New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-24
ton which led him to write TO President

1aft on August 10. 1909. from Spokane
SIS follows:
The deplorable fact which ] learned
when I came here, tina; water power
sites have been acquired on lands re-
etored. after the restoration end before
The second withdrawal. viii greatly slim
ulate the search for similar cases"
Mr.. Smith said be wes not greatly i'm
pressed by Mr. Evans. He referred TO
him as "a newspaper man when he wes
not sailing under false colors." He said
ne explained 20 Mr.. Pinchot that Evans
had simply eliminated decimal point TO
make his figures read 1855 acres, in
stead OF 1855 acres. Governor Pardee
used the Evans information in his speech
ri Spokane when he charged that with
in eight days or within few days after
the order (of restoration) most IL not ALL
OF the power sites had been grabbed by
private interests"
The Magazine Campaign.
Mr.. Smith said that Of course, Mr..
Price referred 10 Secretary Ballinger in
making this comment Judge Nertrees
suggested that Mr.. Price had in mind
publicity campaign in certain newspa-
pers and magazines against Secretary
Ballinger. and this brought from the
witness some interesting comment He
said he used 20 take Golfers" for the
facts Il contained. but now he read IL
for it's fiction. Senator Nelson suggest
ed that the same comment would apply
20 'Hampton's Magazine" IL recent ar
ticle dealing with Alaska was a fair
sample.
Again referring to the irrigation con-
eress at Spokane, Mr.. Smith said that
Mr. Pinchot told him that If that man
BsIlinger or anybody else criticises Jim
Garfield at Spokane the fight viii be on
and III lead it" Mr.. Smith said he saw
no reason for q fight inasmuch as Mr..
Bsninger had done nothing that could
be criticised.
The witness then related certain in
cidents connected with the Spokane con-
eress Neither Mr. Pinchot nor Mr.. Bal
linger said anything that disturbed the
harmony Of the proceedings. and every
thing was going smoothly until Mr.. Pin
chot's friend and ally broke in" with an
address on the Sins OF Ballinger." This
she side Of Governor Pardee and Mr..
Smith defending the Secretary Of the
Interior.
Mr.. Smiths Letter.
The following letter. written by Di-
rector Smith OF the Geological Survey,
TO his chief clerk on August ls. 1909
was introduced in evidence:
Nv dear Colonel: Herewith is the record
Of the Pinchot- Ballinger trouble. which
came 10 head at Spokane. AS my rep
reSentative YOU ought 20 have the Facts
e sq the Eo Surrey S1 out Of q he night as have
tod Secretary Balinger, except When
something concerning the Survey is
II Is evident that this is not a fight
waRed primarily in behalf Of the Reclarna-
dates back 10 Commissioner Ballingers ao-
ministrsfion, when there were oinerences
OF opinion between the General Land Office
ARD the Forest Service. as vel as the Re
clamstion Service. The whole conservation
movement IL now linked UP with Mr. Pm
chot's views on the subject so that
orr hodoNy IN the ca use means agreement
with MI PiDchot.
As look AT Il. any issue is 20 be raised
that can be made against Secretary Bal
lineer. not because OF that issue but be
cause Secretary Bsllnger is 10 be over
az constructing I even believe the Re
clametion Service trouble Is exploited
simply 10 aid Mr.. Pinchot. don't know
20 what extent Mr. Newell may be in
volved. though ] know he has been sd-
vised bN NJ Kenny. II not by others OF
sbe T2ecis-na ton Service 10 keen out Of st.
80 5000 ~ trciiye.S 20 beiiey-e that ~
had the Reclamation Service kept out Of
this fight his chances 20 retain his position
would be fairly good.
Bat at Spokane. IL was current talk that
the Reclamation Service publicity bureau
was working with rhe Forest Service people
] was thankful however. that Mr. pinchOt's
bitter attack on me the day I left Wash
ington, Of which asked Mitchell 70 tell
tsrv Garfield In as an issue that could in
fuence me. Mr.. Pinchot told me that
every move q Secretary Ballinger was In
Epired by desire 10 discredft Secretary
Garfield and that IL there was any crit-
cisn 81 Secretary GARFIELD he would lead
the fight against Bsllinger.
No Criticism Of Garfield.
Now, there was no criticism Of Secretary
Garfield ana YET The hsh' came on as
issues were shaped. the orators chosen.
the newspapers prined-in short all guns
were loaded. The result was the power site
charge was defective and the Alaska coal
charges went OF earlier than planned.
The addresses by Newell. Pinchot. Bal
50 good and n good taste that those who
looked for trouble were disappointed. Then
Governor Pardee who was down 20 speak
on Irrigation Interests 81 thu People "
spoke on the Sins Of Ballinger" and
though he told me that be intended moth
have me tell Secretary Bsllinger So he in
sinusted that Ballinger was either fool
or q knave and rather intimated the tat
ter as his favorife hypothesis This was
Wednesday afternoon.
The Secretary and Newell left that even
ing and though ] had planned 20 leave at
. clock myself. At the Secretary asked
ne 70 remain and 60 on the department.
watch service This meant that ! was. 10
refute Governor Psr6ee's nsstatenents
and stand out IN the open. opposed 20 Mr.
Binchof and his associates.
] W8s careful 20 make every move Ia the
open. even a. the risk Of having them
forestall my moves, and ] kept "a touch
with Mr.. Pnchot and his advocate as
well as his reporter. Evans. and whatever
resentment Mr. PiEchOt may feel al my
activity he expressed n IN the statement
that I had gone on record as supporting
Secretary BallinRer. though IN our many
talks he showed none OF the resentment
and bitterness that chara cterized his ia
ria wing al the time 10 make an uneQuivo-
llneer's policies as ] know them and vet
70 AVOID any break with Pinchot or Par
dee. d think j succeeded.
Before I spoke on Thursday MCGEE and
President f3arstOw tried 10 switch me over
70 Friday. but j refused 10 wait. Then We
agreed on between 4 and p that fore
noon and when that time came they tried
80 keep me Of the platform on the ground
that Pardee upstairs IN q resolution
committee meeting but inssmEch as the
Governor knew from my lips that ! was
20 epeak that forenoon. ] stood on my
right 20 the platform and pouced that