Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-05-04
BALLINGER DENIES
ALASKAN INTERESTS
Gives Lie to Claws and Declares He
Had No Relations With Cum
ningham Claimants.

Secretary r. A. Ballinger before the
congressional investigating commit
tee today. 1t was in response to a
question by his attorney as to the
relations between the secretary and
his chief forester.
II had supposed they were friend
ly," said Secretary Ballinger, slow
ly, as if weighing his words. II
realized that Clifford Pinchot and I
were not in accord on many ques-
tiOns of policy. / differed with him,
but l thought l might differ with
him without being considered
criminal for so doing"
This answer came at the end of
four hours of rapid questioning,
when the committee was about
ready to adjourn. 1t left the i'm
preston that Pinchot will be a lead
ing topic tomorrow at the hearing,
when Secretary Ballinger will re-
sumo the stand. 1t is expected his
examination Will last at least three
days more, for thougA neither
PinchOt nor CLAWS is here, both are
represented by lawyers who are
primed for cross examination.
Mr.. Ballinger was asked whether
he and Mr.. Garfield had parted
friends. Mr.. Balllnger said that
when he retired from office, Mr..
Garfield wrote him letter wishing
him success. He replied TO it after
his return to Seattle. The reply was
produced and passed over to Mr..
Ballinger to read from the witness
chair.
GIVES CLAWS THE LIE
Questioned about Glavis's testi-
mony that when they met In Sc
attic in the summer of 1898. Bal
l1nger said that the Cunningham
CLAIMS were in bad way, the wit
ness broke in on the question before
it was finished and said:
THAT is a deliberate lie, like
many others of his statements to
this committee. It is another con
temptible attempt of that man
CLAWS 30 besmirch my character.
Passing to the time when he be-
came secretary of the interior, Mr..
Ballinger testified that he burned
all his bridges behind him, dissolved
his law firm and severed all cOnnec-
ton with corporations.
Before the direct examination Of
the cabinet member was begun,
Attorney Brandeis stated that he
would like to call the committees
attention again to his request for
,oa,oor, 80 4 ~ oVooora ydo boaripCr On
the attorney generals summary OF
the CLAWS charges, ard to renew
his request in a modified form, as
he needed the papers in The cross
examination of Mr.. Ballinger.
After considerable discussion the
committee decided to grant the OPP
position counsel hearing on the
request tomorrow.
TELLS OF HIS CAREER
Mr.. Ballinger was then sworn and
told the story of his career up to
the time he became commissioner
general of the land Office on the
earnest solicitation of President
Roosevelt, Secretary Garfield and
Senator Piles He referred to the
anti-vice crusade he led while mayor
of Seattle.
"They knew 1 would enforce the
law, and I did," he said emphati-
cally.
Mr.. Ballinger read kilograms he
had received from Mr.. Garfield and
Mr.. Roosevelt after he had replied
negatively to a suggestion of SEN
ator Piles that he accept the post of
commissioner of the land Office.
Reading from the Roosevelt tele-
gram, he said:
1T is your duty to help me. You
and Garfield will lift an immense
burden from my shoulders"
1t was then, Mr.. Ballinger said,
that he decided to accept the post.
Mr.. Vertrees asked Mr.. Ballinger
whether he knew any Of the Gun
ningham Alaskan coal claimants at
the time ne became commissioner.
He said he was not aware he knew
any of them at that time, but he
since discovered that he knew about
SIX Of them. whom he named.
''Did you have any interest In
Alaskan lands?" asked Mr.. VertreeS.
NO INTEREST IN ALASKA.
IT had no interest in Alaska or
any other lands whatsoever, either
directly or indirectly" said Mr.. Bal
linger.
Mr.. Ballinger then told of having
come to Washington and of an in
tervieW he had at the WhitehOuse
with President Roosevelt soon after
his arrival. Raising his voice Mr..
Ballinger said:
1.-THE president said 30 me as he
greeted me: I have no apologies
to make, Ballinger Pm glad you
are here. Any man who could clean
up Seattle as you did can clean up
that land Office"
Mr.. Ballinger said he and Chief OF
Field Division Schwartz had gone
over the report on the claims Of II.
Y T.nu1 ,Dan5n IN t7Cr71Gt 3 1907