Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-17
Stenographer Kerby Con-
tradicts Secretary's
Testimony.
ABOUT LAWLER NOTES
Declares Accused Cabinet Men,
Der Read Them Before
Taft Did.

Washington, May IL President
Taft's explanation of the circumstances
under which his letter generating
Ballinger from the CLAWS charges and
the dismissal of CLAWS was prepared
was presented by Chairman Nelson to
the Ballinger Pinchot investigating
committee when the hearing was re-
sumed today. 1t will be printed as a
part OF the committees record.
Aimed Mt CLAWS.
Attorney Brandeis, counsel for Gla,
Wis, has laid great emphasis upon the
presidents letter, contending the mem
orandum upon which it was based was
prepared in Ballingers department by
Assistant Attorney General Lawler.
The president, in the letter which he
addressed to Senator Nelson Sunday,
= says he had Lawler's memorandum be-
afore him when he prepared his COM
smunication, but that he also had notes
and memoranda given him by the at
torney general, VINO had agreed with
the president in the conclusion he had
reached in the matter
Wanted Kerby's Statement.
Chairman Nelson laid before the
committee the presidents letter to him
concerning Taft's letter dismissing
CLAWS and exonerating Ballinger. At
torney Brandeis thought Kerby's state
ment and the presidents denial should
go into record. Nelson said no state
ment by Kerby was before the COM
mittee, whereupon Brandeis said Ker-
by was present and willing to testify.
-==5~es---1zat-aEentss
Kerby then took the stand. He said
he first spoke of Lawler's preparation
of the memorandum fast February to
the private secretary of former Secre-
tary Garfield and later to Garfield at
PiDchot's home and in the presence
of Brandeis. Kerby said Garfield told
him he did not want to endanger his
(Kerby's) position and would not call
him as a witness unless it was neces- |
sary.
Told it to Press.
Kerby admitted he also told the |
story to a Cleveland newspaper man |
a week ago Sunday. He also said he |
told Brandeis of Ballinger's intention |
to remove Director Newell of the rec
lamation and appoint Robert H. |
Thomson of Seattle in his stead. Ker-
by admitted Ballinger had always |
treated him well, but he did not think
there was any impropriety in what he
did in making public this confidential
matter Kerby said Wilson, the Cleve
land newspaper man, assured him he
would be given a position on news
paper if he lost his situation in the
interior department because of giving
out the information.
Tells of circumstances.
Kerby at great length detailed the
circumstances which led him to make
public his statement. He told of
visits to him by various newspaper
men. He said he had many confer
ences with them and said if he had
not been assured position he would
not have adopted the course he did.
Discussed Import.
When the first call for memorandum
came to the department Kerby said
Stenographer Massey, who also assist
ed Assistant Attorney General Lawler
in preparing his memorandum for the
president, said to Private Secretary
Carr:
You know what that means. don't
you?"
} Carr's reply, according to kerby, was
Yes, but they'll nave hard time
getting it."
Told Another Stenographer.
The name of Hugh A Brown, private
secretary to Director of the Census
Durand. who formerly served as secre- :
tary to Garfield in the same capacity,
was brought into the inquiry today. '
Kerby said he had mentioned to Brown {
soon after publication of the presi- ]
dents letter exonerating Ballinger and ]
dismissing CLAWS that I'VE practically I
wrote it in the secretary's Office He
caid he told Brown in confidence, but
the latter mentioned it to Garfield.
Thinks He Was Justified.
DO you think it was a reputable
transaction Senator Root demanded,
ito go to persons unfrieno1y to your
superior with the confidential informa-
tion of his Department."
81 did under the circumstances re-
piled Kerby '"The country had a
right to any facts my superior had be-
fore him. 6
Says BaIIinger FaIsified. Z
Kerby said he read Ballinger's testi- j
mony that he knew nothing of the r
Lawler memorandum and other state
ments which he (Kerby) did not be-
lieve were true. Kerby said he then t