Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-23
CRITICISM OF TAFT
Should Have QueIIed Attacks
on BaIIinger.
INQUIRY Is OEPLORED
Presidents Vindication Should Have
Ended Controversy.
TO BARE MOTIVES OF ATTACK
Employees Implicated In Raising Is
sues Against Ballinger Likely
to Lose Jobs.
TO BARE MOTIVES OF ATTACK

from the talk one hears around the
Capitol. It appears probable that the
Ballinger-Pinchot investigation by a con-
gressional committee will turn some fur
rows In political and departmental af-
fairs that will result in interesting dis
closures.
Leastways, it is the intention of some
congressman to strike the plow-share
deep in endesvor. to reach suspected
hidden situations.
Before the inquiry ends it will lay
bare. it is predicted, motives and depart
mental procedure in the attacks on Sec
retary Ballinger which may cause trouble
for some gentlemen now drawing COM
Portable government salaries. Some go
as far as to say that the outcome will
necessitate the separation from his meal
ticket of any person implicated.
Most everybody in official life in Wash
ington knows by this time that the at
tacks on Secretary Ballinger originated
were prosecuted and stimulated by per-
sons In the government service and in a
bureau whose work was allied with
Department of the Interior. THIS was
not done secretly nor in underhand
fashion. but SO openly and frankly as to
sometimes be astounding.
Not Directed by Pinchot.
No one has charged that this was done
by direction Of Forester Pinchot 1t is
certain that he never raised a finger to
stop it. when a frown from him would
have put an end to it. The congressional
committee, 1t is said, will consider the
possible responsibility of Mr.. Pinchot In
permitting this state OF affairs In his
bureau.
President Taft il criticised for permit
ting the Ballfnger-Pinchot feud to be
passed up to Congress. 1t is said that
after his sweeping, unqualified and, In
Secretary Ballinger Congress was justi-
fed in regarding the incident as closed
with the last word said.
When attacks on his Secretary of the
Interior continued from the same quar-.
ter, 1t Ii contended by some congressman
1t was devolvent upon the President to
act with dfmness toward those who were
potting his administration from behind
departmental earthworks. Secretary Bal
linger, they say. could still have recourse
to the libel laws Of his country. and the
whole anair would be one Of civil pro-
cedure, relieved of official flavor. and the
administrations skirts would be clear.
Inquiry After Vindication.
AS the case stands now. these congress
men say. Secretary Ballinger is put in
the attitude of being under Investigation
by his own party after having once been
completely exonerated by his superiors
having Jurisdiction. He could not go out
Of office without lending color to the
charges reiterated against him, and has
been forced to demand a second bill OF
health where every one thought the one
given him by the President should have
sufhced.
President Taft's complacency toward
the tntrenched sharpshooters has been
sweetness wasted on the desert air, 1t Il
said. The opponents of the Secretary OF
the Interior have not relaxed their fire a
moment. and are as grimly determined to
get Ballinger' as ever.
The grievance Of congressman against
the President Is that he sawed or this
situation upon Congress. The party In
power never relished congressional in
vestigation Of its own administration, as
the very undertaking presupposes posi-
BILE occasion for it.
This one will come on the eve of the
congressional campaign for election OF
the next House. 1t will be a miracle II
the democrats cannot twist some CAPT.
tai out of 1t, 1t is feared.
Taking all these things into considera-
ton, it is certain that the congressional
committee, when 1t gets down to work,
will dig ruthlessly into all the ramifica-
tions of the feud, and will be unsparing
Of criticism where fault Is found