The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-09
IS
STRONG AGAINST.
Mr.. BALLINGER
FRANK 3. LORD GIVES HIS I'M
PRESSlONS OF THE TESTIMONY
THUS FAR HEARD IN BALM
GER-PINcHoT INVESTIGATION.

Editors Note.-Mr. Lord, the author of
the following article. which has been pre-
pared expressly for The Journal. is Wash
ington representative of Norman e.
Macks National Monthly, and one OF the
foremost newspaper men of the United
States. He has attended every session of
the Ballinger- Pinchot Investigating com
mittee, and is therefore especially quail
fed to discuss the merits of Glaviss test-
mOny.)
Washington, Feb. S.-An analysis
Of the evidence thus far adduced be-
fore the Ballinger-Pin investigat-
| ing committee in the form of official
documents and the testimony of the
witness, Louis r. CLAWS, shows a
strong Indictment, at least against Mr..
TaftS secretary of the inferior.
There has been no effort made to
show that his acts were unlawful or
that he was actually guilty of graft
! ing, but a strong case has been pre-
scented to demonstrate the impro-
| priety CT his conduct both as an Off
! cial and as a private citizen appearing
| as counsel for the coal land claim
ants. From this Showing the commit
tee and the public are left to make
their own deductions and to draw
their own conclusions.
The points made in regard to this
| improperly are these:
l. That Ballinger knew from the af-
| fidavits obtained by CLAWS and his as
| s1stants that there was collision and
fraud on the part of the claimants, and
that dummy entrymen We're being
used: that the work upon the claims
was being done in common, indicating
| that when the claims were patented
70 - i
combine.
2. That the journal kept by Clar-
ence Cunningham, agent for the Gun
bingham group, showed that the
claimants had entered into an agree
ment to turn their holdings over to a
company; that one claim was reserved
for Senator Hepburn of Idaho in re-
turn for legal services rendered the
company.
3. That Reps. McLachlan and Nc
h1nlay Of California were claimants,
and Rep. Kinkaid of Nebraska a pros
! pectfve purchaser for whom Balhnger
acted as counsel; that Ballinger was
not sincere when he stated that the
only service he performed for the
claimants as attorney was in regard to
| articles of incorporation.
4. That before becoming land COM
missioner, Balfnger acted as attorney
| IN the matter of an agreement concern
| ing the Wilson Coal COMPANY of
| Washington, wherein it would have
| been necessary for the claimants to
commit perjury in order to carry out
the agreement.
5. That within two weeks after BAL
linger had directed CLAWS to make a.
| thorough investigation" of the coal
| cases, they were clear listed" bv the
| general land office acting upon a re-
| port made by Special Agent Love
made four months before. and in the
Office at the time CLAWS was directed
| by BallingeF to make the thorough in
Vestigation"; that in fact the Love re-
port was not wholly favorable to the
claimants. This action CLAWS was sue
| cessful in having revoked.
3. That Ballinger acted as counsel
for the coal claimants after he had
! been commissioner and had had an on
portunity to gain knowledge of the
governments side of the case: that
Ballinger considered the coal cases af-
ter he became secretary and was not
sincere in saying that he had turned
them over to his assistant for action.
Z. That Ballinger requested CLAWS
not to resume the investigation until
after the election in 1908 because he
(EalGnger) was having difficulty in
collecting campaign funds from some
Of the claimants who had been liberal
contributors before, but were then
| sore" at the administration because
their claims had not been patented.
s. That the confidential information
in the reports of CLAWS and other she.
cial agents was continually getting
into the possession of the claimants
that eX-Gov. Moore had said that he
had gone over all the papers with
Ballinger in Washington"
8. That Judge D. A. Mckenzie, one