The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-07
BAlL|NGER HAS n
y HAD HARD LUCK
Pitfalls and Shares Arranged By
HIS Lawyers Don't Seem To Work
at Conservation Inquiry.
BY w. S. COUCH.


case against Secretary Balhnger prao-
tlcally In, the striking featur, OF the
Inquiry is the dismal failure OF the
defense to shake IT,
The most pitiable exhibition was
the attempt TO use Secretary Wilson
10 impeach the testimony OF Pinchot
The aged cabinet officer under cross
examination was pathetic. a.
Wilson, who lodged every controver-
~ from pure food 10 conservation,
was forced into this mess He came
10 the inquiry direct from a prolonged
cabinet meeting, evidently well coach
ed Under a cross-questioning that
was not nj all severe he went 10
pieces. and his testimony fell apart.
Pepper, attorney - rrncnot. soon
desisted from task that had really
grown painful. The crowd which had
laughed AT the first OF Wilson's con
fused and evasive answers, became
silent.
The game was To force Pinchot TO
testify as TO whether Wilson knew
of the Deliver letter for which PIN
chot was dismissed and which TAFT
held violated the president ! order
which forbids departmental subord-
mates To communicate To congressman
unless they have permission from the
cabinet member who is their chief
Wilson's Sweeping Denial.
Pinchot reluctantly testified that he
had discussed the Doliver letter with
Wilson, who did not forbid him 10
send il Indeed Wilson told Pinchot,
the latter said. that no trouble from
| the executive order would result.
This. of course. destroyed the case ~
| INSTRUMENTATION against Pinchot.
Wilson took the stand in evident
anger and agitation. and denied all
responsibility for the Dolliver letter.
So far, SO good. Pinchot's testimony
had been tmpeached
On cross-examination. however.
Wilson admitted giving Pinchot au-
thority TO send "a letter" TO Dolliyer.
But. he said he supposed II was To
be about departmental matters" In
the next breath he said he had ad
yised Pinchot against "blaIketing the
Presidents special message"
What, With "A letter on mere de-
partmental matters ." asked Pepper.
Well. Wilson didn't know. one mo-
ment he told OF his fears thai PIN
chots letter would bring the conserva-
ton controversy To a crisis. and the
next he insisted that he didn't know
what the letter was to be about II
was clear that the old man hadn't
cared what Pinchot wrote 10 Deliver
as long as he (Wilsonl could dodge
responsibility. and he believed he had
Vertrees Has Bullying Tone.
The impression Vertrees has made
by his cross-examination OF Pinchot
is that Of quibbler He adopted the
Ill 9 a.
ing some night watChnfan dismissed
for drunkenness who subsequently
brought charges against his chief
You appear here then, in the ca
pacty OF a discharged employe OF the
government Vertrees sneered
P!nchot laughed outright, and said
he guessed he was Vertrecs put all
his energy into an effort To show that
' Pinchot was a jealous rival OF Balm
l ger and sore at Taft for having dis
missed him. The effort was an obvious
| failure Pinchot. CLAWS and Special
Agent Jones have all been sharply
cross-examined with intent TO show
that they were in sort Of conspir
acy 10 discredt Taft All have been
emphatic in their statements that they
acquitted Taft OF all blame for the
Balinger policies. and that. at the
worst they believed the president mis-
led by bad advisers II is safe to say
that Vertrees has been baffled on this
point OF attack as in the others.
Pinchot made his one error when
| he put too much emphasis on the
Ronald letter He said in his open
Ing statement that Ballinger deceived
. President Taft in three essential
points in letter When he came 10
A testify. he explained that the decep-
A ton was effected by means OF an In
closure, a letter written by Ballingers
Law partner, Judge Ronald This fell
rather fiat, because 1t seemed rather
farfetched
The two determined efforts made TO
shake the force OF the CLAWS testi-
mony failed as did the attack on Pin
Chot
Audience Laughs at Vertrees.
The alleged discovery of missing pa
rers among the personal effects of
CLAWS brought down the LAUGHTER Of
the audience on the head CT Vertrees
when eexploded this bomb. The %
missing letters we,.e documents
strongly supporting the CLAWS testi
mony The personal effects in which
4 CLAWS was supposed 20 have conceal
ed them were household effects. loose
" packed and carelessly deposited In
the basement OF the Seattle federal
| building CLAWS would have been
clumsy conspirator TO have placed the
missing papers in the top OF box of
books with but couple OF boards.
nailed lathlike, across the top and
.vuoginp tho contents Even NCrtroes