The Washington times., 1910-02-01
'LACKLAN DENIES
COAL FRAUD CLAIM
Representative Says His
Alaskan Land Purchase
Is Legal.

Yes. 7 bought a claim on section
OF Alaska coal lands, and # any OF my
would-be critics viii reimburse me Tor
the amount I have spent in developing
the property they are welcome to it. II
there was any fraud In its acquisition.
ia occurred before came into posses
sion of the claim, and 1 want TO
know it,
Represcntative James NcLachland Of
California thus disposed Of the charges
of Special Agent CLAWS before the Bal
finger PinChot investigating committee
that ne had made an entry Of coal lands
in Alaska aud that Secretary Ballinger
had Instructed CLAWS not 10 investigat o
the entry.
McLachIand Talks Freely
Not ONLY d.d Mr. McLachIaud talk
freely concerning his acquisition, but
also those CT mis- business associates.
Governor Gillette. Representative Nc
HinIay. and Representative KnOwland
OF California.
A. TO CLAWS and Secretary BalIinger,
Mr. NcL-ach.sud said that he had never
~ any way discussed Alaskan claims
with either Of them
1T was a business proposition with
me-" ne continued. and one IN which
there was no imprOpTleTy- When / puT-
chased the entry I did not know Of the
iuaCCessib lllty Of the claim Since 1
have seeu IN possession OF Il nave
spent about S4-'"c in Improving and de-
velOpinE it, / low learn that Il VIII
cost 1900. one TO build a railroad across
the glaciers TO get the coal. # coal
exists.
Willing to Sell Out.
A magazine has printed an article
H. which IL is set forth that each of
these claims IS worth $4,000 Here
! is a chance fer a magazine writer 10
clear about SI,S95.yJJ. I am willing to
/ sell out for what I have put in mine.
and I believe that my colleagues. Mr..
z EIckiuIay and bir. huowlaud. are Will
Z Ing 10 do the same I don Z know about
Governor Gillette"
NIr. NcT,achInd added that he was
no- wealthy man ana that since Hr
/ had purchased the Alaskan lands Ht
I had put practically al thar he had into
/ --.The statenen1 Of AIr CLAWS i'm
/ plies he continued, that MI Balm
! zer ordered him nos 20 take any AMI
[ dsvil, because there was too much Of
LtIiS thing. which IS an lDtlma ton ina
/ BaHiuser was shielding me
( Expected Claws Call
( 1T is significant that al the time Mr
+ Claws was in Washington for the pur
pose. WIS Expecting him TO call upor
me for my alfidavs., Nj Green, spou.
I sor for the sO-CalItd Green claims, nav.
/ ing advised me TO Pee sure and furnish
4 CLAWS with my affidavit before / re
/ turned TO the coast
"I have never taken the trouble u
/ take out q patent on the land and its a.
I tie still Is !n the Government I know
/ IF no reas0. why M BaIInger should
/ have 50 Instructed Nj CLAWS"
! M lIcI.arhIand's position IS much TIT
/ same a. that Of EePreseu-zztive kin
/ H-aG- Of Nebraska VINO also admits
/ that he has reserved 100 acres IT. n,
/ Alaskan coal fields MI kmkead say.
that ne bought the land the same a.
he would ciLy lot He engaged Nj
/ RzfIiuger. after the latter left the Land
/ Office, To AEHuire into the tlIls Of ne
Z property as Ee would into the merits
& OF any other
( Mr. AIcIachIaud does not seem Z,
J relish the imputation before the BALM.
/ a-c--PIurEOL committee JEa- the SeCre
/ far- OF the Interior later eudesvOTed u
/ shield him
J He was appTos CHe6 by Mr. Green. D,
Z saws several years ago and advised tina
+ the investment ives Q good one Ate
looking into the Tca-IeT- he thought 81
. toe. and reserved the ore section with
Z OUT the thought that his action would
/ ever be criticised