Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-08
Summary Dismissal of Chief For
ester Pinchot by President
Taft the Cause.
PLACE is ALL OF A TREMBLE
To Think What May be the Result
Conjcctures as to Outcome
Fill the Air.

Washington. Jan. S.-Gifford Pinchot,
chief forester of the United States yes
terday, is a private citizen today, ap-
parently unconcerned and smiling. in
great contrast to the political ferment
in which Washington finds itself.
The summary dismissal conveyed last
night in the presidents letter In the
closing lines. by your own accord you
have destroyed your usefulness as a
and 1t now becomes my duty to direct
the secretary OF agriculture to remove
you from your office as the forester"
has brought nothing from Mr. Pinchot
more than the simple statement. II
would prefer to say nothing at this
time" but political Washington almost
trembles to think what may be the re.
suit.
THAT TAFT SHOULD DARE.
Pinchot today. in the opinion of
many. becomes the pivot on which the
insurgent fight with the administration
can turn It's guns. The effect of Pin
chot, the personal friend of Theodore
Roosevelt and head champion of the
Roosevelt conservation policies, being
ousted from the official family of Presi-
dent Taft is another phase of the con-
lectures which fill the air. The effect
OF Pinchot's dismissal upon the con-
gressional investigation of Secy. Bal
linger and the land office is another.
II the ominous silence which fell on
the whole situation following the first
bang after the cabinet meeting at tho
White House yesterday many of the
political forecasters see unmistakable
signs of a great tempest within tho
Republican party. with ramifications
which some of the most sanguine fear
to think about
GREAT FIGHT ON HAND.
There is only one conclusion upon
which all are unanimous. That Is,
there Is a great fight on hand, one
which the president has sought to
avoid, for the -,,ressat Gt least. and in
forcing 1t at this time by the dismissal
of Pinchot, the presidents supporters
maintain that Mr.. Taft has considered
all the probable effects and conse-
quences and has decided to see 1T
through. Within a few minutes after
the president had instructed Secy
Wilson to remove Mr.. Pinchot from
office the order had been carried out
Similar letters of dismissal were
sent at the same time to Associate
Forester Overton' w. Price and As
sistant Law Officer Shaw, the two men
whom Mr.. Pinchot defended in the let
ter to Senator Doliver, which was the
cause. or one of the contributing causes
of his dismissal.
Mr.. Pinchot was at his Office early
this morning, He promptly took up
the closing up of his work and expect
ed to have a very busy day To all
appeals for further statements regard
ing his dismissal by President Taft Mr.
Pinchot merely smiled his declInation
to contribute further to the news on
that subject.
BUREAU ALARMED.
Throughout the bureau of forestry
there was a feeling of alarm as to
what might become of the organization
which had been to such a large degree
the work of the late chief forester.
All of the officials OF this department
who occupy places of responsibility
were personally selected by him.
Whether or not there will be any fur
ther shape-up of the bureau is a gues-
tlOn lIldt is lOudy CalllnS 1OTtn Il great
deal OF concern with In the bureau.
George P. McCabe, the solicitor OF
the agricultural department, called on
Mr.. Pinchot in his office early in tho
day and presented to him letter from
Secy. Wilson which designated Mr..
McCabc as acting forester
Albert F. Potter an assistant for
ester In the service. who had been pre-
viously designated by the secretary to
relieve Mr. Pinchot as forester, being
in the west and not able to return for
several days. 1t became necessary this
morning to name some one else in his
place. Mr Pinchot gave Mr.. McCabe
q hearty welcome and said he was
ready to turn over the bureau to him
at once.
employees APPLAUD PINCHOT.
Word then being passed around that
Mr. Pinchot was about to leave the
building. the scores of employees who
occupy the eight floors of the big Office
building In which the bureau is locat-
ed, gathered In the assembly room oil
the top floor.
Mr.. Pinchot met them. his entrance
being signalized by deafening applause.
No candidate returning from a sue
cessful campaign ever was greeted by
q more enthusiastic demonstration than
that accorded to the late forester Mr.
Pinchot bade farewell to all who filed
by A little later he left the building