Evening star., 1909-08-18
TAFT'S RETURN
Then Look for News of Pin
chot- -BaIIinger Row.
MAY HAVE POLITICAL COT OR
Taft Said to Be squarely Behind
Secretary.
IT'S PINCH0T's NEXT MOVE
Press Bureau Said to Be at Work
in Forester's Interestingly
Be Investigated.
rs PINCHoT's NEXT MOVE

Developments resulting from the at
tack Of Forester Pinchot upon Secretary
Ballinger Of the Interior Department are
not expected for several weeks. according
to reliable information at hand today,
and then will probably come after Presi-
dent Taft's western trip. The develop
ments. based upon the form the case Is
taking now. are expected to occur on
Mr.. Pinchot's side Of the fence !:
Public interest in the affair is tagging,
due to the involved and technical de-
partmental features OF the case, but 1t
still continues to be a burning question
in the departments concerned. The pos
sibility of its becoming "live wire" In
politics lends to the. case it's chief in
terest to the public at large. /;
The main issue in the controversy, pre-
cipitated by Forester Pinchot. resolves it.
self into question OF methods Of admin
istration Of important branches Of the
government service-the reclamation, for
estry and conservation works. So far no
scandal is alleged nor limited at. and none
is believed to be threatened
On one side 1t is claimed that the stu
alton is resolving into a question of
whether these branches Of government
to the Roosevelt ideas of utility. regard
less. at times, of inconvenient laws which
might interpose, or administered accord
ing to the regime Of the Taft administra-
ton. with strict regard to law and with
holding of action when no warrant in law
exists for action. On the other. 1t is as
serted that the reclamation work is being
hampered by too conservative adherence
to law. with an appeal to the popularity
OF the Roosevelt method Of doing things
q nd cnf sof loxry Il
violated.
Taft With Ballinger.
1t is stated with positiveness that thus
far the course Of Secretary Ballinger has
been in conformity with the views Of the
President and with opinions Of the Attor-
ney General of the United States. In
this view of the case It is cltimed that
| it may be devolvent upon Mr.. Pinchot to
make a pretty stiff showing of facts to
substantiate the back fire which he has
started upon the administration of which
| he Is member.
One phase Of the situation is attracting
the attention OF officials in this city and
| may result in official action, 1t is said
i Attention has been called to the fact that
| there is emanating a very pronounced
acter entirely ex parte In Mr.. Pinchots
| favor.
| 1t was hinted today that such a state of
| affairs Is being regarded as subversiye OF
| all the ethics of Official life and tending
| to shatter Official discipline. An inquiry
| into the source of the publicity campaign
| is being conducted now. The spectacle OF
one branch of the government service
publicly attacking another will not be toll
| Grated. 1t ie said, and there are sugges-
tions Of a strong intimation from Beverly
to. that effect.
As Political "Live Wire"
The live wire politics Of the case are
being avoided at this time by all but the
most brash intruders. although there is
much whispered gossip beneath the sur
| face in political circles.
| The administrators friends will not
countenance the suggestion of national
and presidential political significance of
this case. insisting upon it's being a mere
departmental squabble. while the Roose-
welt factionists are keeping equally mum
at present.
| The best judgment in both political and