The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-21
SecretayWants PInchot Charges
 Thoroughly Aired
TAFT YIELDS ID DEMANDS
Congress Will Take Up the Matter After the Holidays and Will Probably Form Joint Commit
 tee for the Matter.

tCtCSiAA10f Taft today yielded to the demands of both Secretary Ballinger and his critics for public investigation of the whole subject matter underlying the so-called Ballinger- Pinchot controversy.
 Mir Bailinger this afternoon served upon the President virtually an uiti- rnatum to the effect that such an investi- gation was, indeed, the price of his re- mainln6 in the cabinet. He made it clear to the President that he was no longer willing to sit silent in his office in the interior department and wait for the thing to blow over.
 Mr. Taft reluctantly admitted the dis at large would accept as final his own ,vindication of Mir. Ballinger in his dis misssl of the charges brought before him against the Secretary of the Interior by l.. R. Glavis, the former special agent of the land office.
 Mir Ballinger's attitude in this matter has the support of leading republicans in both branches of Congress. senators and representatives. who feel that apart from the merits of the controversy itself, sore of this sort must poison the whole sys- tenn of the party in power, and that it is high time to resort to the lancet. These leaders. determined that cleansing of this wound is necessary. have not hest- tated to go to the White House and i'm press their views upon Mir. Taft.
 Conferences Are Held.
 Conferences of a confidential character, in which members of the cabinet, party leaders in both houses of Congress and the President himself have participated, have been held at various times during the past few days. They eliminated to- day when Secretary Bsllinger, Attorney General wickersham and Postmaster General Hitchcock met in MT. Wicker sham's office and proceeded thence to the White House, where the matter was laid before the President.
 MT. Ballinger told the President. it is said, that the situation had become in- tolerable to him and that though the con- stant charges against him had come from Irresponsible parties, he could no longer sit supineiy by and in justice to him SCH nt Ieit cOnptleu IO 11SlSC upon an investigation.
 The President was given to understand that MT. Ballingers demand carried with it the indorsement of both Mir. Wicker sham and MT. Hitchcock. It-ls a known fact tonight that he has the sympa thy also of other members of the cabinet
 There is little doubt that this will he one Of the important subjects of the cab inet meeting tomorrow. Presumably this is one of the principal reasons why the investigation, backed by the administra- tion probably will not be preached in Congress before its adjournment tomor- row for the holiday recpss
 Wanted No Whtewash.
 Several things have served to bring the matter to head. The speech of Repre- sentative Hitchcock. democrat of Ne braska. in the House a few days ago, de- manding action upon his resolutions pro- viding for an investigation of the land of- flee. was a factor. Mir Ballinger, 1t is said, feared that thts resolution might be laid upon the table by the republican majority, and that such action would be construed by his enemies as an effort on the part of the administration to "whtie- wash him.
 few days ago, he received pointed advice from a close personal friend, man who has recently left the govern ment service. who had himself been an investigator of the department of jus tice and who is an expert on land laws. urging just such an ultimatum as MT. Ballinger carried to the White House today. He impressed upon the secre- tary the conviction that the time had come when he must either demand an acquittal or retire to private life.
 Four important aspects of the situa- tion are taken into consideration by the party leaders;
 Aspects of Situation.
 1. The effect upon the future of The republican party and of the Taft ad- ministration if attacks upon the in tegrity of member of the President s official family may be made wiN iin- punity and allowed .to pass unanswered even unchailenged.
 ?. The possibility of the controversy between adherents and opponents of Secretary Balinger becoming so bitter as to endanger party Legislation
 3. The practical siandstill of the whole policy of conservation of natur.,T resources during the present conflict among those in whose hands lies th,s administration of that policy.
 Lastly. the desire to do justice to- ward the cabinet officers whose per. sona and official integrity has been assailed.
 So tue decision has been reached so sift tEe entire matter to the bottoN All parties understand that the invesif, sation must be of such a character. as to leave in the public mind not the slightest doubt of it's tn oroughness anu impartiality.
 ballinoer Is Impatient.
 Mir. Ballinger Is impatient of delay and is said to have urged that $ reso- lution providing for congressional investigation be presented in the Sen