The sun., 1910-01-08

serving a. forester In the Administration
OF Theodore Roosevelt. Col. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Pinchot were intimate friends;
in fact. Col. Roosevelt appeared to be
on greater terms Of intimacy with Mr.
Pinchot than he was with anybody else
except Senator Lodge of Massachusetts
and Grant La Fargo Of New York. Mr.
Pinchot was. a member OF the tennis
cabinet. was frequently at the Whits
House, always had ready entree to Presi-
dent Roosevelts ONCE or private den
and was known to have great influences
with Col. Roosevelt in many matters
and was regarded as being practically
the sole director OF the conservation
policy Of the last Administration.
II was said OF MIR. Pinchot that he not
only dominated President RooseVelt's q
attitude in all matters relating TO the
preservation OF public forests to the
elimination OF the opinions OF Secretary
OF Agriculture Wilson. his superior officer
but was practically paramount in deter
mining the conservation policy which the
Secretary OF tho Interior was charged
with carrying out under direction OF the
President. Through Mr.. Pinchot's efforts
funds appropriated for tho 'lse OF the
Interior Department in administering q
certain public lands under its jurisdiction
were transferred to Mr.. Pinchot's bureau
Altogether Mr. Pinchot welded a tro-
mendous influence in the Roosevelt Ad-
ministration. and some Of his critics have
contended that his whole trouble. cul-
minating in his dismissal tonight. has
been due to a belief that he was lndepen-
dent OF superior authority and possessed
an immunity from discipline as be was
credited with having when Col Roose-
welt was in tho White House.
President Taft and Mr.. Pinchot have
been good friends. Mr., Taft has publicly
expressed his admiration for the ener-
getio and enthusiastic forester. On two
occasions he made known that he had
high opinion Of Mr.. Pinchot's disinter-
ested services in behalf OF the oonsarva-
ton OF natural resources
AZ meeting Of Governors Of the States.
presided over by Mr.. Taft on December g.
1908. at a theatre in this city. Mr.. Taft
then President-elect. spoke OF the debt
that the public owes Clifford Pinchot.
and added other complimentary words.
At the time President Taft wrote his
exoneration Of Secretary Bsllinger from
the charges made by Special Agent
CLAWS he sent a letter to Mr.. Pinchot
complimenting him highly for his con-
servation work and assuring him that he
had the support Of the Taft Admins
tration.
How far the political considerations
involved played a part in the consider
alton OF Mr.. Pinchot's case by the Presi-
and the members Of the Cabinet, IL they
played any part at all has not been
disclosed. H. is known that President
Taft made every efforL TO bring about
a better feeling between Secretary Bal
linger and Forester Pinchot, believing
that both were honest and that Mr.
Pinchot in his opposition to Mr.. Bal
linger was led away by a too enthusiastic
interest in the conservation movement.
These efforts were unsuccessful Even
after the President knew that Mr.. Pin
chot's subordinates Price and Shaw had
been conducting a magazine and press
Oa mr. inn to I'M m - thS.
Interior he refrained from taking any
action against them on the ground that
to do 90 might have an effect on the in
vestigation which MIR. Rallinger. had
demanded into his own Official conduct.
There are people in Washington who
have said that to dismiss Mr.. Pinchot
from Office would be great political
mistake. They contended that most
Of Col. Roosevelt's friends would rally
TO Mr.. Pinchot's support with the object
OF injuring the Taft Administration. and
that the people OF the country. few Of
whom understood the Ballinger- Pinchot
controversy. would be influenced by the
magazine and periodical campaign to
believe that, to put IL mildly. Mr.. Pinchot
had been dismissed for attempting to
prevent monopolistic control of water
power sites and coal lands
According to part Of the information
in the possession OF the Administration,
Law Officer Shaw, whose dismissal was
ordered tonight, not only assisted Special
Agent CLAWS, who was connected with
another department OF the Government,
in preparing the indictment against
Secretary Ballinger. but accompanied
Mr.. CLAWS to Boston and waited there
until CLAWS returned from Beverly
where he had laid his charges before
President Taft. 1t was alleged that the
CLAWS charges, or a summary of them,
were offered by either Associate Forester
Price or Law Ohicer Shaw, or both. to
Washington newspapers with the object
OF injuring Mr.. BaIlinger in the public
mind. President Taft's letter, sent to-
night to Mr.. Pinchot. tells OF the admins
tration OF Price and Shaw. that they had
been the inspiration for the campaign Of
scandal against Mr.. Ballnger in ma9a-
zines periodicals and newspapers.
Ii is too early yet to say what effect
the dismissal of Mr.. Pinchot and his
associates will have on the investigation
into Mr.. Ballingers conduct which Con-
gress is to institute. Mr.. Pinchot. Mr..
Price and Mr.. Shaw are now free to say
and do what they please. and it is ex-
pected that they willabe summoned early
before the committee OF inquiry.
A good deal OF uncertainty exists as to
what the scope OF the investigation will
be. and by some the question has been
raised as to what there Is for Congress to
investigate anyway in controversy
which, according tn one view. mainly
concerns the Executive.