Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-21
President Decides to no
Longer Withhold His
Consent.
RESOLUTION PASSED
Secretary of the Interior De-
mandS Action and Threat
ems to Quit.

Washington, Dec. 21.-The senate
today practically decided upon the IN
auguration of an inquiry into the Bal
lingerPinchot controversy by adopt
ing a resolution introduced by Flint OF
California calling for all papers bear
ing upon the case.
Congratulate Bauinger.
The proposed congressional investi-
cation into the Ballinger-Pinchot con-
I trovery did not formally come up at
the cabinet meeting today. Informally
every member of the presidents cab
met congratulated Ballinger upon the.
stand he has taken in insisting upon
full inquiry into the affairs OF the
interior department, and assured him.
of their hearty support.
Good for the Party.
The decision of the president not to
longer withhold consent to a search
ing inquiry occassioned general ex-
changes of opinion among the party
leaders in congress today. There
seems to be a general feeling of satis-i
faction and relief that the inquiry is
to be undertaken.
President Gives Consent.
Washington. d. c., Dec 21.-Presi-
dent Taft has yielded to the demands
of both Secretary Ballinger and his
critics for a public investigation of the
whole subject matter underlying tho
so-called Ballinger-Pinchot controver-
sy.
Mr.. Ballinger yesterday afternoon
served upon the president virtually an
ultimatum. to the effect that such an
investigation was indeed the price OF
his remaining in the cabinet. He made
it clear to the president that he was
no longer willing TO sit silent in his Of
flee in the interior department and
wait for the thing to blow over"
Taft Disappointed.
Mr.. Taft, it is said. reluctantly ad-
mitted the disappointment of his hope
that the country at large would accept
as final his own vindication of Mr.. Bal
linger in his dismissal of the charges
brought before him against the secre-
tary of the interior by L. r. CLAWS, the
former special agent of the land Office,
and his conclusion that the investiga-
tion demanded by both sides in this
matter was inevitable
Mr.. Ballinger's attitude I'm this mat
ter has the support of leading republi-
cans i'm both branches of congress
senators and representatives, feel
that. entirely apart from the merits II
the controversy itself. a fostering sore
of this character must poison the whole
system of the party in power. and that
IL is high time to resort TO the lance.
These leaders. determined that 4
cleansing of this wound is necessary.
have not hesitated to 90 TO the white
house and impress their views upon
Mr. Taft
Hold Several Conferences.
Conferences of a confidential charac-
ter. in which members of the cabinet.
party leaders in both houses of con-
gress and the president himself have
have been held at various
times during the past few days. They
yesterday. when Secretary
Ballinger. Attorney General Wicker
sham and Postmaster General Hitch
cock met i'm Mr. Wickersham's Office
and proceeded thence to the White
house. where the matter was laid be-
fore the president.
Mr.. Ballinger told the president. II is
said that the situation had become in
toIerable to him, and that. though the
constant charges against him had come
from irresponsible persons. he could
not longer sit supinely by, and. in jus
tice to himself. he felt compelled TO
insist upon an investigation.