Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-03-05


Writing Of Such a Letter-Ballinser
Charges Based on Partners Letter.
Washington March Clifford Pin
chOt testified before the Ballinger-
Pinchot joint investigating committee
that be had the consent OF James viii
son. secretary Of agriculture. and bis
superior officer, 20 write his letter 70
Senator DOlliver. This is the letter
that resulted in Pinchot's dismissal by
President Taft from the forestry ser
vice on the ground OF characterization.
Secretary Wilson, who IS said TO
have voted ia a cabinet meeting for
Pinchot's dismissal sat only few feet
from the former forester when he
made this statement. Later the vet
eran cabinet member took the witness
chair and. angry clear through, de
Clared that he never had authorized
/ the sending of the letter.
10 was the most dramatic incident
that has occurred in the Ballinger-
Pinchot investigation. The aged sec
rotary fairly shouted his denial and
| brought his fist down on the table with
bang. The secretary. Il is true was
obliged TO qualify his denial He had.
he admitted, given Mt PinchOt permits
sion 60 write 20 Senator Dolliver. Civ
ing him departmental Information but
he never intended the authorization
to cover a letter which would Insult
the president OF the United States"
There was a surprising development
at the session when Pinchot anuounc-
ed TO the compittee that he based his
charge that Secretary Ballinger had
been guilty OF making statements 20
the president that were absolutely
false in three essential particulars"
not upon n letter from MT Ballinger
himself. but upon n letter written by
J. T. Ronald. a former law partner Of
Mr.. Ballinger. 10 DR.. Lyman Abbott
Mr. Ronald, in his letter. said that
without knowledge OF the records he
felt no hesitation In contending In be
half Of Mr. Ballinger that CD Mr..
Jones the special agent. never made a
report dealing with the Cunningham
claims; that CD the order revoking
the clear listing of the CUNNINGHAM
claims was net based upon a protest
by CLAWS. and that CD Mr.. BallinEcr
never appeared before a congressional
committee in the interest OF any
Alaska claimants.
Mr.. Pinchot said 20 appeared from
a copy OF Mr. Ronald's letter which
he read that Mr. Ronald based his
statements on a magazine article con
tanning charges against which we're
noted the marginal notes mo" In Mr..
Ballinger's handwriting.
Mr. Pinchot elaine that Jones in
his testimony befoi ut committee
, showed he had reported on the Cum
ningham claims, that Mr. Ballinger ad-
mittcd in O. letter 10 the president that
| the clear listing order was revoked
on the protest Of CLAWS. and that Mr..
Ballinger in his testimony before a
congressional committee referred to a
group of thirty-three claims. which
could have meant only the Cunning
ham interests
Mt Pinchot said a copy OF this let
ter, with nnnotations. was forwarded
by Mr.. Ballinger to the president.
Mr.. Pinchot admitted when ques-
toned by the committee that the three
statements IN the Ronald letter. which
he claimed 10 be false, had previously
been covered by n letter Written by
Mr.. Ballinger himself TO the president.
in which Nr. Ballinger had stated
what the witness admitted was a true
statement Of the facts Mr.. Pinchot
said he did not attempt 20 reconcile
these two facts.
Before this development the interest
had center-d in the announcement bv
Mr.. Pinchoi that ne would not press
COR a decision as TO whether or not
ne should Ae allowed 20 give his yer.
sion of conversations with President
Taft and the introduction in evidence
by Mr. Pinchot Of a long letter written
10 him by President Taft in Septem-
Der last
In this letter President Taft de
nounced CLAWS as disingenous. warned
Mr.. Pinchot against making Claws
cause his own. declared he was sorry
Mr.. Pinchct did not have the same
confidence and trust in Mr. Baninger
as ne did. and. lastly declared that
controversies between the departments
In Washington must cease.
He referred in this particular TO an
alleged interview with Ormsby Nc
Harg, former assistant secretary of
commerce and labor. in which Mr..
McHarg was reported TO have said
that Theodore Roosevelt must have
thought himself the Lord"
The witness next told of his inter
view with CLAWS at Spokane. Wash.
On Aug. 8, 1909 The meeting was not
by appointment and Mr.. Pinchot said
he possibly had met CLAWS once be-
fore; he was not sure. CLAWS laid all
his evidence before him. Mr. Pinchot
said. and spoke of publishing the en-
tire narrative
Il was deeply impressed by what
CLAWS said and urged him 70 go to
the president. did this because I
thought a scandal would arise as it
, since has arisen, and I thought the
president ought 20 have an opportunity
10 protect himself and his administra-
ton"
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