The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-29
SAYS TAFT DID NOT
GET ALL LETTERS
IN CLAWS CASE
Attorney Brandeis Charges That I'm
portant Documents Were Omitted
From Record Upon Which Pres
ident Exonerated Ballinger.
Claws Continues Testimony and
Tells How He Investigated
Cunningham Claims.

important documents were omitted
from the record upon which President
Taft based his exoneration of Secrc-
tary Ballinger, was the most interest
ing development at yesterdays SEES
sion or the Dallinger-Pinchot congress
sional investigation.
Attorney Brandeis. presented a long
list of the alleged omitted letters. tele-
grams, affidavits and other material
declared To be in the files OF the in
terror department, which he asked to
have produced.
That Secretary Ballinger, while COM
q missioner OF the land office, had more
than the formal knowledge" of me
Cunningham cases, as stated by the
Encouragement and was, In fact, full
ly acquainted with the whole matter,
was the point on which Brandeis at
tempted To introduce his new evil
dence In securing letters which he
claimed tended to indicate Ballingers
intimate familiarity with the cases,
Brandeis hopes to establish the falsity
OF Acknowledgement Wickershams de-
auctions that the present secretary
knew OF them only casually.
CLAWS. who continued on the stand
NIL day. testified extensively regard-
4 Ing tue cunningham cases.
Offers Long List of Papers.
When CLAWS resumed the stand his
counsel. Attorney Brandeis. presented
TO the committee a long list OF docu-
ments and papers which he desired to
4 have introduced In the evidence. In
response TO Brandeis reference TO
Judge Hanford's decision at Seattle
on Wednesday In the Wilson coal
claims. Senator Nelson said he had
Immediately wired for a full copy OF
tie opinion.
During the morning session. sub
penas for the following persons were
requested by CLAWS counsel, TO give
testimony regarding the Cunningham
and the Wilson claim cases:
Special Agent Horace T. Jones, OF
Portland, Ore. Arthur K. Boman,
\ Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Andrew Ken
nedy, Seattle. Wash; Henry NJ. Hoyt
now attorney general OF Porto Rico;
and p. c. Richardson, Seattle.
The committee also was requested
10 secure several hundred letters, tele-
grams and documents bearing on these
cases and tending TO substantata
CLAWS testimony
The name OF Henry NJ Hoyt was
again brought into the case by CLAWS
shortly after resuming his testimony.
He said he discussed several matters
in connection with the Wilson coal
cases and the Davis statement.
brought out in the hearing Wednes
day with Hoyt.
The witness produced draft OF a
letter written by himself to H. ii.
Schwartz then chief OF the field divi-
sion OF the general land office. in
which he expressed concern over the
Alaskan coal situation.
CLAWS said he was urged 10 take up
this situation with Secretary GARFIELD
direct. by Hoyt, but did not care to-
not knowing him well.
Needs SkiiIful Treatment"
More letters which passed between
CLAWS and Dennet, then assistant com
missioner Of the land Office, and
Schwartz were then introduced in evil
dence. In one OF these Dennet sug-
gested that CLAWS write a personal
letter TO Schwartz outlining his views
on the Alaskan situation. 1t said.
I'VE feel this needs skillful treat
ment"
CLAWS said that after letters were
received he was ordered to Washing
ton.
Brandelis then went into long ex-
PLANTATION of the correspondence that
passed between land officers and it's
agents in the field regarding the coal
claims.
He cited passages in the record In
the case-the papers transmitted 10
the senate by Attorney-General Wick
ersham In presenting his decision on
tke CLAWS charges book of S07
pages.
Brandeis explained that he desired
&c show Commissioner Ballinger'3
aetive direction of affairs in the va:i.
Gus coal claim cases and he would
ask that all the letters be put in evil
dence.
CLAWS told how he investigated the
Cunningham claims.
ION March 6. 1908" he said, "in
company with Special Agent Jones, !
called on Clarence Cunningham, of
Seattle. / told him that ii had been
charged that many of the claimants n
his cases were dummies for the Gug.
genheim interests and asked for in
formation. With Jones, and with Gun
ninghams permission, we looked
through his journal and records. on
the first page Of has journal ! stumbled
across memorandum OF an agree
ment between the Cunningham claim
ants back, | believe. in 1903.
Il told Cunningham tnat I would
like to check up the journal with GER
tain papers I had at the hotel and he
agreed TO let me take the book away
with me OF course. | didn't tell him
wanted TO have the journal copied.
Later there were two copies made OF
II. One OF them Is now I'm Washing
ton state and the other think In the
flies of the general land office. The
original Journal was returned to Gun
ningham.'
CLAWS testified that he received a
telegram from the land Office dated
March %. 1908, asking him what
i. would be the nature of his report
He answered that he would report
the Cunningham claims for cancella-
tion. CLAWS also said in his message
that the Cntrymen seemed to be well
Informed CT the action of the govern
ment land agents. If that were con-
tinued IL would be impossible for the
agent to get any more information
Ex-Goy. Moore, OF Washington. he
said told the witness thai he (Moore)
Lad been TO Washington and seen Bar
Iinger and knew that the Cunningham
lands wOGld have been patented long
ago but for Claws protest CLAWS
70 ~ q