The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-14

wrote everything triple spaced on the
typewriters and they were repeatedly
corrected and rewritten.
For two days Massey and | did
nothing but help rush this work. We
dropped the routine office business al
together and a stenographer was
called In from the stenographic sec
ton to handle our regular work.
Lawler frequently consulted f. G.
Finney. assistant to Ballinger, in the
work of making the drafts.
"On the afternoon of the second
day consultation was held between
Ballinger, Lawler, Finney, Commits
sioner Fred bennett, of the land Of
fee; Chief of the Field Service
Schwartz, and think, First Assistant
Secretary Frank Pierce, and Private
Secretary Carr"
General Criticisms Invited.
The draft was discussed in detail
and II Is my memory that Ballinger
himself read the letter or draft aloud
and general criticisms from the others
were invited and received
Without attempting to force my
own conclusions upon any reader OF
this statement, I want 1t to be re-
membered that this was the draft of
the letter generating Ballinger In the
charges CLAWS has made against him.
The rest of the afternoon, Satur-
day, Sept. IL, was spent In this CON
ference. Massey and | wore contin-
ually In and out of the room, taking
short dictations upon the suggestions
of different ones in the conference.
THE conference cut the draft to
pieces with criticisms and suggestions,
and the whole thing was revamped. BY
night we were ready to make the final
draft that was to be submitted to the
president at Beverly. We all returned
in the evening, Lawler prepared to
take his train that night. Lawler still
kept his quarters in Ballingeris prl.
vate Office. From the draft mutilated
by the conference we prepared the
final copy.
"Mr. Lawler came out into our room
and asked IL the drafts were ready. He
remained in the room while Massey
finished the fastening-at least, I'm
pretty sure of that. Massey then
asked him what disposition should be
made of the rough drafts. Massey had
carefully preserved all these. He told
Lawler that nothing had been de-
stroyed.
Mr.. Carr came into the room about
this time. The four of us---Lawler.
Carr, Massey and myself-conferred as
to what should be done with the rough
drafts-what was the best way to dis
pose Of them. The suggestion was
made by some one Of us that they be
burned. Lawler said that IL wouldn't
be safe to trust them to the waste
basket. Then, | think II was Carr who
declared that they ought to be burned
This was done.
The general arrangement OF facts
and the order in which they come In
the presidents letter are practically
identical with the arrangement of facts
in the final Lawler draft, or so-called
memorandum,
Now, II is my belief that Taft him,
self added the latter part OF his letter
OF Sept. 10. the section that takes up
the matter OF general conservation OF
natural resources. The people will re,
member that the president had consid
cradle to say on this subject at the
conclusion OF the so-called whitewash
! ing letter of Sept. 13. Lawler closed
his final draft with this thought, not
necessarily in these words: And
authorize you to dismiss from the gov
eminent service Louis r. CLAWS.