The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-02

about this difference between US sAlu
the Secretary. but he added excitedly,
the truth. the truth.
Mr. Vertrees asked the witness a num-
Der Of questions, but did not succeed in
bringing out any new testimony. except
that he disapproved OF Pinchot's method
of Throwing a blanket over the Presi-
dents message. by getting his side of
the case before the country at the same
time
Pinchot CrOss-examined.
The cross-examination of Mr.. Pinohot
was begun after Secretary Wilson left
the stand His uncertainty as to his age
caused laugh,
How old are your" asked Mr.. Yer
trees.
Mr. Pinchot hesltated for few seconds.
"Forty-four or forty-hve." he answered.
hesitatingly.
Pinchot denied that he had been insub-
ordinate.
Had you done anything else that was
wrong?" asked Mr.. Vertrees.
DO you think that am here to admit
that?'' countered Pinchot.
Mr.. Veruees then sought to show that
Pinchot, former Secretary Garfield, Gla-
Wis, Price, and Shaw were in a movement
looking to the political destruction Of Sec
rotary BalIinger.
I don't know of any such movement"
replied Pinchot IF you ask me If there
is a conservation movement I will answer
yes. and that It is being pushed. no mat
ter who It hurts
That includes Secretary Ballinger7"
Yes; but the movement cannot prop
erly be described as an effort TO get any
particular man or set Of men out OF the
way. That is not what We are after
who are we? asked Mr. vertrees.
The friends Of conservation" replied
PInchot
CLAWS. Pinchot. and Garfield ars in
cluded in that we, are they nOtY"
Yes" rephel Pinchot; they are a
very big we"
Asked to specify some Of the acts OF
Secretary Ballinger which he regarded as
wrong. Mr. Pinchot said that BaIlinger'
attitude on the ranger sites. the Cunning
ham claims. and water power sites led
him to that conclusion. At that point Mr..
Vertrees asked for an adjournment in
order that he might prepare himself for
further cross-examination, and the COM
mittee adjourned until next Friday morn
ing at 10 O'Clock
AT the morning session Mr.. Pinchot
read several letters which passed be-
tween himself and President Taft. in
more than one OF which the President
e1uraoSa6 HE appraofasfo-, % e. III,
able work being performed by Pinchot
and hoping that he would find it possible
10 remain in the government service. The
President also expressed faith in Secre-
tary Ballinger. One Of these letters was
written TO Pinchot by the President after
Secretary Ballinger had been held guilt
less of the charges made by Claws.
This letter also stated that the President
was displeased with an interview given
out by ormsby McHarg. who was then
Assistant Secretary OF Commerce and
Labor. In which he criticised former
President Roosevelt
Presidents Letter TO PinchOt.
The text of President Taft's letter 10
Mr.. Pinchot is as follows
Beverly, Mass. September Is, 1893.
My dear Clifford: enclose herewith q
letter which / am about 10 send 10 Secre-
tary Ballinger for such use as he sees At.
in reference to the charges made by
CLAWS against Secretary BaIlinger.
Pierce. bennett. and Schwartz. I have
reached this conclusion only after q very
full consideration of Claws statement.
and their answers 70 il; Bat I never
| reached a conclusion based on a stronger
conviction than this one Is
CLAWS seems 20 be man who has ac-
CURED but one Idea. and who has allowed
his suspicious TO grow to such a point
as TO be altogether disingenuous in the
statement OF evidence which he adduces
TO sustain his attack upon his superiors-
Il have made no reference 10 you in
this matter. which will probably be made
public. because ] do not wish to bring
you into the controversy at all. I have
advised Mr.. Ballinger and his subordi-
mates that I wish your name left out OF
the matter in their answers and refer
ences, should IL become necessary, as is
not unlikely. TO send the whole record to
Congress. / am aware from the tone Of
your letter. and from your conversation
with me. that you do not give to Mr.
Ballinger the confidence and trust which
do; and in this respect I think you do
Mr.. Ball!nger injustice. I think YOU
have allowed your enthusiastic interest
in the cause Of conservation. and your
Impotence at legal obstacles and diff
culties. 90 mislead you in this regard. and
gard as suspicious q number of things
which, when weighed in the light OF
all the circumstances now shown. are
lacking in evidential force to sustain such
grevious charge as that of bad faith
against officials who have heretofore
shown themselves TO be entirely trust
worthy.
Warned Him of Claws.
IT write this to urge upon you that YOU
do not make Claws cause yours. You
had no access TO the records which CLAWS
had access TO, and you did not know the
explanation for some of the things that
he pointed out as suspicious which he
ought to have made known to you and
10 NE I cannot for a minute permit him
to remain a subordinate in the Interior
Department, or in the public service It
would be fatal to proper discipline On
the other hand, I wish you 70 know that
have the utmost confidence in your con-
scientious desire to serve the government
and the public, In the intensity of your
purpose to achieve success. in the matter
of conservation of national resources. and
in the immense value of what you have
done and propose to do with reference to
forestry and kindred methods Of conser-
walton; and that I am thoroughly In sym
pathy with all of these policies and pro-