The Commoner.
FEBRUARY 11, 1916
Where the Old
Ship is Leaking
The Taft republicans of South Dakota have
organized for a fight. . A Huron, S. D., dispatch
caTriod by the Associated Press and referring to
the Taft republican convention, held February
1,' says: "The stalwart leaders decfared that
there will be stalwarts to fight every progres
sive office-seeker at the June primaries. Ex
Governor Samuel Elrod probably will be the
stalwart candidate for governor. Ringing reso
lutions endorsing President Taft's policies and
those of his predecessor, President Roosevelt,
were adopted."
and federal Incorporation recommendations of
the president were not included In the list, and
it was stated by one of the "insurgent's" that
there had been no endeavor to reach an agree
ment on these subjects.
The developments ' of the Ballinger investi
gating committee are told in a Washington dis
patch to the Chicago Tribune (rep.) in this way: .
.Washington, D.. C., January 30. (Special.)
The administration is considerably. worried by .
the trend of "developments ' in the . Ballinger- (
Pinchot investigation. . ,
.."It had been 'be'lieved that the .charges against .
the -secretary would pr.oye, so. indefinite as to
convince the, people that there was no justifica-
tion for the controversy which Gifford. Pinchot
had precipitated by his policy and resignation.
The evidence given by Louis R. Glavis, former
special agent of the land office, to the joint
committee of the senate and house, however,
has furnished some precise allegations, and
others are to be made by Mr. Pinchot when he
goes on the witness stand this week.
Before the investigation began Secretary Bal
linger decided that an attorney was unneces
sary. Now, however, his f riends are urging him
to employ a lawyer, and it will not be long, it
Is believed, before -he will be represented be
fore the committee. The sessions will be re
sumed tomorrow.
The charges Glavis has made have been thus
summarized:
. 1. Ballinger advised his clients in the Wilson
Coal company case to defraud the government
through perjury,
2. Ballinger, as commissioner of the land
office, sought to help defraud the government by
ordering the clear listing of the Cunningham
claims upon an old report of Special Agent
Love, who was prejudiced.
3. Ballinger acted improperly in accepting em
ployment as counsel for the Cunningham claim
ants after retiring from the commissionership
of the land office.
4. Ballinger was behind the Pierce decision,
which, if sustained, would have sent the Cunningham-claims
to patent, but which was over
ruled by the attorney general.
5. Ballinger was misleading in his published
statements that he has had nothing to do with
the Alaska claims since becoming secretary of
the interior and in his declaration to President
,Taft in reference to his connection with the
'Alaska claims.
6. Ballinger asked Glavis to delay the exam
ination of the Alaska claims that he might have
a better chance to get campaign contributions.
Washington, D. C, February 2. Acting upon
the suggestion of Senator Nelson, chairman of
the Ballinger-Pinchot congressional , investigat
ing committee that the "other side" should be
represented by an attorney who would take up
on himself the task of cross-examining witnesses.
It was announced today that at the future hear
ings of the committee either H. H. Swartz, chief
of the field service, or Fred Dennett, commis
sioner of the land office, would be represented
by counsel.
At the close of the Investigating committee's
session Monday afternoon Senator Nelson said
the cross examination of Louis R. Glavis had
proceeded "feebly" because of the lack of
pounsel.
Washington, February 1. The republican in
surgents in the house will support the adminis
tration program on the subjects of railroad legis
lation, conservation, postal savings banks and
anti-injunction. Unanimous decision to do so
,-was reached at a meeting held last night. Rep
resentatives Gardner of Massachusetts and Hayes
of California were authorized to so inform the
president.
The action was taken, it is stated, in order
to give definite assurance to President Taft
and to the country that "the insurgents" were
unanimously in favor of all progressive legisla
tion advocated by the president.
It is a conspicuous fact that the ship subsidy
The Taft forces are determined to fight for
Iowa. Following is an editorial in the Sioux
City (la.) Journal:
"L. H. Mayne, editor of the Emmctsburg
Reporter, has decided to stand as a' candidate
for the republican nomination for. congress in
the Tenth district. The district is now repre
sented by Frank P. Woods, whoso home is at
Estherville, Emmet county, which lies north of
Palo Alto and borders on the state of Minne
sota. The Tenth Is the largest Iowa district,
with Crawford, Carroll, Greene and Boone as
its south tier of counties. The district has four-
teen counties, and the population under the last "
census was given at 253,350. The Eleventh
district is the next largest In the state, with
thirteen counties and a population of 245,011.
In the last primary election. Mr. Woods defeat
ed Judge J. P. Conner, of Crawford county, who
had represented the district since the promo
tion of Mr. -DolUver; to the senate. Mr. Woo'ds
islan insurgent, and Mr. Mayne is a regular. '
Mr. Maype will enter the contest as a "supporter
of, republican principles and of the Taft ad-
ministration; and as" such he will make an active
canvass of the district. The district is under
stood to be as strongly Insurgent as the
Eleventh; and no doubt that is Senator Dolli
ver's understanding. It is the senator's home
district, and probably his view of the situation
Is entitled to weight. But Mr. Mayne proposes
to try it anyway. No mention as yet has been
made of a democratic candidate."
NEED LOTS OF LAWYERS
Washington, D. C, February 3. John J. Ver
trees of Nashville, a leader of the Tennessee
bar, a democrat and a warm personal friend of
President T.aft, has been asked to take charge of
the case for the defense in thp Ballinger-Pinchot
congressional investigation, and is now on his
way to Washington to consult with Attorney
General Wickersham and officials of the land
office. Mr. Vertrees -probably will also "confer
with President Taft.
