New-York tribune., 1909-11-18
BALLINGER-PINC
CASE NOT REOPENED
BIZ PRESIDENT.
He May Take Further 4ction,
HOsceTer - "Ultimatum"
Denied by Pinchot.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau l

report 10 the effect that the President
| had requested the Attorney General u
conduct . searching investigation into
the conduct of the Secretary of the In
terror i'm his relations 10 the Cunning
ham Alaska coal land cases and the
conservation movement vas printed hero
this afternoon. This report states ION
the highest authority" that Oscar Law
Ter Assistant Attorney General for the
Department Of the Interior who was ap-
pointed en- the recommendation OF Sec
retary Ballinger prepared the Presidents
answer 20 the CLAWS charges; that the
President signed the answer without
giving due consideration 20 the gravity
Of the charges: that he is now embar-
raised by his hasty action. and that he
had requested the Attorney General 20
prepare a review of the entire case.
Accompanying this report was a quot
ed statement from Clifford Pinchot de-
nying that he had issued an 'ultimatum"
in the Ballinger- Pinchot controversy.
Mr.. Pinehot does not deny that he has
addressed communication TO the Presi-
dent but says he has written nothing
that could be twisted into that meaning.
The word "ultimatum' which Mr.. Pin
chot uses is taken from the heading The
Washington Post" put on the story,
which appeared also in The Tribune and
in another New York paper this morn
ing. as well as in certain Western papers.
Mr.. Pinchot's denial that he has issued
I an "ultimatum" 10 the President would
seem 10 indicate a difference OF opinion
between him and his friend. who was
The Tribunes informant. as 10 the char
acter Of his communication 10 the Presi-
dent. although The Tribune's dispatch
did not use that term.
IL is denied al the White House that
the President has reopened the Bal
linger- -Pinchot case or has requested the
Attorney General 10 prepare for him any
statement on the subject This should
not be taken. however. as an intimation
that the President does not purpose 10
take any further action in the matter.
Il is further asserted at the White House
that President Taft himself. and not Mr..
Lawler. prepared the letter in which the
CLAWS charges were denounced as mere
shreds Of suspicion"
The text Of Mr.. Pinchot's statement is
as follows:
The story that I have issued an ulti-
matum 20 the President. like the recent
conspiracy" story, is merely A silly fab
rication. OF course. I have done moth
ing Of the kind. nor anything that could
be twisted into that meaning. Ihe
President was good enough to express
his satisfaction with my work, and
am going ahead with il.
TRIBUNE STORY NOT DENIED.
Mr.. Pinchots inclusion of the CON
spirscy" story probably has reference 10
a recent dispatch TO The Tribune in
which il was asserted that some OF the
Presidents loyal friends purposed TO lay
before him certain facts which they be-
lieyed 10 afford ample evidence of a con-
certed movement 10 discredit this admin
istration. with 2 view 10 influencing the
choice Of the Republican National Con-
vention Of 1912. il cannot he success
fully denied that these facts have been
brought TO the attention Of the Presi-
cent and the construction described i'm
The Tribune placed on them This is
precisely what has happened. Although
the dispatch Was published a week ago.
IL has never been denied from an author
itative source whereas the accuracy Of
its purport has been affirmed in all sec
tiOns Of the country. The dispatch
called attention to the fact that the oc-
currences cited might prove 10 De merely
a sequence Of condolences" but that
that view is rejected by men high i'm the
councils Of the President cannot be
gainsaid, nor is the declaration Of an
individual that their views are "a silly
fabrication likely 10 shake the convic-
tions Of those of the Presidents friends
Who seriously considered the facts and
then determined to submit the evidence
and their deductions 10 him.
As has been stated by the President
himself. and reiterated in these dis
patches, there is no question i'm his mind
regarding the absolute propriety of the
course of his Secretary Of the Interior
and his associates in that depa rtment
with regard to the Cunningham claims
or the conservation policy, and there is.
therefore. no occasion whatever for the
President 10 call on Mr. Nickersham "a
conduct any further investigation
Secretary BslIinger was one of tho
Cabinet callers At the White House to-
day. and when he left the executive
offices displayed his usual good humor in
listening 10 many questions as 10 the
Bailinger- Pinchot feud. The Secretary
said that he had mereHy taken up routine
department matters with the President
Mr.. Ballinger is entirely conten, Win
the situation. and has made no recon-
mendations 10 the President as 10 anv
action he should take regarding the con-
troversy.