The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-09-14
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE
BALLINGER INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE ARE MAD.
LAST REPORT A TRAVESTy
Senators Nelson, Sutherland and Root
and congr esamen Mccall, olmstead
and Denby Meet in Chicago and
Roast Action Already Taken Against
Secretary Of the interior.

Chicago. Sept. l3.--Six republican
members OF the Baliingcr investigating
committee met here today and issued
IA statement condcnning the action of
The Tour democratic members and one
republican insurgcnt, who delivered a
report ut Minneapolis last Wednesday.
dcn,andinG' the retirement Of Secretary
Ballingcr. Those present today were
Senators, Nelson. Sutherland and Root
aud Congressman Mccall. OImstcad
i,nd Denly. They declared the action
of what they termed tile minority"
at Minneapolis to have been accord
Ing To the worst methods Of ward
politics"
Evidence Discussed.
Tho evidence Iii the isailingcr case
was discussed, but In the absence Of Il
uuorum no action In the case itself was
possible. II was reported that Senator
Nelson had authority to act for Sen
ator Flint, who Is a member of the
committee, but who IL IN Europe. This
could not be confirmed. but In any
event no attempt was made to use the
alleged proxy. Adjournment was taken
subject to the call Of the chairman,
Senator Nelson.
AS the minority declined to attend
today's conference and took their adj
.journment at Minneapolis rntil the
next meeting Of congress. II Is probable
that Senator Nelson will not call am
other meeting until the return of Sen
ator Flint. who. as the seventh mem
kfr would make a Quorum
Following is the statement issued:
Committee Hearings.
'"rhc hearings OF the committee after
proceeding for months were ended In
the closing days of the last session of
congress. There was no opportunity
and no attempt upon the part of any
body to have the committee meet for
purposes or consultation upon the evil
dence or to report its findings to con-
Gress prior to the adjournment of the
session. Under the circumstances. that
course was manifestly impossible.
"The committee is the creature of Il
special act Of congress. which fixed
tho number of its members at Il. six
senators appointed by the vice presi-
dent and six representatives elected by
the house. The act carefully defined
the powers and Jurisdiction of the COM
mntcc and contained mandate that
II should report Its findings and con-
,clnsions to this congress.
Membership Scattered.
''rlIc day of the meeting found the
membership widely scattered. and only
seven of the II members present.
Three other members were detained by
brief but peremptory engagements.
Senator Flint was In Europe and Sen
;itor Root on the sea returning from
arguing Il case for the government
before The Hague tribunal
Upon renssembling two days later
eight gentlemen were present and two
more were reported on the way. The
eighth member to appear happened To
be democrat. and the members Of
iilat party found themselves in tempo.
rary control. and promptly proceeded
10 turn the circumstances To what
seemed to them d party advantage In
advance of any consultation whatever
upon the evidence. which never had
been weighed and discussed In COM
mittcc, they demanded tho passage Of
resolutions of the most sweeping char
actor formally finding Secretary
Ballineer guilty not merely OF charges
That had been made, but Ct charges
that had only been implied and OF
things which never have been charged
but which persons appearing at the
herring had alleged against him.
"Other members of the committee
present protested against such pro-
cecdings, which would dispose of the
case in the absence of four of the IL
members. making II possible for q
minority of the committee to find the
committee verdict, and this, too. with
out any consultation or discussion
Partisan End.
But the partisan political end to
be gained by the democratic minority
became all the more urgent In propor-
tion as the railway trains bearing
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