The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-05-06
CHALLENGES ANYONE TO SHOW
WHERE HE HAS NOT DONE
HIS DUTY.
CLASHES WITH bRANDE|S
Refuses to Answer Question Involving
Hitchcock as Pie Distributor for the
Him-New Taft Letter Referring 1,
Pinchot is Made Public.

| Washington. May 5.-Secretary Bal
/ linger concluded his direct testimony
at the Ballnger- Pinchot hearing ehis
afternoon with the statement that his
every official act had been with the
sole idea of fulfilling his trust.
Il defy anyone to put his finger on
anything | have done while In public
service which was not In line with my
duty and In accordance with my trust"
he said.
Cot nsel for l.. r. CLAWS. one of
Ballinger's chief accusers, took up the
cross examination of the witness.
Within five minutes the expected
clash between them had occurred and
on his very first question Mr.. Brandeis
had to appeal to the committee to "re-
quest Mr.. Ballinger to answer it,
The question involved Postmaster
General Hitchcock as the official pie
distributor of the administration.
! A wrangle between Mr.. Brendeis and
members of the committee ensued and
the result was record vote by which
the committee. 6 to 8. decided Mr.
| Balllnger need not answer more fully.
Admits Interview.
Mr. Bal.inger admitted the now ia.
nous press interview I'm which he as
serted, after his return to Washing
ton subsequent to publication of tho
CLAWS charges that he proposed to
| Kill some snakes"
! He also admitted he had made ref
erence to CLAWS. who he had made up
/ his mind. ought to be killed as
snake
Attorney Brandeis scarcely was well
| launched into cross examination be-
fore the committee adjourned, but In
! the hour and half he questioned the
secretary he succeeded In arousing the
latter's anger several times.
Early in the day Mr.. Balinger con-
tradicted two statements made by for
mer Secretary Garfield. He testified
also that since Pinchot's dismissal
there had been a complete reversal of
the forestry policy of the government
and he said he believed II would keep
n great many Americans from emi.
grating to Canada and would develop
many portions of the forest reserves
Pinchots Weakness.
A hitherto unpublished letter of the
president to Mr.. Ballinger. under date
of September IL. 1909. was read. In
II the president expressed IA desire to
retain Pinchot but said his weakness.
lay In his inability To credit high and
honorable motives to those who differ
with him on his methods" The presi-
dent requested Mr.. Ballinger to re-
main silent under criticism and the
/ secretary said this was why he had
not followed his natural impulse To
answer the charges.
Mr.. Ballinger said he had remaineo
silent under all of the abuse and haa
instructed his subordinates to do like
wise. AS result he said CLAWS had
gone to Golfers Weekly with what he
called his 'scurrilous screed.'' and
which they had "rehashed In the style
they usually publish their scrrvy mat
ter"
| Asked by his attorney what he
meant by saying his hands had been
up for months Mr.. Ballinger said
they had been mot only up. but also
tied" He added. Nov. ! don't want
II understood ] am In any way casting
any reflection on the president. to
whom | am devoted, and for whom
would make any sacrifice"
A Conspiracy.
Mr., Ballinger then read number OF
kilograms and letters which the de
fense" claimed tended to show a cons
; spiracy against him.
Mr.. Ballinger related an instance of
what he regarded as -administra :
ton of the forestry bureau under Pin
chot. He said that within the last
month II had been called to his at
|, tention that 1871. .0S0 had been wanton
ly wasted on the Menomlnee Indian
reservation In Wisconsin by the for
estry bureau. He said the matter had
been turned over to the Indian office
After some further questioning Mr.
Pallinger made the following state
ment to the committee:
Every act performed by me as q
public official. either as commissioner
, of the land office or secretary of thu
interior, has been performed with the
idea of fulfilling my trust under m,
oath and according to what be:ievet
my duty. In every respect | believe
] have lived up to 1t and II a state
ment has been made here to the con
trary want to deny It,"
Attorney Brandeis began cross ex