Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-22
SECRETARY ATTACKED AS
MOST VULNERABLE POINT
Mr.. Taft Said to be Convinced That
There is an Organized Movement to
Discreet His Administration, and
That War on 5aIlinser is Part OF
Plan.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, ID. e, Dec. IL
ANY COught that the whole force of
the TAFT admlnistrat. on Is to be be-
hind the investigation d mandei by
both sides of the so-called Ballingei-
PinchOt c-ntrCveIry was dispelled by
events in and OUT OF congress ,Oday.
There is now reason TO believe mat
President Taft himself is as eager
Tor the .merciiess probing OF the whole
matter as hitherto he has .een reiIct-
ant L ADMIT the necessary fer it.
That he is willing TO do justice 10
Secretary Bllling5r IS ascri3ed 10
President Taft by senators. represen-
tativts and others active in politics
Men who are in a position to know
the sentiments of Nj. Taft declared
tonight that he has at last become
convinc d of the truth of what his
friends have been telling him for
many weeks-of what he has hitherto
laughed at-that there lies behind the
attack On Mr. Ballinger a more or less
definitely organized move ment TO dis
cerdiI the Taft administration. es-
pecially by spreading the impression
that the so-calied Roosevelt policies
are in unfr.endly hands; that Mr..
BallingeT was made the target only
on the theory that he offered for the
present the most vulnerable points III
the administration.
Believe There is Conspiracy.
Because he was 18th to believe that
such a propaganda was underway. Mr.
Taft opposed every suggs stion from
Mr. Bsllinger or his friends that at
tacks upon the land office should meet
with a determination to reach and
expose those responsible for the at
lacks upon the secretary and other
officials of the interior department
and the general land Office.
Though slow to come to decision,
it is known that Mr. Taft is now in
clined to believe that the criticisms
that have cropped out in many wide
ly separated localities are a part OF
a deliberate determination to make
trouble. which amounts practically TO
a conspiracy.
The first step in paving the way
for congressional investigator W.
taken Today.
To Produce All Papers.
Senator Flint introduced a resolu-
ton in the senate directing the at
torney general to send to the senate
all of the Tapers in his possession
which relate to the case.
These papers- include the report OF
/. r. CLAWS. the dismissed special
agent of the general land Office. who
sought to connect Mr.. Ballipger with
the Cunningham coal land cases IN
a manner rejecting upon his integ-
rity. These records are the ones on
which the President based his ex--
oneraticn Of his secretary of the in
terrier.
Drafted by Wickershsm.
The Flint resolution was adopted
and some tine later il was learned
that II had been drafted By Atior-
ney General Wickersham and that II
was enc OF the matters considered
a; the White House conference YES
teTday when the attorney general. Mr.
BailinSer ard Postmaster Hitchcock
discussed with the President the ad-
visabiliis q approving OF a congress
sionaI investigation.
This I'D TO the thought BY senator's
that the record may be FAR more ex-
;ensivc than generally supposed.
Adoption g the Flint resolution was
followed by prcs-ntation - Senator
Jones. Of Washington. Of q letter from
Secretary BailinsT =, urging an inquiry
into the matter.
q says IN pait.
Any investigation ty congress q
the Interior department or Of any Of
Us cfiicfrs should D. sufficiently brc ad
and far-reschng to rut AZ rest the
suspicious. criiicigms and imputa-
tons Of c-rrupt o. Improper practices
heretofore charg against the pres
eni administration thereof. and
Furthermore. sch Investigation shcrId
embrace the forest service. since ]
have reason 10 believe that the
peruici0gs activity of certain q SIS
officers has been the eource O. IN