Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-02


clash between Clifford Pinchot and
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson over
the disputed question as to whether or
not the secretary had given the former
forester permission to write to Sena-
tor Dolliver the letter which resulted
in Mr.. Pinchot's dismissal, came today
before the Ballinger- Pinchot investi-
eating committee. Mr.. Pinchot de-
clared he had discussed the matter at
| length with Secretary Wilson and that
he understood his superior officer had
given him express permission to write
to Senator Dolliver
| Secretary Wilson Immediately took
the stand and asserted that while he
| had given Mr.. Pinchot permission to
write to Senator Dolliver concerning
departmental AFFAIRS he never did.
and never would, give him permission
to write letter criticizing the Presi-
dent of the United States.
| Under cross examination almost
wholly by the Democratic members of
the committee, Secretary Wilson was
uncertain as to just what had passed
between himself and the forester and
| became somewhat mixed at times as
to just what letters the committeeman
| were referring to in their rapid fire of
questions. The secretary reiterated
again and again that he never saw or
heard of the letter Mr.. Pinchot wrote
until it was read in the Senate
Secretary Wilson was plainly agtat-
ed when he took the stand. Mr. Pinchot
had been reluctant to testify to any
thing that would bring him into con-
troversy with the chief under whom
he had served II years. But Chairman
| Nelson insisted that he should go into
the matter.
| Mr.. Pinchot declared that he and
| Secretary Wilson went so far as to
| discuss the executive order issued by
! President Taft forLidding subordinate
| officers of the various departments
| from giving information to Congress-
| men and he added that the secretary
said:
You and l will have no trouble
| about that order"
| Admitting that his meriofy failed
MIN as to certain points, Secretary Will
son also came back to the statement
that he never under any circumstances
would have given Mr.. Pinchot permits
sion to write the letter which caused
| his separation from the service.
The secretary said he urged Mr..
| Pinchot not to carry out his pur-
pose % blanket a message from the
President generating Ballinger, by
sending in letter to Senator Dolliver.
| But" persisted counsel for Mr..
Pinchot, eff Mr. Pinchot was only to
be permitted to write about depart
mental matters, how could you have
thought this letter would blanket the
| Presidents message
Il don't know. That was Pinchot's
idea"
The day was replete with incidents.
! The cross-eXamination of Mr.. Pinchot
was begun late in the afternoon and
will he continued when the committee
meets again Friday.
Mr.. Pinchot denied that he had been
imbittered by a dismissal which he
considered was not justified. He denied
also that there was a specific move
ment to discredit Mr.. Ballinger He
| added however, that he and Former
Secretary Garfield, CLAWS and others
are concerned in movement for the
conservation of natural resources and
that they regarded Mr.. Ballinger as
one OF the greatest enemies of that
movement.
There was a surprising development in
the investigation today when Clifford Pin
| chot announced to the committee that he
based his charge that Secretary Ballingei
had been guilty of making statements to
the President that were absolutely false
| t;,I rt;o 4
letter from Mr.. Ballinger himself. but
from a letter written by J. T. Ronald,
former law partner of Mr.. Ballinger, to
DR.. Lyman Abbott. Mr.. Pinchot said a
copy of this letter. with annotations, was
forwarded by Mr.. Ballinger to the Pres
ident.
Mr.. Pinchot admitted when questioned
by the committee that the three state
ments in the Ronald letter which he
claimed to be false, had previously been
covered by letter written by Mr.. Bal
linger himself to the President in which
Mr.. Ballinger had stated what the wit
ness admitted was a true statement OF
the facts. Mr. Pinchot said he did not at
tempt to reconcile these two facts
Before this development the interest OF
the morning session had conferred In the
introduction in evidence by Mr.. Pinchot
of a long letter written to him by Presi.
dent Taft in September last. In this let
ter the President denounced CLAWS as dis.
ingenious, warned Mr.. Pinchot against
making Claws cause his own. declared
he was sorry Mr.. Pinchot did not have
the same confidence and trust in Mr.. Bal.
linger as he did, and lastly, declared that
controversies between the departments al
| Washington must cease.