The Washington times., 1911-07-07
WHATDID BROTHER CHARLIE
SAY ABOUT CONTROLLER
BAY GRAB1

The whole country is going to de-
mand to know, definitely and specifi,
cally, whom Richard S. Ryan repre-
sented in his application for the last
harbor from which the Alaska coal
fields could be reached.
The story, made up from files Of the
Interior Department, is decidedly the
most amazing chapter yet written in
the history of Guggenheim efforts to
seize the Alaska coal fields, and of Ad-
ministration completely in those efforts.
Richard S. Ryan, Alaska promoter,
wanted this harbor. 1t was included in
the Chugach National Forest, and he
wanted the President to eliminate it
from the forest and subject it to entry
so Ryan could get it.
Ryan spent much time in Washington
trying to work the thing through. He
claimed to represent himself, as presi-
dent of the Controller Bay Railway and
Navigation Company. He claimed that
company was a rival of the Guggen-
helm Copper River road. The latter, if
it possessed the Controller Bay harbor,
would have a complete monopoly of all
the transportation possibilities in the
Alaska coal fields.
During the consideration of his de-
mands for this harbor he had inter
views and correspondence with the then
Secretary, Bapinger. In the official
files of the department, despite efforts
to conceal it, letter was found from
Ryan to Ballinger to which was ap-
pended this remarkable postscript:
DEAR DICK: l WENT TO SEE
THE PRESIDENT THE OTHER DAY
ABOUT THIS CONTROLLER BAY
AFFAIR. THE PRESIDENT ASKED
ME WHOM REPRESENTED. ITOLD
HIM, ACCORDING TO OUR AGREE
A1ENT, THAT 1 REPRESENTED MY
SELF. BUT THAT DIDN'T SEEM
TO SATISFY HIM. so l SENT FOR
CHARLIE TAFT AND ASKED HIM
TO TELL HIS BROTHER WHO IT
WAS l REALLY REPRESENTED.
THE PRESIDENT MADE NO FUR
THEIR OBJECTION TO MY CLAIM.
YOURS, DICK.
That postscript is certainly an amaz-
ing affair Ryan HAD AN AGREE
MENT with Ballinger to tell the Presi-
dent that Ryan represented only him
self Evidently Ryan and Ballinger
both knew that was not true; but it
was good enough story for the Presi-
dent.
When the President heard it, how
ever, he was not satisfied. He wanted
to know more about it; the Ballinger-
Ryan frame-up was not enough.
Ryan didn't dare tell the President
the truth. But he knew a man who
could do it. So he sent for Brother
Charles P. Taft and got him to tell the
real truth to the President.
"THE PRESIDENT MADE NO FUR
THEIR OBJECTION TO MY CLAIM"
significantly observed Ryan.
This letter of Ryan bears date July
l3, 1910. In October following, Presi-
dent Taft by Executive order gave
Ryan the Controller Bay harbor he
wanted. Evidently the assurances
which Brother Charlie had brought
were satisfactory.
The question is, What did Brother
Charlie tell the President? Ryan and
Ballinger had framed up the story that
Ryan was Independent. Seemingly,
that was just the wrong story. Seem
ingly, the President didn't want to give
that harbor to an independent. Broth
er Charlie told him some other story,
and objections ended. Ryan got the
harbor, and now the Guggenheims have
it.
Did Brother Charlie tell the Presi-
dent the truth, which Ballinger and
Ryan had feared to tell him? Did
Brother Charley say that Ryan really
represented the Guggenheim effort to
grab that harbor?
Apparently, Brother Charlie knew
all about the actual situation.
The facts present a situation which
needs explanation, and explanation of
sort that seems difficult to make
with credit to the Administration.
1t would appear that Ryan and Bal
linger feared to let the President know
that they were getting this harbor
given to the Guggenheims. So they fixed
up story for him. But, it would
seem the President was jgs. q anxious
.. -st-,sS :. .s...a.ss asssF<yTE