The Washington herald., 1909-08-30

structed his preparation OF case against
the Cunningham coal land claimants in
Alaska. Il will be promptly forwarded
to Beverly.
McHarg Hears Nothing.
Mr.. MeHarg said last night he had
heard nothing to confirm a report from
Beverly that President Taft and Sece-
tary Nagel had decided to accept Mr..
MeHarg's resignation Of his office.
1t is not known here whether the report
from Beverly means that the resignation
was accepted as a mere matter OF rou-
tine, or that 1t is to become effective at
once in order 10 show the administra-
tons disapproval OF what Mr.. McHarg
had to say about the reclamation OF arid
lands and the conservation Of natural re-
sources In the interview, Mr. McHarg
made a passing reference to Mr. Roose-
VeiIs commission to uplift the farmer,
as an insult TO people engaged In agri-
cultural pursuits
Mr.. McHarg acknowledged that his
views had been presented correctly. He
denied responsibility, however. for an
other interview in which he was made 10
say that perhaps he (Mr Roosevelt
thought he was the Lord, he acted that
way for many years around this place"
Information from Beverly SHOWS that this
quotation and others. for which Mr. Nc
Harg denied responsibility. were read
there.
Frank and OutspOken.
There is nothing reticent about the AS
sistant Secretary Of Commerce and La
Dor. He has always been frank and out
spoken. and has never sought 10 side
track when in a tight place. People who
know him say he Is a man OF courage,
and there is general testimony among Of
fcials to his ability. In the campaign
to bring about the nomination Of William
II. Taft for the Presidency, Mr.. McHarg
was one of Frank H. Hitchcock's right
hand men. He handled the contested
cases involving the election Of Taft dele
gates to the Republican National Conven-
ton, and during the Presidential com
paign represented Chairman Hitchcock in
eight Of the far Western States
There has been an evident effort to dis
credit Secretary of the Interior Ballinger
In his policy Of dealing with the public
lands, and the suspicion has been wide
spread In Washington that the attacks
on Mr. Ballinger have originated with
government officials who We're not will
ing 10 have Mr.. Balinger cOnstrue his
authority ever the public domain In a
way that differed from the construction
Of Mr.. Roosevelt and his Secretary of
the Interior, Mr.. Garfield. whom Mr. Bal
linger succeeded in Office. While the re-
cent controversy over the conservation
policy has been much beclouded. the un-
Outstanding among administration Off
cials is that Il was based on an erroneous
deduction from statements that although
Mr.. Ballinger believed In the conserva-
ton policy Of Mr.. Roosevelt. he was Of
the opinion there should be additional
and more specific legislation TO legalize
the methods of the previous administra-
tion in its withdrawal Of public lands
from entry for conservation purposes.
Immediately conservation enthusiasts
charged that Mr.. Balinger and President
Tart were opposed TO the Roosevelt con-
seTvatton policy, and the war was on.
In Hearty Sympathy.
That Mr.. Taft is IN hearty sympathy
with the efforts Of his predecessor to
natural resources has been in |
dlcated by him in public utterances. Mr.. |
Ballinger is represented as having the |
same view. But it is the understanding /
Mr.. Ballinger is not IN accord with the /
Of the Roosevelt admins /
tration that the Executive has full /
power over public lands in all cases
where there is no specific legislative in
hibition.
Mr.. Ballinger. II is asserted. believes
that as Congress placed certain public /
lands at the disposal OF the Executive |
for the purpose Of affording homes for
renters. II is not within the province of /
the Executive 10 withdraw these lands
from settlement entry without the con-
sent of Congress. The contention is made
that President Taft and Secretary Bal
Iinger will endeavor to carry out Mr..
and Mr.. Garfelds policies
with respect to the conservation Of nat
lral resources. but desire 10 have their
right TO do so conferred by legislative
enactment