The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-12-12


omission Of any mention of the cele-
DRAFTED dick to Dick letter, around
which the very brief investigation
largely revolved. This is the letter
which Miss M. r. Abbott, a newspaper
and magazine writer, declared she had
seen among the papers In the Con-
troller bay case at the interior depart
ment II was said to have been writ
ten by Mr.. Ryan to Richard A. Bal
lnger, formerly secretary of the inte-
rior, and reflected gravely on the hon
esty of President Taft, his brother
Charles p. Taft and Mr.. Ballinger. The
democrats made the eagle scream in
their efforts to sensationalize this let
ter Thoughtful men discounted 1t
from the outset. declaring that the
absurdity Of such an epIstle stamped
1t as a forgery, assuming that Miss
Abbott really had seen it.
When the democrats became salts
fed that there was nothing TO the
Dick to Dick" letter-and this was
only when Louis d. Brandies, to whom
the matter had been submitted, gave II
as his opinion that this epistIe was a
myth-they dropped it like a hot pota-
to, not even having the grace to ac-
knowledge their error in having pIaved
1t up for any political advantage that
might accrue from its exploitation.
1t will be recalled that the Controller
bay investigation closed abruptly after
four or five meetings had been held.
and on a day when Richard s. Ryan,
Secretary OF the Interior Fisher, Ash
mum Brown. who had been the conf
Dental secretary Of Secretary BalIin-
ger, Miss Abbott and other essential
witnesses were In the room and ready
to take the stand and tell their stories.
The chairman and his democratic as
sociates did not come right out then
and say they were satisfied that there
was nothing the ''Dick 70 Dick" letter.
did not place On the witness stand the
persons who had knowledge OF the
matter and left the whole matter
hanging in the atr-redections on
President Taft, his brother and Others
included.
The report of the majority Of the
committee to the house leaves the
matter in the same shape. Republi-
cons take the ground that this is nm
fair and unjust to the president. Hence
their determination to pilIory the DEM
ocrats. When Messrs. Burke, Hanna
and Mondell get through with their
report the democrats OF the committee
and the house will knew they have
been working hard on II.
Aside from the omission of any ref
erence TO the dick to Dick epistle.
the surprising feature of the report
was the fact that it contained many
recommendations for the disposition of
Alaska matters. This Is "goinr some
for committee whose membership
have never been in position to know
anything personally about Alaskan af-
fairs. Three OF the four democrats
on the committee Representatives
Galloway of. Texas, George OF New
York and Hensley of Missouri--are
serving their first term In the house.
Chairman Graham was a member of
the Ballinger- Pinchot investigation
committee, and, OF course. Obtained
some information regarding Alaska
during his service there.
Some OF the committees reconnmen-
dations follow the lines laid down by
Secretary Fisher In his speech before
the American Mining congress in Chi
cago after his return from Alaska.
where he saw conditions and obtained
information at first hand. The report
rather ehides the secretary for hav-
ing anticipated the committees action,
which Is quite remarkable in view az
the fact that the committees inyesti-
cation was so brief and so limited.
Undoubtedly the matter will az some
time come before the house and be de-
bated at length. when the democrats
will have one more chance to formally
and officially make amends for the in
justice done President Taft ana other
prominent men In this case.