs from 1t con
:, tanning merely general statements.
; The attorney general returned IN tn
evening with notes Of the examination
, which he had made and reported to m
5 the conclusions which he had reached
> which were in substantial accord wit
with my own. We then discussed tn
matter at some length, particular
some points of law which were IN
volved, and took up the opinion whic
:, had finished and made number Q
alterations; and as q result Of tina
a discussion. I determined the final forr
. which I employed and signed the sam
:. on Monday, Sept ID.
The conclusions which I reache
q were based upon my reading of tn
t record, and were fortified by the ore
e ANALYSIS Of the evidence and the con
= illusions which the attorney genera
, gave me, using the notes which he ha
= made during his reading Of the recort
y was very sorry not to be able to EN-
{ body this analysis in my opinion bl
9 time did not permit. therefore direct
$ ed him to embody in written state
= ment such analysis and conclusions a
I he had given me, file it with tt
record and date it prior to the date {
: nv opinion SO as - show that m
I -a.1~s-ie.,- ,,ta- fanti6aa hu his surnnaar