The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-13
CLAWS Eulogized and Vilified
in Ballingsr-Pinchot Briefs
Just Filed
EVERYONE CONCERNED
SHARES IN CRITICISM
Attorney Declares That Secretary
is Unworthy of Office and
Should Heed Demand for
Resignation.

WASHINGTON. d. G.. June Ia
Parting hot shots were exchanged
through the medium or three stocky
volumes filed to-day with the Balm
ger-Pinchot congressional tnvestigat-
ing committee representing the briefs
of counsel on both sides
The thousand odd pages of the
documents bristle with the same sort
OF vituperation that marked the
trial from start TO finish. The COM
mittee is asked to regard l.. r.. CLAWS,
the former field agent. as "a patriot
(by Attorney l.. u. BrandeisD or
traitor and a snake fby Attorney
Nertrees): TO regard Clifford Pinchot
as the jealous advocate of good gov
eminent" fby Attorney Pepper) and
arch conspirator'' seeking to destroy
the good name of cabinet officer
thy Attorney vertrees).
Mr. Brandets says. IN our optn-
ion. the record amply discioses AIR.
Ballinger's knowledge OF the stu
alton and shows HIS hostility to the
peoples interests and his cooperation
with the private special interests
which were and are striving to take
the peoples property in violation of
law"
brings Disgrace.
MIR Pepper says: Whatever may
be the form of their tthe commit
tee's1 report, we trust that they VIII
record their definite conviction that
the immediate care of the public DO
main is now in unsafe hands.
Mr.. Nersrees says; 1T lis no idle
thing 10 assail tho character OF
member OF tho cabinet. He is one
at the advisers OF the President, and
dlsnonorabIe conduct on bis part not
only brings disgrace TO him as an IN
dividual. but reproach upon the gov
eminent Of the republic itself Con-
seuueutly, such an accusation ought
not to be lightly brought There
ought surely to be substantial
grounds. Here, IL may be asserted,
there are absolutely none. This
prosecution is cruel, and ii IS base
less"
Attorney Nertrees diwelt consider
ably on the conspiracy which ne
declared was being prosecuted against
Rallinger by Pinchot. CLAWS and Gar
field. Attorney Pepper declared such
an accusation baseless. SAYING that
ut In the convicted man VINO usuatty
raises the cry that the police ana
the prosecutor have conspired against
him
Attorney Pepper In his brief con-
tends thai the ,ease is really a1ohaF9a4
against the executive. We find IL
not a little difficult. in these days OF
the reign Of law" 1t reads. TO JUS
tify the course of the legislature IN
proceeding TO investigate the eSecu-
tice. As, however, the inquiry was
requested by the secretary OF the an
terror, he cannot complain II fuH
jurisdiction is taken by the commit
tee"
sums up;
"'These facts which have been stated
are proved by the record. and by this
record the department of the interior
Ii TO be Judged. II lie not the same
record which was before the Presi~
dent.
No Longer Judge.
.eIn this proceeding Mr.. Wickersham
appears no longer as an assistant judge
ming his concurrence after decision.
but as an over jealous advocate. In
this proceeding. MIR. LAWYER assistant
attorney generaD is not the judge hut
bitter and vituperous witness"
rrT these controversies, Galvis, Pin
chot. Jones and Kerby has been dis
missed. Hoyt has resigned. Newer
and Davis hold SO slight a tenure of
office that before this committee re-
ports they may be no longer in the
service From the conduct of these
men this committee viii determine
whether they are honest men or
snakes to be filled and traitors to be
shamed. II any one of them has told
the truth. the secretary of the inter-
ior Is dishonored and unfit for his
ONCE"
Frederick NJ. Kerby. former stenog-
rapf1er to Baiinger. WIN exposed the
manner in which the LAWYER draft
was prepared. attorney Nertrees says
is a traitor" "a creature" and ac-
cuses him of making a Unreasonable
publication
Attorney Pepper dismtsses Eentress
conspiracy" charge as trivial No
one" he says. will have the temerity
to contend that 1t is unlawful to re-
gard Mr. Ballinger as unfit for office.
Nor Is il illegal for a number of peo-
pie to hold this view. Not only Is II
permissible to hold this view. but
those who honestly entertain it have a
: right to say so publicly. Those whose
policies Mr.. Baliinger has attacked are
inevitably driven together into de-
fensive alliance. As the facts become
known, a constantly increasing num-
Der OF people join the ranks of those
who are protesting. Finally. the pro-
test becomes demand for the retire.
men OF the officer deemed to be un-
worthy. AS in the present case. the
demand may ultimately BIO echoed by
graf majority OF the American peo-
pie"
ATTORNEY vertrees in his brief, pleads
for a non partisan verdict and says
the republic is on trial before the
world" The attorney deyotes a
great amount OF space to discussion
Of the conspiracy charge against Pin
chot, Garfield. CLAWS. Kerby. and a
number OF newspaper men. Garfield