The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-01
P|NcHOT Can NOT
QUOTE PRESIDENT
Conversations With Taft
Barred by Congressional
Committee
FORESTER RESUMES
THE WITNESS STAND
Tells Of Birth of His Suspicious
Regarding Ballinger-Reads
Letters From Roosevelt and
Taft-Praises CLAWS.

WASHINGTON, March i.--Presi-
Dental conversations will not be adj
mftted IN evidences 70 be brought be-
fore the congressional committee in
4 vestigAung the Baliinger- Pinchot
controversy.
After short executive session to-
day II was announced that the Pin
chot attorneys would not press for
decision on the questions rs to whe-
Their q witness should be permitted
70 relate the substance of conversa-
tions with the President.
The decision on the part OF the
prosecution relieved the commit
tee OF the dilemma of ruling on the
subject.
Attorney Pepper then took up his
examination of clifford Pinchot where
he left of Saturday. when the wit
ness said that in July. 1909. he had
first heard OF the Cunningham coal
elaine. the matter being brought TO
his attention by forest service officials
In Washington, who had received a
telegram from Claws on the 18th.
Al this time Pinchot was In the
West.
when ! heard what my subordi-
mates in Washington had done reia-
tive To Glavis' sequest for 4 post
ponement of the hearings on the
4EsH.iHFFFgEe44-4sf
thoroughly" he declared.
Letter From Roosevelt.
Pepper questioned the witness as
to the regularity OF the step taken
by the forest service in carrying out
= e.re4Hest- fer a rscseponemert
and In reply rinchot read a letter.
dated May IL. 1905, To tha Secretary
OF the Interior and signed hy Prcsl-
dent Roosevelt. asking the secrH14yy
70 ce-operate ~ Tar ~ pua1sefe With
/ the Secretary of Agriculture. and
whan possible to accept his findings
~ fact when the iAnds concerned
we're In forest reserves.
Mr.. Pinchot corroborated Claws
testimony as to the iatter's CONVEX
sa&ions with him ut Spokane. on An
gust .. when the land office a9ent
told the forester Of his fears that the
Cunningham entries would he patent
Cd.
WAS IL by appointment" demanded
] Senator Fletcher,
No, sir said Piachot. CLAWS
told me what ne has since told the
committee. continued the witness.
He spoke Of Publishing all the story
Of the Cunningham group. He feared
the claims would 20 to patent and
he wanted 70 call public attention to
tho matter to defeat this,
Forcsaw Scandal
II was very much impressed by
Claws statements. told him II was
his duty to lay the matter before
the president nj the earliest possible
moment. Ii seemed TO me that there
was likely to arise a great public
ncAndAl--sueh a one AZ has since
artSen--And thought he should pro-
tert himself and the administration"
Tho witness said he. gave CLAWS let
ters Of Introduction 10 the president.
II had known Of Claws he added.
for several years. and always favor
ably.''
subsequently, Pinciapt said. A. w.
Shaw, assistant law offlcer OF the
forest servtce. went to Chicago.
Right here said the witness. Il
want 10 explain why Shaw was sent
u Chtcaxo. There has been a great
deal OF Misunderstanding a. to this.
81 befng said that he went there to
II sasf CLAWS in writing the story
&Sirh later appeared In Golfers
n Weekly. This Ia not 30. ! sent him 10
Chicago TO help CLAWS prepare his
report to the presfdent"
Pinchot caused quite laugh when
Ne specified that he had spent part
az his vacation In the summer OF 1899
with Senator Flint. at Catalina island.
California, Hint. one OF the commit
tee members. enjoyed the joke. The
California senator came to the hearing
to-day. with his left eye bitndfoided
ana apparently suffering considerable
pain.
A letter which Ptnchot had received
from President Taft. dated Sept. ID.
wy1R then read by the witness.
WA letter 10 addressed Dear Gift
enclose herewith" it says, "a
letter s~hich ! am about to send to
Secretary Baiiinger Tor SUCH use as
He seex nj. In referAn~A ~ the
1 charges made b. CLAWS against Secrc-
FAIRY Hallinger. Pierce. bennett and
fGchwArtx. have reached this con-
I C1Maton only after q very full con-
& aiderAfiOn or CLAWS statement and
Xfheir answers 10 Il: but never reach
conclusion based on a stronger
0AnvIction than this one is
fGi4vin seems to be man who
has acquired but one idea. and who
u isAa eflowed his suspicious to grow to
4 rssch u point as to be altogether dis
Il fnReuuous In the statement Of cyl
& Aerce which he adduces TO sustain
4 1sis attack upon his superfors.
4 III have made no reference TO you
Nm this letter. which Will probably be
s}Nnde pubiic, because do not wish
{ al nave advised Mr., BalltnEer and
i 3sis e,lbordfnates that I wisa your
{ nnunS ieft out or the matter In their
AnnweSa and references. should II be-
ZhrryfU feceesafy, a. IL mt unlikely. TO
send tie whole record to Congress
Trussa nalllnger.
I IT IN aware from the tone 81 your
1l &.z-~s 44<r@s