The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1910-01-15

Washington, Jan, t5.-Interesting in
formation is contained in the response
of the attorney general 10 the senate
resolution calling for papers in the
Ballinger- -Pinchot controversy. This
communication. which is embraced in
bulky volume, has just been printed as
senate document and IL contains an
ADDITION to tine attorney generals
FAMOUS Characterization of CLAWS as
a megalomaniac, all the correspon-
uence that passed between the presi-
dent and Secretary Ballinger, together
with statements of Land Commission
er bennett and Chief of Special
Agents Schwartz, relative to the Cum
ningham coal land claims i'm Alaska
Commissioner Dennett's letter to the
president is especially interesting I'm
that II contains some inside history
of the relations between his office and
the forestry bureau Relating his own
view OF the Alaska cases, Mr.. bennett
says in part:
Il told the Alaska claimants early
In the spring of 1908 who appeared
before me repeatedly that, with my
understanding of the situation. / GER
| tainly could not patent any one OF
| their claims unless congress authoriz-
ed me 10 do so, but / expressed SYM
pathy with them because Of the pecu-
liar conditions arising i'm that far
away country and the great expense
necessary to be incurred by anyone
| attempting to develop coal lands in so
| remote region, and that I was In
favor OF remedial legislation.
Attacked Dummy Entries"
Il nave no hesitation in repeating
| this TO you at this time. This is per-
tectly frank and should absolutely ex-
| plain the insinuations which are en-
deavored TO be cast by Mr.. CLAWS
upon statements made to him as TO
what had said to Alaska claimants.
Il was very outspoken In my state.
ments against dummy entries and
| my differentiation between dummy
entries and cooperative agreements
This is shown by the statement OF
myself to Mr. Ryan and Mr.. Hartman
In the presence of Mr.. Schwartz
II stated to Mr.. Ryan that were
commissioner of the general landofFfce
1 IL I found that, after consolidation. the
| parties Immediately parted with their
holdings in the newly created corpora
tion and If there was anything TO in
dicate that this was done I'm accord
ance with prior arranged scheme.
would recommend. as far as / was
concerned. proceedings Of whatever
might be the correct character against
them.
This is set forth at length for the
purpose. / repeat of showing contem-
poraneous history and my sympathy
with Alaska claimants upon which
CLAWS would attempt to place evil
construction"
President Taft asked Commissions
Denpett the following question:
What replies do you desire to make
to the differences of Mr. Piachot and
Mr. CLAWS in respent to your attitude
toward the forestry bureaug'
To this Mr.. Dennett's reply was In
part as follows:
The Iandoffice has met and assisted
the forestry bureau I'm every way pos
stble in its work, but there has always
been present on the part ow the for
estry bureau carping criticism. The
hints Of dissension and trouble have
never come from the landofice, but
have always proceeded from the other
side during Mr.. Garfeld's dministra-
ton and / do not say this with any idea
OF criticism of Mr.. Garfield on sew
eral occasions when interpreted sta
tutes as thought the law meant them
to be interpreted, was informed by a
forestry official that was acting fool
ishly In endeavoring to do anything
other than accede, inasmuc.l as | would
be reversed on appeal to it's assistant
attorney general in the interior depart
ment, who was formerly law oflicer
in the forestry bureau
Rebuke Was Justified.
CLAWS, however. went 10 the for
estry bureau with his story OF vicious
falsehood and II has been used with
flare heads for sensational papers to
damn mems reputation. and has hurt
your administration. The subsequent
paper artic'a rs and newspaper knowl-
edge have amply justified my rebuke
of MIR. CLAWS ard my fear of what
might happen from an unjust criticism
of the general landoffice though I never
for one moment presumed that the for
estry bureau would proceed to the
lengths which they manifestly have.
I'm every instance the prophecy
came true, though | am morally sure
that the lay was as this bureau inter-
preted 1t. The constant relteration ON
the part Of the forestry bureau OF an
tagonisnl and OF dissension with them
on the part OF the Iandofice was. /
thoroughly believe. done with d pur-
pose. They were anxious to discredh
this Office I'm order that they might
build themselves
This Is the first time / have ew
pressed this sentiment so fully anc
during all of the time that have been
IN Connection with the landoffice moth
ing ever enanated that / can remenbe,
which could be construed az attacking
the forestry bureau or forestry poli-
cies
Had | so desired and had my ale,
glance to the administration not been
most useful lands BY power monop-
Oily. As long as the government re-
tains control and can prevent their i'm
proper union with Cher plants, com-
petition must be maintained and prices
kept reasonable"
First thing you know. churches may
try the pay enter scheme for raafing
collections. That's how the theatres
DO II.
n--~-s-~--~~~~r
Radiuni n quoted at sss.ooO
Mound In mR4f4.A ~ !. ~eM1