The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-02
ALASKAN GRAFT CASES.
CLAWS CONTINUES HIS EXPOS.
URE OF CORRUPT OFFICIALS
He Has Documentary Evidence That
Fraud Existed and That Certain
Land Office Officials Were in Lea.
que With the Grafters.

CLAWS concluded his testimony before
the Ballinger-Pinchot congressional
investigating committee late today.
He will be recalled at the resumption
Of the hearing Monday afternoon for
| ross-examination by any of the per-
sons against whom he has made
charges.
CLAWS last day on the stand was
full of interest. 1t developed the ami
mus which long has existed between
the land office and the forestry bureau
and the resentment the land office
people felt when CLAWS called in "the
forestry as they termed it.
The witness also declared that
Representative MeLachan of Califor-
MIA and Representative Kincaid of
Nebraska were interested in Alaska
claims and that Mr.. Ballinger after
being commissioner of the land Office
had acted as attorney for Mr.. Kim
ca'd. CLAWS asserted that Mr.. Bal
linger had suggested to him not L,
pursue an investigation of Congress-
man McLachan, saying there "had
been too much of that sort of thing
In the past" q
CLAWS said he did not see Repre-
sentative McLachan. CLAWS was ask
ed the direct question If he thought
Secretary Ballinger and Commission
er of the General Land Office Den
nett were in league to do wrong in
the Alaska cases. He replied:
"Well, thought the cases would
he better protected with them out Of
the way"
CLAWS attack seemed to centre
more today upon Commissioner Den
| nett He said he became convinced
in the summer of 1908, that bennett
was crooked" and took steps to Sc
cure carbon copies of letters bennett
was writing back to Washington
Several of these letters were intro
duced. One of these INTRODUCED was
from Commssionr bennett to S. FL.
Schwartz. chief of the field service,
dated July 20, 1909, at Seattle and
said among other things:
my dear Schwartz: The worst
situation on the line is the one find
here. Our friend CLAWS. He re-
garded me with suspicion and after
talking while showed me your tele-
gram assigning the coal cases to
Sheridan. Now figure that CLAWS
Is preparing to make cushion for
himself to fall back on, and also put
ting himself in shape to have a great
story In case Sheridan does not make
good and succeed in cancelling the
Cunningham cases.
While he looks innocently at me
yet I can see that his heart is bad,
though why 1t should be I car not
tell, except that he wanted to drag
the case out. He may be sincere,
OF course in his idea that he has not
been given time and opportunity. He
asserts that he will help Sheridan all
ne can. but 1t is not human nature,
or at least not his human nature.
The atmosphere is not good at all.
THAT he is playing the forestry
there Is no question. The innocent
look he gave me when I told him he
was dragging in Shaw. etc.. when
there was no necessity was beautiful.
He has also talked conservation very
strongly. CLAWS talking conserva-
ton! All round he is ugly and he is
preparing to be as unpleasant as he
can, at least that is my solution of
the situation.
CLAWS processes the greatest
friendship to you and I think you
know him better than any one else,
and this is certainly the worst stu
alton we have. He will make about
40 favorable and about 500 unfavor-
able reports; the way things will
commence to drop will be amusing"
The morning session had not pro-
ceeded very far when Senator Nelson
clashed with CLAWS who had intimat-
ed that attempts had been made to
hinder him In the investigation Of the
Alaska cases during the period from
october, 1908, to April, 1909
I'm any of your talks with Land
Commissioners bennett was there as a
matter Of fact any attempt to hinder
you In your work?" asked the chair
man.
"Yes, they did," replied CLAWS.
CLAWS went into some detail about
hA ytatN 4