Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-06
NOT FAIR OR TRUTHFUL
Continued from First Page)

great many of the projects hi been
initiated without regard TO their te, sibility,
| but in order to give various states their
proportion of the money they had paid to
| the reclamation fund through the sale OF
public lands.
1 Mr.. Ballinger was not able TO give a d.
| rect answer, but said in answer to a guess
| ton by Attorney Vertrees that he had
not been able to get either Of the officials
| of the reclamation service to express any
doubt as to the feasibility OF any pro-
| jects. ~
Mr.. Ballinger was asked about the let
ter in which Mr.. Garfield told the
president that Secretary Ballinger had
instructed Director Newell and Engineer
Davis of the reclamation service to make
the restoration Of lands Withdrawn under
Garfield, slowly, in order not to reflect on
the previous administration. Mr. Ballinger
said he gave no such order and recalled
that no such suggestion had been made.
! IF there was any suggestion" contin-
| ued Mr.. Ballnger, lit was at the instance
of Mr.. Newell, in a letter to Senator La
| Toilette, suggesting such a course The
| fact is that reservations were not made
slowly, but we're made in the course of
| two three weeks as fast as they came
down from the reclamation service. II
was not a fair and truthful statement.
1 had no desire to reflect on the previous
administration. however, and did what
could toeavoid AsHf1 ..
Forestry Policy Reversed.
Mr.. Ballinger said that since Pinchot's
dismissal there has been a reversal Of the
policy of the forestry bureau which held
full sway when Pinchot was In charge.
| II think 1t had the effect Of keeping a
great many people from going to Canada
because there is great deal OF land in our
reserves capable of being developed"
Explain what you meant when you testi-
tied that you had your hands up and could
not get them down and why you remained
silent under criticism" said Attorney Yer
| trees.
Had l followed my natural impulse"
said Mr.. Ballinger. raising his voice, Il
would have made strenuous effort at the
outset, giving the absolute fact OF the con-
spiracy which existed against me and would
have given to the public answers to all OF
the charges preferred against me. But /
obeyed the direction OF my superior and
| supposed that others would remain silent
who had the same obligation to do so that
l did"
Letter from Taft.
Mr.. Ballinger then read letter which
he said the president had written to him
from Beverly, September ID, 1909. 1t is as
follows:
My Dear Mr.. Secretary: / send you in
| letter form my conclusions in regard to the
charges ana other matters. 1 nave stu
dlously reIraintd tfom mentioning Pinchot 4
name in the matter because / 90 not WISH
10 make 1t impossible for HIM to remain
| IN the service.
l value him highly as a public servant
and believe him capable OF further great
usefulness. HIS weakness has been his
LIABILITY to credit high and honorable mo-
yves TO those who differ from him as to
his method of doing things when he is
puruing worthy OBJECT with all the en-
thusiasm of his nature.
| know him we'll and am very fond of
y him personally and mean, IL possible In
spite of this defect to preserve his great
aoility, valuable experience and patriotic
dislnterested zeal for benefit Of the public
service. Please, therefore, advise your sub
ordinates to be very particular not to In
NoNe Mr., Pinchot in this matter and 10
rest silent in view of the complete ac-
Y qulttal they receive from my letter.
Should 1t be necessary, as is not un-
likely, to submit all this record and evil
dence to congress. l shall be glad to have
your authority and that of your subordi-
mates to leave out of your answers any
f. references to Pinchot or the part he took
ton.
have every confidence in both you and
Plnchot. ] know you are both patriotic
and sincere and both favor generally the
same result as TO conservation, but that
YOU are a lawyer like me, and insist on tn,
legal way, while Pinchot is impatient OF
such restraint. ] wish TO secure the high
value of the service Of you both for the
great work before MS. Sincerely yours
i WILLIAM III, TAFT"
P.S-You are at liberty to publish tho
May letter enclosed as soon as you desire
ON second thought, perhaps would have
more weight II 7 gave it out after | have
given time enough for you TO receive II. IT
other words shall give II out Wednes.
day night for Thursday mornings papers
FitAEeraId Wins Easily.
NORTH PLATTE. Neb May 5.-JacI