The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-22

| the saddle, herding droves of cattle across the range, and to this day he reeounts interesting experiences that his fellow cabinet officers will doubt less call upon him to repeat. On one occasion he was almost killed by the hoofs of an unruly broncho. During these years he studied the classic | languages, riding many miles across the plains each week to recite his les sons. and by his own efforts he pre- pared himself for college, where he was classmate of James R. Garfield who quarter of a century later, made him general land commissioner, and whose seat he will take In the cabinet room.
 Judge Ballinger is retiring from the law firm of Ballinger, Ronald & Battle, with which he has been associated for a number of years, and has resigned his vice presidency of the Alaska -Yu- kon-Pacific exposition. Within a few days he will leave for Washington to be present at the inauguration of Pres ident Taft. His family will follow him later in the season.
 This interesting episode of the from tier in Judge Ballingers life is best told in his own words-and he remem- bers most distinctly the incidents of his cowboy days.
 When I was 15 years old-in 1873 my father moved from Virden, H., to Larned, Kan, and as that was in the center of the cattle country 1 soon was a cowboy" Judge Ballinger re- lates. My father took up a soldiers homestead-he had served through the civil war, emerging as colonel in the Third Illinois cavalry.
 'On one occasion I was compelled to take a ride of 75 miles alone across the plains to Larned, and it was nec- essary for me to spend the night on Rattlesnake creek, which was very properly named. Before l could go to sleep l had killed three rattlers, each one after a hard fight. and a hungry coyote stood a few yards away long ingly gazing in my direction-but he finally slunk off without molesting me. I was 80 miles from any habitation.
 My most memorable experience as knight of the plains came when wild horse got the better of me. That was at Spring Creek. I wanted another horse. and went into the corrall to lasso one, for I had gained consider able skill with a rope and in the en- thusiasm of my youth thought 1 was invincible.
 '1 got the rope over the anil malls head, all right. and managed to get him up to the snubbng post. where the horses are branded. Gradually worked up to the untamed steed until l was within 10 feet of him. With motion as quick as lightning-so it seemed to me-he raised himself on his hind legs and struck me to the earth.
 When I came to, which was some little time afterward, the horse vas gone, and I needed medical attention.
 For two years I served in tAe coun- ty offices at Larned, first as deputy county clerk. and then as deputy treas urer. While l was in the treasurer's office. acting as treasurer, I exposed the shortage of a county official to the board of commissioners. but though no arrests were made the scandal attracted wide attention. and I was threatened with personal violence for my activity.
 While l was on the range 1 rode seven miles every sunday to Feclte Latin to the steward at Fort Larned where several companies of soldiers were stationed. I was grateful for this assistance. and also for the interest taken in me by a minister, who lived three miles or more from our ranch, and who was willing to impart to me his smattering of Greek. My ambition was to go to college a soon as I could and 1 spent three years at the State University of Kansas and at Washb burn college at Topeka"
 While at Wash burn young Ballinger met Senator John J. Ingalls,, who ad- vised him to take course at Williams college, in Massachusetts. He followed the advice of the distinguished states man and graduated with the class of 1884 of which young Garfield was also a member.
 For two years following his gradua- tion Ballinger studied in the law office of S. Corning Judd prominent Chica- go attorney, and then he went to Kan kakee, H., where he became city at torney. Later he was city attorney of Decatur, Ala. after which he came to the state of Washington. He was for four years on the superior bench of Jef- ferson county, residing in Port Town send, after which he came to Seattle. His term as mayor extended over period to two years, and at its con cluson he was prevailed upon, reluc- tantly because of his private interests, to take charge of the reorganization of the general land office.
 Not before in It's history has WaA- ington had member of the cabi incl, so the choosing of Judge Ballinger by MT. Taft is looked upon with great favor by the people of this state Only once has the northwest been favored with a cabinet appointment, and that was when Judge George H. Williams of Portland was selected as Attorney Gen eral in the Grant cabinet.
 The Secretary of the Interior re- quires a more intimate knowledge of affairs in the west-of forest resources Indians, mining wealth, irrigation, con- servation problems-than any oth CT member of the cabinet, and the selec- ton of a Washington man is therefore particularly appropriate on the part of