The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1910-02-27
SAYS FACTS PROVE HIS
OPPONENT UNFA|THFUL
Forester Says Entrance of CLAWS Proved Disastrous
10 Work of Conservation, Offering Sen.
SatIOnal Statements to Prove
His Claim.

Washington. Feb. 26.-With Clifford
Pinchot on the witness stand the
Ballinger-Pinchot inquiry entered It's
second phnSe today. The dismissed
chef OF the forestry bureau, before
being sworn dramatically declared
thet, when history had been told, the
country would demand a verdict IN
harmony with the general conviction
that the secretary of the treasury had
been unfalthful TO the public, whose
property he has endangered. and to
th7 president, whom he had deceived
Mr CLAWS, the Cunningham coal
claims and Attorney Brandeis all
stood aside to make room for Mr.
Pinchot. fer Attorney --GeoTge ".
Wharton, his personal friend. and for
his story Of Secretary Balinger's
dealings with the water power sites
OF the public domain.
Mr., Pinchot accused Secretary Bal
llnger with having made an explana-
''on Of his conduct to the president
that was Essentially false" He
charged him with being a dangerous
enemy to conservation. He charged
bin with having made a statement
ny
evidcice Ito be absolutely false In
three essential particulars" He
charged him with having "wilfully
deceived the president and of being
disloyal to the president
Mr. P1nchot's first hours on the WIT
ness stand were as replete with SEN
satIon as he had promised, and the
Suffocntlng crowd in the hearing room
hrp@ intently upon every word that
fell from his lips. A trifle nervous at
first Mr.. Pinchot soon became accus-
toned 10 his surroundings and main
tained n confident polse thereafter.
His recital had not progressed far,
however, when there came an objec-
tion from Mr. Ballingers attorney as
% the witness repeating conversa-
tions with President Taft. It was
oonteDded that the relation of these
conversations would put the president
IN the attitude where he would either
have TO remain silent or else appear
before the committee as witness.
which, II was declared, would be un-
desirable.
The question was argued for some
time. and In his statement OF the mat
ter the attorney for Nr Pinchot ad,
m'tted that President Taft. in a letter
written subsequent to the conversa-
tlcn, hid declared his recollection OF
what transpired ut the interview diff.
fere0 In some particulars from that
p' Air Pinchot The matter was put
over for consideration by the commit
lee. and IL Is expected decision Will
be announced when the next session
Is held Tuesday morning.
Mr Pinchot followed up the vigor-
Gus attack made upon Secretary Bal
llnger In his opening statement by
feclaring he fully believed IN Special
Agent Claws and was convinced all
elong that what CLAWS said was true.
re characterized CLAWS as a faithful
nublic servant. and declared that the
lacls which he presented proved that
Balllnger had been unfaithful TO
Nm trust MS the guardian of public
property OF enormous values
The conservation movbment begun
under the administration OF President
Roosevelt was progressing splendidlv
I'D TO the time President Taft and
Secretary Ballinger took Office. de-
nlared Mr. Pinchot He charged that
In less than a month thereafter Sec.
retory Balllnger had broken the back
hone Of the central idea OF the con-
servatism movement by restoring pre-
previously withdrawn water power
SITES to the public domain and laying
them open to private appropriation
and monopolistic control.
Mr.. Pinchot declared when the
rosioratlons were made Mr.. Ballinger
gave no hint that he would re-with-
draw the powersites. and that as a
matter Of fact.he did not re-withdraw
fny OF them until aftor Mr.. Pinchot
had gone to the president and made
vigorous protest.
The restoratiins Of Mr.. Ballinger
were made without any Investigation
nf the subject whatever. said Mr.
7inchot. and he charged the secretery
With having deliberately ordered OFF,
GERS OF the reclamation service,
against their Will. TO recommend that
some Of the restorations should be
r'ade. MT Pinchot declared Director
Newell OF the reclamation service
would be called as ono of his wit
nesses secretary OF the interior,