The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-14
Regular Republicans Condemn
Democratic Minority, but
Make No Report.
ONLY SIX MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE PRESENT
This Places Them in Same Con-
dition as to Final Report
as Were Democrats.

CHICAGO, Sept. 13.-Six Republican
members of the Ballinger investigating
committee met here today and issued
statement condemning the action of the
four Democratic members and one "Re.
publican" insurgeDt who delivered a
report at Minneapolis last Wednesday,
demanding the retirement of Secretary
Ballinger.
Those present today were Senators
Nelson, Sutherland and Root, and Con-
gressmen Mccall. Olmstead and Denby.
They declared the action Of what they
termed the minority at Minneapolis
to have been according to the worst
methods Of ward politics."
The evidence in the Ballinger case
was discussed, but in the absence of
quorum they stated, no action on the
case itself was possible. 1t was re-
ported that Senator Nelson had author
ity TO act for Senator Flint, member
of the committee who is in Europe. This
could not be confirmed, but IN any event
no attemnt was made TO use the alleged
proxy. Adjournment was taken subject
TO call of the chairman, Senator Mel
son.
Minority Stays Away.
AS the minority" declined to at
tend today's conference and took their
adjournment at Minneapolis until the
next meeting Of congress, IL IS prob
able that Senator Nelson will not call
another meeting until the return of Sen
ator Flint, who, as the seventh member,
would make a quorum.
Following is the statement issued:
"The 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 anybody
10 have the committee meet for pur-
poses Of consultation upon the evidence
or to report it's findings to congress
prior to the adjournment of the session.
Under the circumstances, that course
was maDlfestly impossible,
HThe committee is the creature Of
n special act of congress, which fixed
the number Of its members at twelve
six senators appointed by the vice pres.
ident and SIX representatives elected
by the house. The act carefully dehned
the powers and jurisdiction of the com.
mlttee and contained n mandate that 1t
should report its findings and conclu"
| SlOnS 10 IplS cpuSlcsS-
Explanation Of Absence.
"'The day of the meeting found the
membership widely scattered and only
seven of the twelve members present,
Three other members were detained by
brief but peremptorv engagements. Sen
ator Flint was in Europe and Senator
/ Root on the sea returning from argu-
ing II case for the government before
The Hague tribunal.
HUpon reassembling two days later,
ei ght gentlemen were present and two
/ more were reported on the way. The
eighth member TO appear happened to
be a Democrat and the members OF
; that party found themselves IN tom.
porary control. and "romptly proceeded
10 turn the circumstances to what
seemed to them party advantage, In
advance of any consultation whatever
, upon the evidence, which never had
! been weighed and discussed IN com
| mitfee. thcy demanded the passage Of
, resolutions of the most sweeping char
acter. formally finding Secretary Bal
llinoer guilty, not merely of charges
that had been made but of charges that
i had only been implied and Of things
;. which never had been charged. bn'
which persons appearing at the nearing
had alleged against him.
Protests Are Cited.
'Otuar
= ent protested against such proceedings
which would dispose OF the case In the
. absence OF four of the twelve memoers
@ making it possible for minority OF tne
= committee 10 find the committee verdict
: and this. too, without any consultation
= or discussion.
n But the partisan political end to bf
: gained by the Democratic minority pc
q came all the more urgent IN proportior
: as the railway trains bearing other mem
= bers OF the committee were approaching
IxfI. ,tnrr
to take n recess, and the other rnemners
protesting against the evident determine
lion 10 take a snap Judgment by mi
II nority In the absence OF thira or HlC
r whole tribunal, and declining TO near any
I. responsibility for thus converting the IN
i vcstIgatipn into q travesty ana iof N,o
= lation OF the fundamental principles Willci
. should govern the proceedings. Withdre"
n from the meeting. and thus deprived tn
o Democrats of their temporary cohtroi
d the committee,
= "The meeting being left without quo
= rum. any attempted decision OF the cas'
,r would have no more validity than "oui'
= like action OF n similar number OF mel
IS collected at random in the streets pu
the spectacle was presented oil nVe gen
r tlemen out OF a tribunal or WE'VE: Gte
" ated by the congress OF the lntte'
- States, assuming 10 act as the triouna
m Itself.
- Roast for Minority.
m "Thosc five gentlemen continued thei
If proceedings to the end. aTcordlne 10 9a Wv
l. worst methods OF ward politics. and aite
&c pretending TO adopt a report oil eighty
10 nine pages which they brought to tn
is meeting already prepared. and which wa
To never subject OF consideration or d,s
cussion or even read In committee tie
i'll gave IT 10 the newspapers. although IN
N law required II 10 be rendered to con
te gress: and they completed their perver
it sion OF the purpose OF the meeting
ie nd iournlng TO December 4 as 10 fore
AZ close, If possible. any nction, or con
t. sIderntion or discussion OF evidence b
ID the committee in the meantime; and b
g. solemn vote they graciousiy extended
to tho majority the leave TO file minorlt
he report. a.. -
OF ''It does not need TO be said that sue
In | action in both form and substance
r. wholly lawless. and It leaves II entirel
es c.., /, ~, pooo Two