New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-02
WILSON CLASHES
WITH PINCHO1'
DIRECT QUESTION OF
PER1CITI R1ISED.
Secretary SJ>CGrs He NtUcr
authorized DoHiCer Letter
Points Uadc for BaHRger.

tFro-n tn Trilune Eu-cau-I
Washington. March Ia direct issus
OF fact between Clifford Pinchot and Sec
retary Wilson was raised before the Bal
linger- Pinchot Investigating COMMITTEES
this afternoon.
When Mr.. Piuchot was about 20 %
examined with reference to his letter 20
Senator Doliiver. which was the imHle-
diate cause Of his dismissal. Senator Eel-
son announced that Secretary Wilson
had expressed wish to be present when
Mr. Pinchot testified on this subject
Mr.. Wilson was found at the Cabinet
meeting. but Immediately came to the
Senate office building in response 10 a
telephone call Mr.. Pinchot said he did
not desire to tell the committee what
took place between himself and Secre-
taTy Wilson preceding the writing and
transmittaI of the DOlliver letter He
had served under Secretary Wilson for
twelve years, he said. and it was painful
&c him to engage in a controversy with
the Secretary
By a unanimous vote the COMMITTEES
instructed Mr.. Pinchot to reply to Sen
ator Nelson's question as 10 whether he
consulted Secretary Wilson before writ
ing the Dolliver letter. After a long ex
planatory statement Mr. Pinchot said
that he informed Secretary Wilson on
January 3. 1910. that Senator Dcllivsr
had asked him TO write a letter respect
ing the charges that Messrs- Price ami
Shaw. of the Forest Service, had IN
spired newspaper and magazine ATTACKS
on the Department Of the Interior.
He said Mr Wilson made no obJec-
ton. and told him that We will have
no trouble about that order" referring
to the Presidents order prohibiting en-
pIoyes and officials from giving out in
formation unless approved by the Secre-
tarv. Mr. Pinchot said he thought he
had Mr. Wilson'S permission % write 90
Senator DolIiver. He said he told Atr-
Wilson that the critics of the Forest
Service wer., magnifying the action OF
Shaw and Price. and that the real issues
were being overlooked He said he ia
vored sending the letter to Senator Dol
liver so that it would be read stimuli
with the Presidents special
conservation message. that they might
have puIsieity at the same time He
meant no disrespeCt to the President and
did not think he was guilty of insub"r-
dinatioTsz NIr Pinchot added that II he
rad had ten minutes of the Presidents
time he could have convinced Mr. Taft
that he was neither disrespectful nor in
subordinate
Secretary Wilson Angry.
Secretary Wilson took notes while MIR
Pinchot was testifying. and il was ap-
parent that he was angry when he was
called to the stand. He began by say
ing that some things Mr. Pinchot said
were correct and others We're not He
never got my consent TO send. that letter
to the Senate said Secretary Wilson.
bringing his fist down on the table MI
Wilson said that it was common oc-
currencc for officials of the Agricultural
Department to ask his permission 70
send information to members OF Con
& ress. and these requests we're never re-
fused. From his talk with Mr. P1nehHt
lie gained the impression that the cher
forester wanted to send something 10
Senator Dolliyer relating 10 DEPART
mental business.
Il never saw the Dolliver letter untit
7 read it in the Congressional Record
the next day" said Mr.. Wilson
The Secretary said it was news to him
when Mr.. Piuchot testified that he CWil-
SOM had said that there would be no
trouble over the Presidents order. And
nv memory is pretty keen" Mr. Wilson
added Mr.. Wilson said he would hardly
gree TO permit Mr. Pinehot to send q
letter u the Senate which insulted Pres
Ident Taft. and which assumed that the
Chief Forester and not the Secretary OF
y 1griculture was in charge OF discipline
IN the Agricultural Department.
Il objected also To anything that would
blanket the message of the President of
-he United States Mr.. Wilson said.
Referring 10 Mr.. Pinchot's statement
hat he could have convinced the Presi-
lent OF the business of his position in
Ten minutes. M Wilson said the former
.hief Of the Forest Service shut the door
between himself and the White House
y hen he wrote the Dolliver letters The
said that ne, too. felt il was
,ainful tc have d trntroversy with Mr..
pinchot But the truth is the truth.
ne added emPhdticaIly.
Points IN EslIiuecr's Favor
Secretary BaIinger. scored decisiveIv
Il tO-dayS hearing. Under Cross-exam-
nation by Judge Nertrecs. Mr.. Pinchot
admitted that he was in error in the
hree essential charges made in the let
ers ne wrote President Taft from Spo-
cane on August 1o, 1909. bearing on the
Ilavis charges. He admitted further
hat his charge that MIR BaIIlnSer had
made statements TO the President that
we're absolutely false in three essential
was not based on Mr. Bal
myers letter to the President hut Od a
etter written by Mr.. Ballingers former
aw partner. j. 4. Ronald, 10 Dr. Lyman
\bbott according TO MIR. Pinchot. this
etter was sent 10 the President by Nj
5alTnser as part of his defence. but Mr..
plpchot was forced To admit that before
ending the Ronald letter 10 the Presl-
lent Mr.. BalInger had submitted To Mr..
Taft u communication setting forth the
actual facts, some Of which Mr.. Ronald
,ad p,isstatett When Mr. FinchOtS at