The Washington times., 1910-05-15
Says Allegations Answered
Were Not Made BY
Him.
MAY BE WITNESS
AT INVESTIGATION
Letters Compared as 70 VeTbisge
and Both Get Into
Record.

Notwithstanding Easty and vehement
denials from the White House and other
Government departments involved IN
the BalIinger-Pfnchot controversy. that
anyone other than President Taft had
anything to do with the now famous
letter exonersting Secretary Bauiugsr.
there VIII appear in the Official record
OF that investigation tomorrow a cory
Of the final craft Of the letter exonerat-
ing Secretary BaIlinger, prepared by As
sistant Attorney General LawIer, for
the Department OF the Interior
This draft VIXEN compared with the
letter sent by the President 70 Secretary
Ballinger and ultimately transmitted 10
ne Senate. discIoses that it was not only
made the basis OF the Presidents letter.
but that portions Of LAWYERS letter were
evidently lifted bodily BY President
Taft
Frederick 81 Keroy. the sbenogrzpher
whose starting affidavit. printed exclu-
sively in The Times yesterday. brought
out the charge that the Interior Depart
ment, N which Secretary Ballingef IS
the head. had a large part in preparing
the defense, this morning made Il clear
that he does not intend TO back down
Says DeniaIs Do Not Cover Charges.
IN his, modest little home IN the south
east section of the city. he said TO .
Tires reparter that he realizes that he
must be careful 10 observe the proper
course foiIoFssng the issuance of q FOR
mai statement from the White House.
but that in justice 20 himself he feels
il is right that he should impress one
fac1.
The White House statement misses
the point tried 10 make he said II
have not hing more to add TO OF take from
my original statement as published in
The Times II Was my express intention
not 10 say that LaWIer dictated the
Presidents letter Of September I1
did specifically say that the draft was
prepared for revisIon-ft vas typewriter
triDle-spaeed- It is only Just 70 myself
20 say that the White House statement
denies the things which did not charge
cannot go over the subject again In de-
tail except before the proper committee
or authorities. at present
Discussing the events that led up 10
his making OF the affidavit. 8Ir- Kerby
felt II was entirely proper for him 70 BE-
open and frank. and his statement on
this line brings out two exceedingly in
terestinE facts.
Two Interesting Points.
The first is that the Interior Depart
ment was fully informed as 70 his af-
hdavit At L-s0 O'Clock yesterday morn
Il h1E
result Of It Il was at O'Clock yester-
day afternoon that the LawIer mem
0TandUu reached the Senate investi-
eating committee for the first time.
The second interesting point IS that
for months the sO-caIIed prosecution has
been aware or the existence Of the Law
Ter memorandum and that the cOntinu-
al demand for papers made By Attorney
Brandels was TO obtain this very docu-
ment. the existence OF which was de-
MED agar and again. and was not ad-
laitted until three hours after the de-
part1nent knew OF kerby's affidavit
On these points he said
Through no initiative on nv par5.
the sO-csIled prosecution a long time
ago knew Of the I.awier memorandum
and knew that was present at its
Finally ! was directly
asked about IL
Il told NJ Brandeis that II I were
called upon as a witness at the hearings
q The Sens te committee, I should have
10 teal the aI-'th about that matter,
5ut that 1 did lot wish 10 be brought
ntO The marier az all, except as q iast
resort
Efforts to Get Draft.
ss,T- r,,-.-z,,.- z-..-,4 ,,.-f.-- g-oo7 faith
with that request Of mine He tried
10 keep ne out Of it IN every way
that he could. he sought to obtain from
-he Department the Lawler letter Again
and again ne called for papers. seeking
that particular one. and he never could
get IL or get the existence OF II admit
ted.
Then he wanted 70 call me as a Wit
ness. and to have me tell Just what I
knew TO the committee, but this was
0fockeS by the decision Of the commit
zee. which prevented all matters relat-
ng to the Presidents letter from being
This left the situation so that. unless
extraordinary were done, the
history OF the Presidents letter, incIud-
ng the circumstances leading up 70 Il,
1oCl1 never " known
'''Thus it came TO the point OF whether
)r not should make statement about
L For a long time that question has
decided to make II ] gave great
ieal OF though 10 IL / hardly slept
III that week
Sense of Duty Felt.
Il fully appreciate the question OF
sthics involved in nv making public
acts regarding the Office. At the same
ime I could not help feeling my sense
# duty, regarding important facts
which evidently cold become public
,nIy through a voluntary act on nv