The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-03-02
Clifford Pinchot and Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson Contradict Each Other
FORMER FORESTER TELLS Of LETTER TO DOlL|v[R
Declares That He Discussed Matter With His Chief and
Was Given Permission to Write the Celebrated Docu-
Which Brought His Dismssa-Wlson
Manifests Faulty Memory

Washington. March 1.-The expected
clash between Clifford pinchot and
the disputed question as 10 whether
the secretary had given the former
forester permission to write 70 SEN
ntbr DolliNer the letter which resulted
In Pnchots dismissal came today be
fore the Rallinger- Pnchot investigat
ing committee. Mr.. pinchot declared
he had discussed the matter at length
with Secretary Wilson and that h.
understood his superior officer had
given him express permission 10 write
to Senator Doliver.
Secretary Wilson Immediately took
the stand and asserted that. while
he had given Mr.. Pinchot permission
10 write 10 Senator Dolliver concern
Ing departmental affairs he never
did and never would have given him
permission to write q letter criticizing
The president of the United States
Under crossexamination. almost
wholly by the democratic members Of
the committee, Secretary Wilson was
uncertain as to Just what had passed
between himself and the forester. and
became somewhat mixed as to Just
what letters the committeeman re-
fcrred To In their rapid fire of ques-
tons. The secretary Repeatedly said
he never saw or heard of the letter
MIR pinchot wrote until ii was read In
the senate.
MIR. Pinchot declared that he and
Secretary Wilson went so far as to
discuss the executive order issued by
President Taft forbidding subordinates
of the various departments to give in
formation to congress, and added that
the secretary said:
"Yon and / win have no trouble
about that order
Memory Faulty.
Admitting that his memory failed
him as to certain points, Secretary
Wilson always came back To the state
ment that he never. under any circum-
stances. 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" message from the presi-
dent exonerating Ballinger by sending
n letter 10 Senator Dolliver
But" persisted counsel for Mr.. Pin
chot, If Mr. Pinehot was only To be
permitted to write about departmental
matters. how could you have thought
this letter would blanket the presi
dents message"
Il don't know: that was Pinchot' =
idea" replied Mr. Wilson.
Mr.. Pnchot denied that he had been
embittcred by a dismissal. which he
considered justified He denied, also,
that there was n specific Nmovement
10 distredit Mr.. Ballnger.
lie added. however, that he and
former Secretary Garfield CLAWS and
others are concerned In Il movement
for the conservation OF natural re-
sources. and that they regard Mr.. Bal
linger MS one of the greatest enemies
ol that movement.
There was no Indication this morn
ing as to how much longer Mr.. PIN
: chot would remain on the stand. lie
Twill, be succeeded by witnesses called
ly him to substantate the specific
@charges he has made against the Sec
rotary of the interior. Among these,
Il was announced, would be officers
In The government reclamation
service.
Pinchot Is Questioned.
When the public hearing opened
Attorney Pepper began to question
Mr.. Pinchot as to the sequence of
events following July ], 1909, when the
forester said he first heard, of the
Cunningham claims through forest
officials in the west, and when he
heard what his subordlnates In Wash
ington had done at CLAWS request
looking to a postponement of the
hearings Of the Cunningham claims,
he approved thoroughly.
Asked If there was anything un-
Ms ual In the interference of the forest
service. Mr.. Pinchot read a letter
signed by President Roosevelt on May
Ia. 1905, directing the secretary of the
Interior 10 cooperate with the for
ostry service as to lands In forest re-
serves, and to adopt the services find
ings as far as possible.
First Talk With CLAWS.
The witness told of his interview
with CLAWS at Spokane on August O.
1900. The meeting was not by ap-
polntment, and Mr.. Plnchot said he
personally had met CLAWS once be-
fore. CLAWS laid all his evidence be-
fore him. Mr.. Plnchot said, and spoke
OF publishing the whole story.
T was deeply impressed by what
Claws said and urged him to go tc
the president / did this because
thought a scandal would arise, as II
since has arisen, and ! thought the
president ought to have an opportunity
TO project himself and his admins
tration."