Weekly journal-miner., 1910-01-19
Editorial Comment
A SYMPOSIUM ON P1NcHoT.

The great political parties, all of which are everywhere recognized as among the great journals of the day journals which reflect, and to a great extent mould, public opinion throughout the country. The list might be increased indefinitely, but that is unnecessary, since all the journals that command public con- fdenee, express the same opinion, and in practically the same words.
 The New York Tribune, closing q careful and impartial review of the case, says:
 "There can be no division of opin- ion as to the propriety of Presidenr Taft's action in ordering the removar of MT. Clifford Pinchot, the forester of the agricultural department. A:r. Pinehot had assumed an attitude of insubordination which the presiden, could not be expected to tolerate. He had invited dismissal by public ly challenging conclusions reached by the attorney general and the presi- dent, after an examination of charges affecting the good faith of a mem Der of the cabinet. A subordinate of
 fcial may be entitled to his opinion, whether right or wrong, but when he sets up his view in opposition to that of his superiors, impugning their capacity to decide a question intelli- gently and correctly, he makes i'm possible a continuance of the rela- tions which should exist between a president and those who execute his policies. No administration can be successfully carried on if its chief has not the loyal cooperation of his appointees and agents. MT. Pinchot' s expression of disloyalty was fragrant. That in itself destroyed his useful ness as an executive officer. The ex-forester's act of insubordina- ton was therefore clearly both graz. uitous and personal; it was not com mitted as a protest against the de- nial of a day in court or as an ex- hibition of loyalty to an abandoned policy. It was an exhibition of hastiness and irritation. MT. Taft is singularly patient and charitable. Those who are talking about MT. Pinchot's removal exciting the sym pathy of the admirers of ex-President Roosevelt, might well reflect that MT. Roosevelt is not by temperament as patient as Mir. Taft, and they might try to imagine what would have happened under the Roosevelt administration to a subordinate who, with MT. Pinchot's sang froid, hao criticized and antagonized the presi- dent"
 The Washington Star has a lon. and carefully prepared leader on the subject, ending as follows:
 "Mr. Pinchot became involved in a situation from which there was no escape save through resignation O. dismissal. It has been obvious for months that the president hoped to retain him in service and to adjust the differences between him and the Secretary of the Interior and to in- sure a harmonious administration in all directions. The issue having been laid before the president in the terms of the Glavis charges, which he found upon a close examination to be unsustained, nothing was left pos sible but the vindication of the sec retary, the announcement of which should have been a signal for the cessation of all attacks upon him from within the administrative or ganizatiOn. If Mir. Pinchot felt that he could not consistently remain .. member of the administration in thesu circumstances he should have resign ed. As he chose to remain and to commit an act of insubordination unpardonable in any circumstances, and particularly so under the condi-