The Washington times., 1911-07-11
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change his mind later. IT was stated
that the President did not "recollect"-
that was the way the faithful chroni-
clers of White House mental processes
conveyed it-did not rocollect any
conversation with his Brother Charlie
about. the Controller Bay matter. How
ever, it was further averred, the Presi-
ton of the files to sec II he had re-
ceived a letter from Brother Charlie
about the matter.
Nobody ever charged that there was
letter. Dick Ryan said he saw the
President and then got Charlie Taft to
see him. AS 10 that. the President
doesn't "recollect" He examines the
files, and discovers there is no letter.
Whereupon indignant denial ais issued
of charge. nobody ever mahe: There
is no letter from Brother Charlie; there
fore, Miss Abbott lied!
Answer Phantom Charges.
Yet neither Bliss Abbott nor anybody
else ever suggested there was q letter.
The White House denies something that
has not been charged, and doesn t
"recolect" about the thing that was
charged.
The feature that edited the Graham
House statements, was this failure OF
memory. The Alaska BalIinger- Pinchot-
Guggenheim affair has been the most
acutely impressive incident of the Taft
administration. II has held the Admin
istration on the defensive almost from
the beginning. IL Is charged that, on
the strength of a certain conversation,
the President took a step the effects
Of which must be more important than
any other move made by him in the
whole affair Yet the President does
not positively remember whether he
held that conversation. He is examin-
ing his files to see whether he has a
letter about the matter.
Amused by Denials.
The inquiry committee regard these
curiously qualified denials with much
amusement. Fortified behind informa- :
ton, the committee has reason for con-
fidence that there will be no unquali-
fled denials. As for denials of some
thing nobody has charged, the COM
mittee is equally positive that in due
time, and its own way, it will bring the
issue back TO the real charge and put
an end TO the spectacular lombard
ment OF straw men.
Miss Abbott's charge is the immedi-
ately sensational and spectacular incl
dent. but the committee does not want
10 be sensational Its purpose is to
develop carefully and logically the
whole story of this Administrators re-
lations 10 Alaska.
Testimony will be adduced showing
that during the Roosevelt administra-
ton Ryan was operating in Washing
ton. avowedly as the agent for the
Alaska syndicate. At that time the
Controller Bay lands were part Of the
general public domain. Roosevelt and
Secretary Garfield determined that to
make sure of their preservation from
entry they should be included in the
Chugach national forest. and this was
done.
At the time this was done, President
Roosevelt remarked:
That will put IL into GifoTd's hands
and they will have to get past him be-
fore they can grab the terminal"
But in due time Clifford S" protecting
power was taken from him. He was
driven from the service because he was
determined at any cost to prevent the
grab OF Alaskas coal Then Ryan got
the President to issue the Executive
order taking the bayshore lands out of
the forest reserve. 1t was done by an
unusual procedure-by Executive order,
rather than by proclamation. In the
Executive order. as 1t went to the Gen.
eral Land Office for approval, was in