The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-04
PlNCHOT DRAWS
LARGE AUDIENCE
Washington Society in Which He Moves Deeply
Testimony-Direct Proof That Balinger Deceived Taft
and Was Enemy of Conservation Asked
For by Balinger's Attorney

Washington. March 4-The cross.
examination OF Clifford Plnchot pro
ceeded slowly before tho congress.
slonal investigation committee today.
Mr.. Vertrces. counsel for Secretary
Ballnger. and Mr Pinchot got into
long arguments as TO the meaning OF
some of the lawyers questions They
also argued almost continuously as 10
differences to he drawn from locu.
mentary evidence.
Mr. Vertrees did draw from the
witness the fact that his only first
hand knowledge Of any act rchecting
upon Mr. Ballngcr in connection with
the Cunningham cases was based on
the letter sent by Mr., Ballinger to
President Taft on November Is.
With reference TO his claim that
Mr.. Ballinger had deceived the presi-
dent concerning decision by the
comptroller OF the treasury. Mr..
Pinchot admitted that Mr.. Ballinger's 8
written statement TO the president
was a fair one. and the documents
that he submitted were all that prop
erly bore on the case. He insisted.
however. that there was the "uDayoid'
able inference" that Mr.. Ballinger had
communicated in some other way
with the President
Mr., Vertrees also brought out that
The cooperative agreement with the
forest service, which Mr.. Ballinger
discontinued, was not the usual ar
rangement whereby one department
lends its employees temporarily to the
9th hnt I.f r,f
the interior department should he UD-
der the exclusive control and jurisdic'
tion Of the forester.
Washington. March 4.-While inter
est in the Ballinger-Pinchot investiga
tion has already been attcsted by the
large crowos at NIL the sessions Of the
committee, the crush TO get into the
hearing room since Clifford Pincbot
took the stand has been such that
even the handing OF newspaper copy
out Of the room has at times been
impossible Nincty-nine out Of the
hundred spectators crowded daily
about the committee table are women.
Louis R. CLAWS was the hero Of the
throng while he was on the stand &C.
gone into eclipse now that Mr.
Pinchot, the deposed forester and
friend OF conservation. is holding the
center OF the stage. The Pinchot
family has long been prominent In the
exclusive social circles OF the capital
and since Mr.. Pinchot took the stand
many of the leaders OF this set have
been present
Mrs. Pinchot, the mother of the for
mer forester, has been al the hear
ings almost daily. She usually is sur
rounded by half score Of friends
When the committee adjourned OF
Tuesday afternoon, the cross-eNamina
tlon OF Mr.. Pinchot and just been
started by Attorney Vertrees. repre-
senting Mr., Ballinger and the other
accused officials of the interior de
partment,
Upon the resumption OF the hear
/ ing this morning there was every In
dication that Mr.. Pinchot would be
on the stand all day,
Pinchot is Questioned.
AS soon as Mr.. Pinchot took the
stand this morning. Mr.. Vcrtrees. foi
Mr. Ballinger. asked him this ques
! tlon:
"Mr Pinchot. please state one eiu
| gle fact OF your own knowledge that
reflects upon Mr. BallinGer's conduct
either as commissioner OF the land
office or secretary OF the interior
not hearsay-not what somebody else
said or wrote-of YOUR own knowl
edge"
The witness hesitsted. Then he ad
dressed Senator Nelson
MIR Chairman. in order to answer
the question. because OF the nice dis
/ elimination IL involves, ] must asl
your permission to refer to list
/ have here of the things Mr.. Ballingel
f, has done"
The permission was granted. and
after perusal Of the list. Mr. Pinchot
! said
THE fact of my own knowledge is
Mr.. Ballinger,s letter TO the President
of November 18th. with which he en-
closed Ronald's letter These letters
contain misstatements which ! have
already shown and am prepared fur
! ther to show"
Mr. yertrees-"You have testified
here largely by inference and innuen
do. Now state what you personally
know Mr.. Ballinger said or did
Mr.. Pinchot-"The letter of Novem
bcr 10th"
What else7"
ningham cases with Mr.. Ballingcr
The only knowledge ] have at frs
hand Is limited TO writings that a7e
! rot disputed 4,
Questioned as TO the reprimand ht
| gaze Assistant Law onicer Shaw and
Assistant Forester Price Mr. Pirchot
! admitted that "at heart, he approved
wbat ,bnv Aid, but did not approve O
their method OF doins II;
He denied that either he or any o
his people owncdastochs In the Poca
hontas Coal Company
The family has, S,,snogs Sn,@e STOCK IN ;
d coal company In ILLINOIS, he added
NJ, p,nchot said that. up to the