Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-01
Witnesses Will Not Repeat
Conversations With Him.
PINCH0T YIELDS POINT
Inquiry Into Controversy With Bal.
linger Resumed.
FORMER FORESTER ON STAND
Points Out What He Claims Were
Misrepresentation by the Sec
retary of the Interior.

At brief executive session Of the
Ballinger-Pinchot inquiry committee this
morning In the Senate Office building II
was announced that counsel for Clifford
Pinchot would not press for A ruling on
the point as to whether or no witnesses
should be allowed to testify as to con-
servations with the President. The mat
ter. thereupon was dropped.
When the committee met this morning
there was pending the question as to
whether or not Mr.. Pinchot, the witness
on the stand, should be allowed to give
his version of conversations with Pres
ident Taft. The matter came up Satur-
day afternoon soon after Mr.. Pinchot had
read the preliminary statement to the
committee IN which he made sensa tional
charges against Secretary Ballinger.
Objection of Vertrees.
Mr.. Fertrees, counsel for the Secre-
tary of the Interior. interposed the oh
lection. or the suggestion. as he pre-
ferred to call il. that a ruling should
be made as to whether or not Mr.. Pin
chot. and probably other witnesses.
should be allowed to repeat conversa-
tions with the chief executive. Mr..
Vertrees said there was not the slight
est objection to the introduction in evil
dence of letters written to or by the
President. but he contended that if the
committee permitted witnesses to give
their version of conversations at the
White House it would put the President
in the embarrassing attitude of either
remaining silent or appearing before
the committee as witness. The latter
he deemed to be most undesirable
Affnrnar
senting Mr.. Pinchot. agreed that the
summoning of the President would be
undesirable. but he declared the con-
versations were necessary as the foun-
dation for further testimony, and he
pressed for ruling by the committee
subsequently he announced that he
would not press for a ruling.
Since Saturday there had been much
dent Taft would be called. but It is said
it had not been seriously considered by
the committee.
Pinchot Resumes Testimony.
There was no Indication this morning
as to how much longer Mr.. Pinchot would
remain on the stand. He will be put
through a thorough examination. When
he leaves the witness chair Mr.. Pinchot
will be succeeded by witnesses called by
him TO substantiate the specific charges
lie Has HldUe against I00 secretary OF
the Interior Among these, it was an
nounced. would be officers of the govern
ment In the reclamation service
When the public session was begun At
torney Pepper began to question Mr..
Pinchot as to the sequence of events fol-
lowing July ]. 1909. when the former
forester said he first heard Of the Cum
ningham claims through forest officials
In the west. When he heard what his
subordinates in Washington had done at
~ tnnkfno Yn
ment of the hearings of the Cunningham
claims he approved thoroughly.
Asked IL there was anything unusual in
the interference of the forest service. Mr..
Pinchot read letter signed by President
Roosevelt May IL, 1905 directing the Sec
retary of the Interior TO cooperate with
the forestry service Is TO lands In forest
reserves and to accept the services fnd-
ines as far as possible.
The witness next told of his interview
with CLAWS at Spokane, Wash, August
y. 1909 The meeting was not by ap-
pointment and Mr.. Pinchot said he DOS
sibly had met CLAWS once before: he was
not sure CLAWS laid all his evidence be-
fore him. Mr.. Pinchot said. and spoke OF
publishing the whole story.
Told CLAWS to Go to Taft.
Il was deeply impressed by what CLAWS
said and urged him to go to the Presi-
dent did this because / thought scan
dal would arise. as 1t since has arisen
and l thought the President ought to
have an opportunity to protect himself
and his administration.
Mr. Pfnchot read in evidence the letter
of Introduction he gave CLAWS to the
President. In this letter he said he had
known CLAWS for several years.
The witness explained again that he
thought he had met CLAWS once before
at any rate, he said. he had known OF
him for several years.
AS to Law Officer Shaw going to Chi
cago to assist CLAWS In the preparation
OF his statement to the President Mr.
F1nchot said the impression had gone
forth that Shaw had assisted CLAWS In
preparing an article published in q week
ly paper This was not true. the witness
declared. for such an article could no,
have been in contemplation when Shaw
was with CLAWS.
After being In Spokane Mr. Pincho,
said he went for a vacation off the south.
ern coast OF California with Senator
Flint.
Letter From the President.
The witness here read into the evidence
the full text of a letter written to him
by President Taft from Beverly, Septem-
Der 13, 1909. at the same time he wrote
TO Secretary Ballinger generating him
from the CLAWS charges. In this letter
lIt ITcSiueHt expressed renewed C~uf1-
dence In Mr.. Pinchot. but urged him not
TO make CLAWS cause his own. He re-
ferred TO CLAWS as disingenuous and as
man who had let one idea run away
with his Judgment The President ex-
pressed regret that Mr.. Pinchot did not
share his confidence and trust in Mr.. Bal
linger.
Mr.. Pinchot also read his reply TO the
President, dated November T. 1909, in
which he renewed his criticism Of Sec
retary Ballinger.
Mr.. Pinchot said he talked with Presi
dent Taft about the Ballinger-Glavis mat
ter in Salt Lake last September
Pinchot Yields to Vertrees.
Mr.. Pepper here publicly announced tina
Mr.. Pinchot desired TO acquesce in tn,
view OF Mr.. Vertrees that conversation
with the President should not be repeat
ed. The witness declared. however, tha
he was breaking no seal of confidence
in giving out letters TO and from tn,
President.
Mr.. Pepper read a letter, writer
November s last to President Taft b,
James r. Garfield former Secretary o
the Interior. in which he, too, sharpI,
criticised Mr.. Ballinger
The claim that I acted Illegally" sal,
Continued on Thirteenth Page.)