The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-03-02

| WASHINGTON, Mar 1.-The ex-
pected clash between Clifford Pinchot
and Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
over the disputed question as to
I whether the secretary had given the
former forester permission to write to
| Senator Dolliver the letter which re-
| suited in Mr.. Pinchots dismissal, came
| today before the Ballinger- Pinchot in
vestigating committee.
| Mr.. Pinchot declared he had dis
! cussed the matter at length with Sec
rotary Wilson and that he understood
! his superior officer had given him eX-
| press permission to write to Senator
| DOlliver.
Secretary Wilson Immediately took
| the stand and asserted that While he
! had given Mr.. Pinchot permission to
! write to Senator Dolliver concerning
departmental affairs he never did
and never would have given his per
mission to write a letter criticising the
president of the United States.
Under cross examination conducted
almost wholly by the democratic mem
bers of the committee, Secretary Will
| son was uncertain as to just what
| passed between himself and the for
! ester and became somewhat mixed as
to lust what letter the committeeman
| referred to in their rapid fire of ques
tons. The secretary repeatedly said
he never saw or heard of the letter
| Mr.. Pinchot wrote until it was read in
! the senate.
Nv q
! Secretary Wilson went so far as to
! discuss the executive order issued by
President Taft forbidding subordi-
mates of the various departments to
give information to congress, and ad-
ded that the secretary said:
You and l will nave no trouble about
| that order"
Admits Poor Memory.
Admitting that his memory failed
him as to certain points, Secretary
Wilson always came back to the state
ment that he never, under any cir
cumstances, would have given Mr.
Pinchot permission to write the letter
that caused his retirement from the
service.
The secretary said he urged Mr. Pin
chOt not to carry out his purpose to
blanket a message from the presi-
dent generating Ballinger, by sending
in a letter to Senator Dolliver.
But" persisted counsel for Mr.. Pin
chot, IF Mr.. Pinchot was only to be
permitted to write about departmental
matters, how could you have thought
this letter would blanket the pres'
dents meSSage?'
Il don't know that was Pincnot's
idea,' replied Mr.. Wilson.
Mr. Pnchot denied that he had been
en.bittered by a dismissal which he
considered unjuStified. He denied also
that there was specific movement to
dscredt Mr.. Ballinger. He added.
however, that he and former Secretary
Garfield, CLAWS and others are con-
cerned in a movement for the cOnser-
walton of natural resources and that
they regard Mr.. Ballinger as one of
the greatest enemies of that move
ment.
Mr. Pinchot mere read into the rec
ord his letter of dismissal from Presi-
dent Taft
What have you to say to the charge
| that you were disrespectful to the
PRESIDENT asked Mr.. Pepper
Il contend that the expression of an
honest belief that the president had
acted under a misrepresentation is not
disrespectful'
What nave you to say to the charge
of showing a lack of confidence in the
purpose of the President to take the
defense of the peoples rights in his
own hands?"
If the president had signified his
purpose to take matters into his own
hands, | would lave been happy to
leave it there But the presidents
letter showed he would continue to
! leave it in Ballinger's hands and that
he had great confidence in Mr.. Bal
iinger."
! What as to your being insubordi-
nate?'
L was not. but die rot desire to
lay stress upon that point, for I should
! ! ave been insubordinate without sec
ond thought if had considered it nee
essary to bring the facts before the
public"
Would Rather Not Give Details.
GAS a matter of fact | was not But
! have no desire for a personal vindi-
cation and would rather not go into
that question"
why not?"
Because it is not i'm portant. and
would regret the necessity of hearing
about a difference of opinion between