The local representatives of the officials of
the Interior department in the investigation will
consist of a chief counsel and two associates.
One of the assistants will be a western man,
while the other resides in Washington.
In addition to the three lawyers designated
as counsel Mr. Ballinger will be assisted in an
advisory capacity by Albert Battle of Seattle, his
former law partner, who is now in this city.
TRIES TO PLAY SENATOR
Washington, D. C, February 3k Secretary
Ballinger of the interior department was criti
cised on the floor of the senate today for send
ing a communication to the senate inclosing a
bill providing for an insane asylum in Alaska.
Although Mr. Ballinger said he transmitted
the measure in obedience to the direction of
the president, Senators Heyburn and Bacon suc
ceeded in obtaining annulment of reference to
the bill to the committee on territories, on the
ground that no cabinet officer or even the. presi
dent had authority to Introduce a bill in the
senate.
EVEN ELKINS PROTESTS
On February 3 Senator Elkins made bitter
complaint in the senate concerning the treat
ment of himself in connection with his resolu
tion providing for an Investigation Into the high
price of food, products. He charged Senator
Aldrich with a desire to shield the tariff law and
the trusts In the inquiry, and he intimated that
hereafter ho might be an "insurgent" If his
wishes did not receive more respectful consid
eration. The discussion was precipitated by Senator
Stone, who, soon after the reporting of the
Lodge resolution in mock solemnity raised the
question whether the committee on contingent
expenses had yet reported the Elkins resolution,
which had been introduced eaTly last month.
Responding, Mr. Keen said that probably the
measure would be amended and reported soon.
Taking the floor Mr. Elkins complained of
the fact that the finance committee had reported
the Lodge resolution after a day's consideration
whereas his own measure had been held up by
the contingent committee for a' month.
Mr. Elkins contended that many important
features of his measure had been omitted from
the Lodge resolution, and asserted that it had
been so framed as to avoid any Inquiry into
the effect of the tariff on food prices.
"Why do you want to dodge tlio tariff?" ho
asked, and added: "I am a tariff man myself,
and I am not afraid to fade tho question in
connection with this investigation."
Ho then referred to tho participation of Chair
man. Aldrich of tho finance committee in tho
preparation of tho tariff bill and ho declared
ho was quick to act in anything affecting "hitf
child."
- When Mr. Lodge read his resolution as amend
ed by tho finance committee for tho purpose
of showing that it proposes to include tho offect
of tho tariff in Its Inquiry the West Virginia
senator was still unsatisfied, and he declared
tho measure as reported "a more method of
sidetracking the question, while his own method
had been so manipulated as to cause it to sleep
the sloop of death."
AFRAID OF THE COST OF LIVING
Washington, D. C, February 2. Frankly ad
mitting fear that a prolonged investigation of
tiro' increased cost of living by thov ways and
means committee -of tho hbuse, or. as provided
for by any of the rival resolutions, might drag
throughout tKeesumnier and work to the dis
advantage of "tlie republicans In tho elections
next fall, the senate finance committee formu
lated a program for a quick, sharp inquiry of
the subject in all its phases.
This important question was considered by
the republican members of the committee and
as a result Senator Lodge Introduced in tho
senate a resolution providing for tho appoint
ment of a select .committee of five senators to
do tho work.
Suggestion was made that the proposed In
vestigation by the ways and means committee
of the house would accomplish every purpose,
but after examination of tho resolution Intro-'
duced by Chairman Payno yesterday, it was
characterized as a "dragnet." Tho opinion was
expressed generally that such an inquiry as
was proposed by the house would not be con
cluded In time to bo of assistance to republi
cans in their campaign for re-election.
Senator Lodge, after remonstrating vigorous-'
ly, finally agreed that ho would undertake to
conduct a rigid investigation and report to tho
present session of congress, if he were chosen
the head 6f a committee. Senator Lodge has
requested that Senator Smoot also bo assigned
to this committee. Both are members of tho
finance committee and were recognized as hard
workers on the tariff bill.
WILL TAKE NO CHANCES
Washington, D. C, February 2. No chance's
are being taken by the "old guard" in the sen
ate in the matter of filling committee vacancies.
The committee on committees met today to se
lect a republican for tho committee on civil
service and retrenchment, of which Senator Cum
mins is chairman. Senator Borah wanted tho
assignment and Chairman Cummins had ex
pressed a desire that he bo named.
Examining the personnel, It was found that
Senator LaFollette already is on tho committee
with Mr. Cummins, and the appointment of Mr.
Borah, whom some people think has "insurgent"
proclivities would give the "insurgents" a ma
jority of the republicans, as there are only five
republicans on the committee.
Senator Borah was put through an examina
tion in which he declined to state where he
stood on the question of pensions for superan
nuated government employes, and on other
questions with which the committee has to deal.
Ho also asserted with considerable force that
he was not a member of any faction and that
he did not care to be interrogated in any such
manner.
No good excuse for rejecting Mr. Borah was
found, and since there was some doubt as to
what faction might get his support on important
questions, it was decided to Increase the repub
lican membership to seven. The new members
will be Senators Borah, Smoot and Dixon. Tho
membership of Senators Perkins and Lodge give
the "regulars" undisputed control of the committee.
PUSHING SHIP SUBSIDY
Washington, D. C, February 3. After a
short but torrid open hearing, replete with per
sonal disputes and acrimonious utterances, fol
lowed by an executive session of an hour, also
filled with dissension, the house committee on
merchant marine and fisheries today, by a vote
of ten to seven, voted to report favorably to
the house the administration bill on ship sub
sidy as introduced by Representative Humphrey
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