New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-14
REVIEW BY BALL|NGER
Secretary Analyses the Evidence
Offered Against Him.
HE CHARGES CONSPIRACY
Says Pinchot, Garfield, CLAWS
and Others Joined to Drive
Him from Public Life.

Gays 1uCuOt, 0dA AC1u, NAO' ~
and Others Joined to Drive
Him from Public Life.
From The Tribune Bureau
Washington May lS.-Before Secretary
Ballinger left the witness stand to-day he
read a resume OF the events which. he said.
proved beyond question that Clifford Pin
chot James r. Garfield, L. r. CLAWS and
others were In conspiracy to besmirch
his good name and drive him from the pup
lie service. The Characterization of MI.
Ballinger was finished just before the com
mittee took it's noon recess.
II. II. Schwartz. chief of the field di-
vision of the General Land ONCE. was on
the stand all afternoon. and his direct ex-
animation was nearing a close when al
journmsnt was taken. Mr.. Schwartz was
alert, aggressive and entertaining, and
there evidently will be no dulness in the
proceedings when he crosses swords with
Louis D. Brandeis in REORGANIZATION
Mr. Schwartz had immediate supervision
of the Alaska coal cases. He and L. X
CLAWS were close friends, end their init
mate relations continued until shortly be-
fore Mr.. CLAWS went to President TAFT
with his charges against Secretary Balm
ger. Several important statements made
by CLAWS were fatty contradicted by Mr..
Schwartz who fully corroborated Secretary
Ballinger and supplied many important de-
tails regarding the procedure in the Land
Office in reference to the Cunningham
claims
Mr. Ballinger's summary of incidents
tending to establish conspiracy against
him was brought out by a series of ques-
X
for Mr. Pinchot- Mr.. Pepper suggested
that the so-caned conspiracy was merely
a defensive combination on the part Of
the friends of conservation. who were
driven to act together by the successive
acts of Mr.. Ballinger toward what they con-
ceived &c be the proper means Of protecting
the natural resources Of the country.
Mr.. BalIineer's Statement.
MIR. Ballinger said he did not think this
was stating the case accurately. In his
opinion. the men in the conspiracy were
banded together TO drive him out of the
public service. 1T was most amazingly
wicked Defence he said In view Of Mr..
Peppers question. Mr.. Ballinger asked per-
mission TO recite some of the events in the
conspiracy. The recital contained refer
ences to the pages OF the testimony 10 es-
tablish each Of the propositions laid down
by Mr.. Ballinger.
The Secretary said the evidence showed
that Mr.. Pinchot had asserted:
First. that I entered the Office to make
short work Of conservation; second, that l
was an unfaithful servant as to the Alas
kan coal cases. and third, that since Aug
ust IL. 1909, Pinchot had acted steadily as
officer and citizen in the light OF these
facts-thst is. that he has steadily been en-
deavoring as officer and citizen to bring
about the removal or destruction OF this un-
faithful public servant, who was not only
unfaithful but an enemy OF the great pin
ciples of conservation.
Now what steps W. Ne taken by him in
this lire of steady action? He advised
CLAWS to lay the matter before the Presl-
dent: to induce the President TO give Claws
a ready hearing he gave TO CLAWS letter
of introduction. in which he said of him,
Z have known of him several years on
the stand he was obliged to admit in sub
stance that this statement was untrue
AT the Spokane meeting IN August Pin
chot himself brought in Governor Pardee
and advised with him. Pardee made
speech, of course, becatse he had been
brought in by Pinchot. 1t was of char
acter that seriously reflected on me.
In MT. p1DchOt letter 10 tfic icSAOCAAt
he made two grossly inaccurate statements
OF charges against the Secretary. he was
driven TO admit that they were untrue. or.
as he phrased it, that they were mistakes.
..Pinchot holds that he unjustly dis
charged by the President.
''Pinchot admits that he believes me an
obstacle in the way of the conservation
movement which We propose to remove,
and that Garfield and Claws and he are
part of the 'we'-part of the great conser-
walton movement.
Threats Against Secretary.
July q. 1909. Pinchot charged Director
Smith of the Geological Survey of turn
ing his back on Garfield and working with
me- He denounced me as yellow dog
because as he averred. l was overturning
some OF Carfeld's work.
.'Jn September 1863. Price Assistant
Forester and Acting Forester, stated that
we do not like Ballinger.' and he said 10
Director Smith If we don't get him one
way we will another
A friendly letter of Director Smith TO
Mr.. Garfield stating all the facts truth
fully and correctly remains unanswered to
this day.
For the reason that Director Smith an
nounced his purpose to stand by me as
Secretary Mr.. Pinchot on July . informed
him (Srnith) that he was a marked man
Mr.. Pinchot also declared that If any
one criticised Mr.. Garfield at the Spokane
convention, about to be held in August. the
fight would be on and he would lead ii.
No fight whatever was made on Mr.. Gar
field by any one there. Mr.. Pinchot admits
that he brought Mr.. Pardee into that con-
vention and advised with him. Pfnchot
and Pardee we're in close relations there.
Although Garfield was not assailed. never
theiess the fight was begun; Governor
Pardee assailed me.
Mr.. Pinchot criticised the Geological
Survey on the ground that it seemed TO
consider itself bound by law
THE evidence introduced in the present
investigation by the so-called prosecution
was al put In by March is last and since
that time evidence has been introduced by
Mr.. Ballinger before the committee An
ANONYMOUS pamphlet has been circulated.
Notwithstanding the truth which has been
shown BY the evidence in my behalf. and
circulated secretly and confidentially pur-
porting to state what the prosecution had
shown, and expressly declining 10 state any
evidence introduced by me Reliable in
formation discloses that these anonymous
pamphlets are being distributed from the
q;