The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-01
Attorney General Fails TO
Find Anything Against
Secretary.
QUESTION WHETHER
PINCHOT WILL QUIT
Some Are Of Opinion Forester
Will Remain in Office De-
spite Decision.
BY !. c. WELLIvER.

Attorney General Wickersham has de-
cided, after detailed study Of all the
records involving the charges concern
ing Secretary Ballingers administra-
tion OF the Interior Department. that
Mr.. Ballinger IS entitled 20 be upheld
at every point.
His report. going into The matter in
much detail, mas been laid before the
President, who approves it in all it's
features
The verdict as between Pinchot and
Ballinger is therefore finally and con-
clusively In favor Of Bsllinger. When
Mr.. Pinchot. who is out Of town today.
returns to Washington, it is expected
he will receive word from the President
concerning the determination of the
case, and then it viii be for Mr.. Pin
chot to decide what ne will do.
The general expectation is that the
Forester will determine to remain in
the Government service, and to continue
the forest administration. Some OF the
people who have given him strong back
Ing throughout the controversy feel he
ought not TO do this. They Will urge
htm to resign. make public all the facts
which have come into his possession
concerning the matters back OF the con-
troversy, and force the whole matter
into nav phase.
But the almost universal opinion. aside
from the more extreme OF the support
ers OF the conservation movement. Is
that Mr.. Pinchot win remain in his pres
ent position
May End Controversy.
In that event, the controversy will be
ended unless Congress takes steps for
an investigation by a Congressional
committee. 1t Is known a strong ele-
ment Is determined to have this step
taken. provided # can be done in such
fashion as 10 make e a real investiga-
ton. held IN the open. and not a mere
perfunctOry one designed to give in
dorsement to the program OF hushiug
up the trouble
II has been an open secret for weeks
that the Presidents Cabinet has been
advising him to let Mr. Pinchot out OF
the service. Not all the members. but
a majority. of the Cabinet can see only
the Ballinger end OF the fight To this
advice the President has not yielded
On the contrary, he has gone against
his advisers by letting Pinchot know
that he would be glad II the Forester
would stay IL his present position
This is. in a large measure. a repeti-
ton Of history. Mr.. Taft took the same
course last summer. just before he left
Beverly for his tour Of che country
At that time he made public a long
letter TO the Secretary Of the Interior
generating him from all the charges
made against him by Louis r Claws,
and he wrote a private letter TO Mr.
Pinchot telling him he hoped Pinchot
would stay In the service.
This. however did not settle the mat
ter, as publicity sas turned on the
whole question. and in the West. when
Ballinger and Pinchot met face to face
they refused 10 speak TO each other
Upon the Presidents return 10 Wash
ington the matter was opened again, and
Mr.. Taft made up his mind to 90 to the
bottom OF Il once for all.
In accordance with this decision he
instructed Attorney General Wicker
sham 20 investigate every particle OF
evidence IN regard 10 the case and TO
submit 70 him legal opinion on the
actions Of M Ballinger from the time
he became Commissioner Of the Land
Office up 70 the present time. covering
his connection with the Cunningham
coal claims and all other aspects OF the
case. Having made his invest cation. |
Nj. Wickersham wrote report which |
upholds Mr.. BaIlinger in every partic- /
ular-
Nothing could be broader IN its SUP /
port Of the Secretary OF the Interior. II /
goes through the whole business and |
upholds him throughout