Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-01
,Continnsn from Pare ono,


"Shaw telegraphed me he could not
come to Seattle, but sent the law of
ficer at Portland to see me. He Went
over the papers with me and agreed
that a field examination was neces-
sary."
"What was the name of that law
officer?" demanded Senator Nelson
His name was Pearce.'
"Do YOU know a Donald Il. or Donald
A. Mackenzie?" asked Senator Fletcher.
eyes. sir; I think it is Donald A.
"ZVhat relation did he bear to Com
missioner bennett and Secretary Bal
linger?" ~ ,-.,, >,
The witness then told of a conversa-
ton he had with a Judge Mackenzie
in which the latter said the reason
whv James r. Garfield was not in
President Taft's cabinet was because
of his antagonism to the coal claim
ants in Alaska.
Did he tell any other reasons why
Mr., Garfield was not in the cabinet?'
asked Representative Olmstead, amid
laughter.
mo, sir"
Senator Root here entered vigorous
ly into the examination.
Whom did Mackenzie make the
statement to?" he asked.
"To Special Agent Jones and my
self. We made an affidavit to that
effect"
"Why did you make an affidavit?''
Worth Remembering
'T thought it would be worth remem-
bering in the further investigation of
these cases If we had to call Mac
kenzie as a witness"
HINrI,a,, did xrOII mako that 9ffi-
davit?"
"In September, 1909"
after you had seen President
Taft?"
Eyes, SIR
"Have you copy of it?"
mo. There may be a copy in the
forest service. 1 left one also in the
office at Seattle
Did you send any other papers to
the forestry?" asked Senator Nelson.
Eyes, sir. 1 sent them copies of
papers and affidavits."
Don't you know those papers are
confidential"
'T sent them for the official use of
the forest service in their investiga-
ton"
"But you took them as an official to
the land office?"
Yes, sir"
CLAWS added that it had always been
the practice to furnish copies of papers
to the forestry bureau in all cases
where that department was cooper
ating.
Now, again, why was it you made
that affidavit?" inquired Senator Root.
"I thought it might be of interest to
President Taft if 1 had another oppor-
tunity to see him"
tT1id Won intend to send if IN Pre- 81
dent Taft?"
II had that in mind"
Ibid you send it?"
mo; l thought [ would show it to
him when he came to Seattle"
"And you did send it where?"
ITO the forest service"
CLAWS added that he thought the af-
fidavid would also be of interest to
Mr.. Garfield.
Not Attacking President
"You did not do it with the idea of
attacking President Taft?" asked SEN
ator Root.
mo"
'You swear you did not?"
81 swear"
did you think it would aid the
president?"
81 did not know; did not think it
would injure him."
"Who Is this man MackenZie?" asked
Representative Madison.
"He Is interested in the Dalton group
of claims in Alaska and is known
among the agents as lobbyist here
in Washington"
"Where does he live?"
'In summer he lives in Alaska, where
he has a townsite at Nelson"
This answer brought out laugh at
the expense of Senator Nelson.
'Who are the principal owners of
Nelson?" was asked.
Mackenzie and former Governor
McGraw."
CLAWS was questioned closely as to
why the statement as to Mr.. Garfield
made such an impression on him..
Because L thought it was true" he
replied.
"Did you regard Mackenzie as a man
of prominence enough to speak know
ingly of such matters?" asked Senator
Root.
"I knew he had been mighty success
full in getting things through congress"
"Was Mackenzie a friend of Presi-
dent Taft?"
mo, SIR
Representative DENLY questioned
CLAWS further about making an affi-
davit of a statement which he said re-
flected on President Taft.
Appeared to Have Influence
CLAWS said the impression Mackenzie
left was that influential people opposed
to Secretary Garfield had urged the
president not to retain Mr. Garfield
for various reasons. He did not say
the president had not retained Gar
field because of his opposition to the
coal claimants.
you thought it was boast by Mac