The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-02-27

Washington, Feb. 26.--With Clifford
pinchot on the witness stand. the
Ballingcr- Pncho. inquiry entered It's
second phase today. The dismissed
chief Of the forestry bureau. before
being sworn. dramatically declared
that, when his story had been told,
.thc country would demand verdict
'in harmony with the general con
viction that the secretary of the IN
terror has been unfaithfu to the pub
lie. whose property he has endangered,
and to the president. whom he has
deceived
Mr.. CLAWS. the Cunningham coal
claims and Attorney Brandeis all stood
aside to make room for Mr. Plnchot,
for Attorney George Wharton Pep
per, his personal counsel, and for his
story of Secretary Ballingcr's deal
ings with the water power sites of the
public domain. Mr.. Plnchot accused
Secretary Balllnger of having made
an explanation OF his conduct to the
president that was essentially false.
He charged him with being dan
gerous enemy to conservation. He
charged him with having made a
statement shown by undisputed doc
umentary evidence ito be absolutely
false In three essential particulars. .
He charged him with having "wilfully
deceived the president" and of being
Auisloyal to the president.
=. Mr.. Pinchot's first hours ON the
witness stand were as replete with
sensation as had been promised, and
the suffocating crowd In the hearing
room hung intently upon every word
that fell from his lips. A trifle ncrv-
Gus at first, Mr.. Pinchot soon became
accustomed to his surroundings and
maintained IA confident poise there.
after. His recital had not prog.
ressed far, however. when ther,
came an objection from Mr.
Ballngers attorney as to the witness
repeating conversations with Pfesi
dent Taft. II was contended that the
relation of these conversations Wout
put the president In the attitude
where he would either have to remain
silent or else appear before the com
mittee as witness, which 1t was de,
elared, would be undesirable.
Question Argued.
The question was argued for somt
time. and In his statement OF the mat
ter the attorney for Mr.. pinchot ad'
! mittcd that President Taft. In letter
~ Gifbsnn1ant fn /.
ftion had declared his recollection o.
what transpircd at the interview diff
fered In some particulars from that o.
Mr.. Pinchot. The matter was pn
over for consideration by the com
mlttee and 1t Is expected decision
will be announced when the next ses
sion is held Tuesday morning.
Mr.. PInehot followed up the Wig
orous attack made upon Secretary
Ballinger in his opening statement b,
declaring he fully believed in specia
Agent CLAWS and was convinced al
along that what CLAWS had said wal
true. He characterized CLAWS as /
faithful public servant" and declared
the facts which he presented prove,
that Mr. Ballinger had been unfaith
full To his trust as the guardian o
public property of enormous value.
The conservation movement begul
under the administration of Presiden
Roosevelt was progressing splendid.
up 10 the time President Taft an,
Secretary Balinger took office. de
clared Mr.. Pinchot, He charged tina
In less than a month thereafter Sec
retary Ballinger practically had brok
EN- the backbone of the central Idea .
the conservation movement by restor
Ing previously withdrawn water. powe
sites to the public domain and layinl
them open to private appropriation an,
monopoistic control
Gave No Hint.
Mr. Pinchot declared when the res
toratlons were made Mr.. Bulllnge
| gave no hint that he would re-with
| draw the power sites and that as
t matter of fact he did not re- Withdra,
any of them until after Mr.. Plncho
| had gone to the president and made
vigorous protest. The restorations b
| Mr.. Balinger were made without an
. Investigation Of the subject whatever
. said Mr.. Pinchot, and he charged th
secretary with having deiberate
| ordered officers of the reclamatio
service, against their will. to recon-
mend that some of the restoration
should be made. Mr.. Pinehot declare
Director Newell of the reclamation
service would be called as one of hi
witnesses to prove his charges agalns
Secretary Ballinger.
The former secretary Of the interlo
James r. Garfield, II was announced
also would be one of Mr.. Pinchot
hackers. One OF the most dramat
incidents of the day, was left for tn