The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-03-02
P|NCHOT BITTER
OVER DISMISSAL
Wilson Never Gave Permission to
critlcise President But Admits
Conversation With Forester.

Washington, D. c., Mar. 2.-The
expected clash between Clifford Pin
chot and Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson over the disputed questions as
to whether or not the secretary had
given the former forester permission
to write to Senator Dolliver the letter
which resulted in Mr.. Pinchot's dis
missal, came Tuesday before the Bal
linger-Pinchot investigating commit
tee.
Mr.. Pinchot declared he had discus
sed the matter at length with Secre-
tary Wilson, and that he understood
his superior officer had given him ex-
press permission to write to Senator
Dolliver.
Secretary Wilson Immediately took
the stand and asserted that while he
had given Mr. Pinchot permission to
write to Senator Dolliver concerning
departmental affairs" he never did
and never would have given him per-
mission to write a letter criticising
the president of the United States.
Under cross examination almost
wholly by the democratic members of
the committee, Secretary Wilson was
uncertain as to just what had passed
between himself and the forester and
became somewhat mixed at times as
to Just what members of the commit
tee were referring. To their rapid
fire of questions the secretary repeat
edly said he never saw or heard of
the letter Mr.. Pinchot wrote until it
was read in the senate.
Mr.. Pinchot had been reluctant to
testify to anything that would bring
him into controversy with the chief
under whom he had served twelve
years, but Chairman Nelson insisted
he should go into the matter.
Mr.. Pinchot declared that he and
Secretary Wilson went SO far as to
discuss the executive order issued by
President Taft for bidding subordin-
ate officers of the various departments
giving information to congress, and
he added that the secretary said:
you and will have no trouble
. about that order"
Admitting that his memory failed
him, at certain points, Secretary Will
son always came back to the state
ment that he never under any circum-
stances would have given Mr.. Pinchot
permission to write the letter which
caused his separation from the service
The secretary said he urged Mr.. Pin
chot not to carry out his purpose to
blanket" the message from the presi-
dent, generating Ballinger, by send
ing in a letter to Senator Dolliver.
But" persisted counsel for Mr..
Pinchot, "if Mr.. Pinchot was only to
be permitted to write about depart
mental affairs how could you have
thought this letter would blanket the
presidents message?
Il don't know that was Plnchot
idea
The day was replete with incidents.
The cross examination of Mr. Pinchot
was begun, later in the afternoon, and
will be continued when the commit
tee meets again Friday.
Mr.. Pinchot denied that he had
been embittered by dismissal which
he considered was not justified. He
denied also that there was a specific
movement to discredit Mr.. Ballinger.
He added, however, that he and for
mer Secretary Garfield, Glasis and
others, are concerned in movement
for the conservation of natural re-
sources, and that they regard Mr..
Ballinger as one of the greatest enc
mics of the movement