New-York tribune., 1910-01-29
HEAR CLAWS AGAIN
THE ALASKA CLAIMS.
.Anti-Ballinger Publicity Cam
paieus Continued.
[Frcn, The Tribune Bureau.

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Jan. 2S-The Ballinger-Pin-
chot investigation to-day developed little
except the fact that the systematic and
organized publicity campaign 10 discredit
the Secretary of the Interior. and indirectly
10 ernbarrass the Taft administration. has
not been abandoned and that ii is supplied
with ample funds Two sessions were held
by the investigating committee, Louis r.
CLAWS being on the stand at both meetings
and not ending his testimony.
When the committee met for its after
noon session the press representatives re-
porting the proceedings found at their
places a strongly partisan memorandum
setting forth the principal points brought
cut by CLAWS. rejecting. or intending to
reflect on the official conduct of Secretary
Ballinger. At the close of the afternoon
session another memorandum found its way
10 the press table The source of these
memoranda is not disclosed. The second
instalment was marked. For information.
no: for publication" 1t contained seven
fypewritten pages, was replete with mar
enal notes giving references to reports and
other documents. and was in the nature OF
brief, summarizing the points relating TO
the clear-listing of the Cunningham coal
claims, which. it asserted. would be the
most important point investigated by the
committee. The memorandum contained
criticisms OF Secretary Ballinger. Commits
sioner bennett and other officials, and
closed as follows:
The influence of the Love report upon
the mind of any one who desires TO protect
the peoples interest would have been to
arouse still further suspicion against the
Cunnnghams Instead of holding up the
claims on receiving Loves report, Mr.. Bal
finger Immediately clear-listed them
The morning matter came in an envelope
OF the American Conservation Association,
Of whfch Clifford Pinchot recently was
chosen president. The afternoon matter
began: The important developments of
the morning session to-day were" and then
went on 10 recite that the proceedings had
placed Secretary Ballinger in an adverse
light II was said that this service would
continue throughout the investigation.
Thomas r. Shipp. formerly secretary to
Senator Beveridge. OF Indiana, who re-
signed that place to become press agent for
the Bureau of Forestry under Mr.. Pinchot
and became an officer OF the conservation
association when it was formed, is con-
stant attendant at the hearing.
TALK OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
The examination of Mr.. CLAWS to-day
covered the career Of the former special
agent from November. 1907, TO March,
1909. Most Of the questions were asked
by Louis D. Brandeis, attorney for CLAWS,
but from time TO time members of the
committee requested the witness TO elabo-
rate his answers and explain portions of
the correspondence which Mr.. Brandeis
read into the record
Representative Ollie james, one Of the
Democratic members of the committee,
pricked UP his ears when CLAWS said that
Mr.. Ballinger. in 1908, told him that he
wished he would not act on the Cunning
ham claims until after election. AT that
time Mr.. Ballinger was not in public life,
but met Claws at Portland. The witness
said Mr.. Ballinger explained 10 him that
he found il difficult get liberal cam
paign contributions owing to the fact that
the administration was holding up the set
tlement of Alaska coal claims. Accord
ing TO CLAWS, Mr.. Ballinger said that II.
c. Henry and c. J. Smith, Of Seattle, two
of the claimants and former liberal con-
1ributors. would not subscribe to the cam
paign fund. CLAWS said he replied that
he was in the midst of big conspiracy
suit and could not press the Alaska case
If he wanted to. He was not ayerse TO
granting the favor asked, he added.
At the same meeting CLAWS said that
Mr.. Bsllinger was then acting as one of
the attorneys for the Cunninghams and
admitted to him (Glayis) that his clients
were in q bad way about securing title TO
their lands, and asked CLAWS what he
would advise. CLAWS said ne told Mr. Bal
1inger 10 have the Cunninghams relinquish
their claims and have their wives and
friends file on them.
Mr.. DENLY asked if that advice was not
tsntamount 10 advising evasion of the
law. CLAWS replied that he hoped that
some five six hundred others would re-
lnquish their claims if the Cunninghams
gave UP theirs The REIMBURSEMENT and new
filling in the absence Of an agreement in ad-
vance among the new claimants would not
be a violation of the law. Mr.. Mccall sug-
gested that II would be very much like an
advance agreement If the wives Of thirty
three claimants made simultaneous filings
Mr.. CLAWS said that was so, and that Mr..
Ballinger made the same objection when
he suggested it.
Coached by his attorney, Mr.. CLAWS de-
voted considerable time to explaining how
he had been taken off the Alaska coal cases
and directed to investigate land frauds in
Oregon. Members of the committee seemed
TO think that this change had been made
in order TO prosecute important cases iE
Oregon on which immediate action was
necessary 10 avoid the statute of lirnita-
.iors. CLAWS said this was so, but said
ne could have conducted both the Oregon
and Alaska cases at the same time
Senator Nelson seemed to think that
Commissioner Dennetts telegraphic dis
patch of May u, 19Os to Claws advising
him that the President had signed a bill
carrying $4,000 for field work, and Mr..
EDennetr's letter of June 8. 1903, should have
been regarded by CLAWS as instructions to
resume active work on the Alaska cases.
Claws said he did not 30 regard the dis
patch and letter, and that he received no