The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-13
Attack on Ballinger TO Be
Rebuked, Say Friends
Close TO Taft.
CLASH REGRETTED
BY ADMINS 5TRATION
Friends of President Fear His
Policy viii Be Misinterpreted
By the Public.
By JAMES HAY, il.

BEVERLY, Mass, Aug. 13.-Ihe
President takes no stock in the wide
ly published reports that Secretary
of the Interior Balliager should be
forced from the Capinet.
Thus far, Mr.. Taft stands squareiy
behind The Secretary of the Interior
in bis claim that the policy of con-
sevation should be furthered ac-
cording = the law and not by such
generous constructions of The stat
utes that the courts may later over
throw the work in this manner.
PINcHoT THROWS GAUNTLET.
More and more the opinion is
forming here that Clifford Pinchot,
in his drastic criticisms of the
methods of this Administration,
has thrown down the gauntlet to
the Taft regime in such a manner
that his official head viii pay the
penalty. II is a fact beyond ques-
ton that the situation will result
in the dismissal of either Pinchot
or BaIlinger, and It is equally a
fact now that Dir. Taft contem-
plates no dismissal Of Ballinger.
Pinchot's Friends Active
News has reached here that Pinchot's
81, EaFE
charges against Ballinger that he has
not furthered the cause of conserva-
tion as he should have done A rumor
has also come to Beverly that an ef-
fort would be made to disiodge Balm
ger because he was an attorney for the
Cunningham group OF coal claims IN
Alaska. after he had been Commits
siOner Of the Land Office under Roose-
velt.
Several months ago ths President IN
dorsed Mr.. BaIlinger's policy Of going
only so far In the matter of conserve
ton as the statutes allowed. Il was
with the approval Of the President that
IN April BallInger instructed the direc-
tor OF the Geological Survey to make 4
thorough investigation Of power sites
''under the public domain outside of
tanning from the next session of Con-
gress legislation 10 prevent an improper
use Of them by combinations or trusts.
At that time, the Secretary Of the In
terror expressly stated that he wished
to take every preeaution possible to
prevent these sites being used monopo-
listicaIly.
From what has been brought out so
~ Aar-Fr7Fef=-a4for,
that Mr.. Bauinger had ever been guilty.
Of an indiscretion in having acted as
attorney for the coal claims in Alaska
Nothing has been brought TO the atten-
ton of the President 20 show that the
present Cabinet officer was guilty of
evading any law either in its letter or
in its spirit.
Stands By BallingeT
It is for these reasons that the PresI-
dent stands behind Ballinger.
The fact that Secretary Of Agrieul-
ture Wilson is supporting Forester Pin
chot in his tight on BaIlinger has re-
vived the rumor that hfr. Wilson NAV
eventually resign from the Taft Cabinet
If this turns out TO be rue. the final
crop of trouble which Is low raging Il
Is thought. viii be TIE retirement of
Wilson and PinChOt from public life
II has already been practically decided
to dismiss or IN some way get rid of
Frederick II. Newell, director of the
Reclamation Service. who comes under
the general category Of having gone
further IN his projects than 9. proper
reading Of the statutes provided.
It is not believed here that the crisis
will come until after the President has
made his tour OF the Western States.
The only thing which can f0rce it
earlier will be the constant attacks Of
Mr.. PinchOt on the tactics Of the Ad-
The President prefers TO
study the subject at close range and to
have every available fact in his posses
sion before taking final action.
The fact which is the salient feature
Of the situation so far Is that Pinchot
and his friends are confronted with the
task of bringing forward some mighty
strong evidence before they can achieve
the downfall Of Bailinger.
Taft for Conservation.
It cannot Be stated too strongly that
Mr.. Taft Is in favor OF the Roosevelt
policy of conservation OF natural re-
sources. He has said so IN numerous
speeches, and he has not changed his
mind But ne is as inslstent as IS the
Secretary of the Interior that the
work must be carried on according TO
law, and that, il the laws are now In
sufficient additional laws must be
passed by Congress.
Mr.. PinChot's Spokane attack on the
Taft-BaIinger methods is still one of
the principal subjects of discussion here
and il is regretted by the friends of the
President, because OF the fear that il
vi act temporarily TO put this Admins
trs ton in light OF opposing the policy OF
co lseFVatiOn. AS a matter OF fact il
Is said on excellent authority that Mr.
Tafts message TO Congress next winter
viii leave no doubt Of the fact that he
A. Fr.- efrarr - ~