Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-21
Public Investigation of Interior
Secretary's Controversy With
Forester Pinchot Decided Up
on by Administration.
DECISION RESULT OF
UlTIMATUM TO PRESIDENT
Republicans High in Party
Councils Determined That
Merits of Long Drawn Out
Controversies Must Be De-
Cided.
tBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire,

tBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wirel
Washington. Doe President
! Tat today Welded to the demands OF
I both Secretary Ballinger and his
critics for public investigation of the
/ whole subject matter underlying the
so-culled Rallinger- Pinchot contro-
versy.
Ballinger Serves tItin,atun,.
Mr.. l3nllingor this afternoon served
/ upon the president virtually an ulti-
/ matum to the effect that such an In
Vestigation was indeed the price Of his
remaining In the cabinet He made
/ IL clear that he was no longer willing
/ TO sit silent and wait for the thing
/ 10 blow over
/ President SorcIy Disappointed.
Mr. Taft, 1t ~ said, reluctantly ad-
mitted the lsappointment of his hope
I that the country nj large would accept
AS final his own vindicaton OF Mr.
Ballnger In his dismissal Of the
charges brought against the secretary
OF the interior by H. II. CLAWS, the
FORMER special agent of the land Of
flee, ana his conclusion that the i'm
vestigation demanded by both sides
WIS inevitable.
Iic,oi, Measures Demanded.
Mr.. Ballinger's attitude IN this mat
Ater fna thA supp, rttpf leading rcpah-
licaGs in both branches OF congress
senators and representatives, who feel
that, entirely apart from the merits
of the controversy itself fostering
sore Of this character must poison the
whole system of the party in power.
and that 1t is high time TO resort 10
the lance,
These doctors, determined To clean
the wound, have not hesitated To go to
the white house ana Impress their
views upon Mr.. TAFT Conferences of
confidential character In which
members of the cabinet. PARTY leaders
in both houses and the president him
sell have participated, have been lreld
in the last few DAYS They eliminated
today when Secretary Ballingcr, At
torncy General Wickcrsham and Post
master General Hitchcock met In Mr.,
Wickersham' office ANA proceeded
thence To the white house where the
matter was laid before tho president
Calls situation intoIcrnbic.
Mr. Ballinger told the president II
Is said, that the situation had become
intolcrable to him and that, though
the constant charges against him had
come from irresponsible people, he
could no longer sit supinely by and
in Justice TO himself. he felt COM
PEELED to insist upon an investigation.
The president was given Ia UNDER
stand that Mr. Bullinger's demand
carried with IL the endorsement of
both MI. Wickersham and Mr.. Hitch
cock, II is known tonight that he has
the sympathy also of other members
of tho cabinet.
Tomorrow is cabinet day. There
can be little doubt that this will he
one of the important subjects OF the
meeting. Presumably this is one OF
. H.
tigation backed ny the administration
probably viii not be hroached in con-
gross before its adjournment tomor-
row for the holiday recess
Several things have served To bring
the matter To head. The speech of
Hitchcock, democrat,
Nebraska, Few days ago, demanding
action on his resolution providing an
of the land office was a
factor. Mr.. Rallinger. II is said,
feared this resolution might be laid
upon the table lay the republican ma
iority and that such action would he
by his cncmies as an effort
)n the part of the administration To
'whtewash" him.
a few days ago he received pointed
ldvice from a close personal friend, a
man who has recently left the gov
,rnmcnt service. who has himself been
an investigator of the department of
Justice and who is an expert on land
avs. urging just such an ultimatum
IS Mr Balliugr carried To the white
house today. He impressed upon the
the conviction that the time
lad come when he must either de-
nnnd an acquttal or retire TO private
ife.
Party Aspect of Quarrel.
Four important aspects OF the stu-
Itiou are taken into consideration by
he rartv leaders:
First the erect upon the future of
hc republican party and of the Taft
cgritv ot member of the presidents
fhcial f.. mily may be made with inn
,unitl and allowed To pass unanswer-
"a. even unchailcnged
Second. the probability of a contro-
crsy between adherents and oppon-
uis of Secretary Ballingcr becoming
% biticr as 10 cndanger party legisla
ion
Third. the practical standstill OF the
hole policy of conservation OF nat
.ral resources in the present conflict
mong thosc Ia whose hands lies the
administration OF that policy.
Details of Program Unsettled.
Lastly. the desire TO do Justice to-
Yard tho cabinet officer whose per
onal and OFFICIAL integrity has been
SEALED
- the decision has been reached to
III the entire matter TO the bottom.
z r. uf1lua only H. <eft IL an. an. A.