Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-29
CLAWS SCORES
BALLINGER FOR
POLITICAL ACTS
Cunningham Case Held
Back Till After Election
to Get Contributions
so CLAIMS WITNESS
Startling testimony Given
to InquiSitorS--PinchOt
Keeps Busy
[speclal o The Herald.l

/ II
| w retary Ballinger caused the
Cunningham coal lands fraud
charges to be held back until after the
national election. SO that several of
the men involved might contribute
literally to the Republican campaign
fund, and that other methods Of re-
tarding, if not of quashing, the
charges were resorted to by the in
terror department, finally resulting in
the dismissal of Louis CLAWS from the
field division of the forestry bureau,
| because of his activity in frequently
1 calling attention to imminent scam
| dals, was charged today, in substance,
at the congressional inquiry into the
acts of Ballinger.
1t was one of the most remarkable
recitals of official derelictions ever
heard in Washington.
Mr. CLAWS declared that in one of
these interviews in October, 1908, Mr..
/ Ballinger told him he was having a
! hard time trying to collect campaign
contributions, and that two men in
volved in the Cunningham claims, who
had been liberal contributors in the
past, had declined to contribute because
they We're angry at not being granted
patents for Alaska coal lands.
Representative James of Kentucky,
| Democratic member of the committee.
pounced on this testimony and cross
examined the witness at some length.
CLAWS said MIR. Ballinger asked him
to hold up on the Alaska cases until
after election. He agreed to do this
! because he had his hands full with
another case.
One of the most interesting develop
ments of the day was the distribution
at both morning and afternoon ses-
sions of a quantity of press matter
which purported to interpret and point
out the significance of the testimony
thus far given at the inquiry.
Press Agents Active
The morning matter came in an en-
velope of the American Conservation
association, of which Clifford Pinchot
recently was chosen presidents This
afternoons matter began:
1.-The important developments of the
morning session today were," and then
went on to recite that the proceedings
had placed Secretary Ballinger in an
adverse light. 1t was said that this
Eservice would continue throughout the
investigation.
Thomas r. Shipp, former secretary
to Senator Beveridge of Indiana, who
resigned that position to become press
agent of the bureau of forestry under
| Mr.. Pinchot, and who became an Of
ficer of the conservation commission
when it was formed, is a constant at
| tendant at the hearing.
The morning session was devoted to
an endeavor by the prosecution to
show the haste in which Mr.. Ballinger
as commissioner of the land office. had
urged the Cunningham Alaska claims
to clear listing for patent. Aside from
documentary evidence read, the after
noon session was taken up almost
wholly with CLAWS story of his inter-
views with Mr.. Ballinger concerning
| the Cunningham land cases.
The inquiry will be resumed at 10
o'clock tomorrow.
An executive session of the Balm
! ger -Pinchot investigation committee
| delayed the operation of today's pro-
ceedings until 1876 a. M, at which
hour Louis r. CLAWS again took the
witness stand. All of the members of
| the committee were present at the
opening of the session.
| Mr.. Pinchot and his dismissed assist
ants of the forest service were early
on hand, but Secretary Ballinger again
was absent
List of Witnesses
Attorney Brandeis, representing Gla-
| Wis, presented to the committee a. long
list of witnesses to be summoned.
CLAWS took up his story where he
testimony in response to questions
| from his attorney.
| CLAWS said that United States Attor-
ney Hoyt had suggested to him in 1907
that he should take up the matter of
the Alaska coal lands direct with Sec
retary of the Interior Garfield.
But / did not think it would look
| well to go over the heads of my supe-
riors," he added.
CLAWS said he did write to P. II.
! Schwartz, then a chief OF the field di-
vision, saying he was worried about
the Alaskan situation and would like
to confide in him.
"It will pain you as much as it has
panied me-" the letter ran, "but I am
! sure you will want to learn the true
situation"
| "What Alaska claims did you refer
to?" asked Representative Olmstead.
| "All of them," replied the witness.
"Some 900 in all?'
Eyes"
At this time Ballinger was commits
sioner of the land Office.
| Attorney Brandeis next took up the
printed document in the case. which
| consists of S07 pages, and spent some
| time in calling the attention of the
commmittee to various letters, tele-
| grams, etc, tending to show Claws
activity in Alaska cases. The attorney
!
| to certain letters which showed the
part Mr.. Ballinger had played as COM
missioner in directing the inquiry.
Prosecutors Purpose
His purpose in this, he said, was to
| indicate that President Taft and At
torney General Wickersham were mis-
taken when they reached the stated
conclusion that Mr.. Ballinger's par
| ticipation in the matter had been
merely formal.
Among the letters read was one from
| Special Agent II. T. Jones calling at
tention to the allegation of the fraudu-
| ilent character of the Alaskan claims.
"That letter was written before
CLAWS came into the matter in any
way?" questioned Senator Nelson.
YES" replied Mr.. Brandeis.
''Then you don't claim CLAWS origin
ally called attention to these claimsT''
mo. In addition to Jones report