Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-18
RALSTON HITS BACK
Washington Attorneys Reply
to WorCeSter's Criticism.
DEFENDS IRVING WINSLOW
Controversy Growing Out Of ALE.
cations of Irregularities in
Philippine Land Sales.

Declaring that E. L. Worcester. secre-
tary of the interior of the Philippine
Islands. and a member of the Philippine
commission. was lucky not to have been
dismissed from office long ago. Jackson
H. Ralston. attorney for the Anti-Im-
perialist League. today replied to an open
letter published by Mr.. Worcester vigor-
ously criticising Mr.. Ralston and Irving
Winslow, secretary of the Anti-Fmperial-
list League, for their course In the recent
investigation into Philippine land trans
actions by the insular committee of the
House
Mr.. Ralston said that Mr.. Winslow was
so we'll known for his high-mnded and
idealistic public work as to need no de-
Tense. Then he went on to defend the
brief charging irregularities in the Philip
pine land sales which, as counsel for the
league, he had laid before the investigat-
ing committee. He called attention to
the fact that Mr.. Worcester had used
such words derogatory to Mr.. Winslow
and Mr.. Ralston as "willful false state
ments.' false testimony deliberate
lie" and liar"
Mr.. Ralston's Rejoinder.
In his statement Mr. Ralston said, in
part:
With regard to myself, I might we'll
rest, perhaps, upon the fact that three
members of the committee found the pur-
chases made by Americans in the Phil
'ippines of public lands to be without
warrant of law and five other members
of the committee considered the facts
adduced, upon which 1 commented, as
G 6o( hQt q H.
cult to escape the conclusion that the
land laws of the Philippines are being
evaded In a most shameless manner
Mr.. Worcester has in his open letter
in effect charged as to my brief that:
by it's fling when he had no Oppor-
tunity Of reply, l had taken undue ad
vantage of him.
Il had personally testified with rela-
ton to facts not in the record.
Il had made false representations as
to facts in evidence.
LAS to the first proposition. with rela-
ton to the brief having been filed
without giving him a fair opportunity
of reply. l have to say that the last
February IA. Public notice by that
date had been given in the committee
meetings that 1 had asked and obtained
an opportunity Of fling a brief Three
was in possession Of the chairman Of
the committee, and presumably every
member. and in Secretary Worcester's
possession February 10. The report
was not made by the committee until
about the I'd of March, practically two
weeks later.
Quotes From Brief.
Mr.. Worcester next declares that I
have undertaken to give personally
testimony as to facts not in the rec
ord.
In the brief I state. speaking of Mr..
E. l.. Worcester his nephew, that:
In the rich lands of the province Of
Nueva Ecija he discovered a tract of
little embellishments the water in the
rainy season could be retained long
enough to produce rice. For this land he
applied. and with no difficulty the gov
eminent leased it to him at the lowest
rental permitted by a law apparently
framed by the secretary of the interior
In commenting upon this statement
Mr.. Worcester says:
1.-The statement as to the discovery of
a tract Of land in Nueva Ecija so level
that by making little entertainments the
water in the rainy season could be re-
tanned long enough to produce rice is new
testimony introduced by Mr.. Ralston
himself. Thus far this land has gone dry
annually during the rainy season.
Worcester's Alleged Comment. i,
ION page $50 of the record Mr. Worces-
ter himself said, referring to this very
land:
That whole part of the country is one
great nat. During the dry season it is
possible to drive with wheeled vehicle
almost anywhere. When the wet season
comes on people are likely to plant rice
right across the track last used and on
account of the little diloes which they
raise the road has to go elsewhere the
following year There is no permanent
highway through the place.
1T will be noted. therefore, that in
my description of this tract l have fol-
lowed almost literally the statement of
MIR. Worcester himself, who, in his open
letter, now seeks apparently to show that
tract of 900 acres Of rich land which
he leased to his nephew for about $50
per year was land of little value
Mr.. Ralston gives a number of other
quotations from his brief, Mr.. Worcester's
letter and the record of the investiga ton,
in each instance seeking to prove Mr..
Worcester had used his position for per-
sonal gain. Mr.. RaIston seeks to show
that the secretary of the interior of the
Philippines expended money to improve
real estate conditions where he or his
relatives. or certain cOrnOra tiOns have