The Paducah evening sun., 1910-05-28

which returned a Republican major
lity at the last election.
Yet, though the investigation has
dragged along for months, we
hazard the suggestion that there is
not a citizen OF the United States
outside the committee. who can tell
what has been proved and what dis
proved and not one in a thousand
knows what II is all about.
II started from charges made by
one, CLAWS, an employe OF the for
estry department. that Ballinger Is
interested in the Cunningham coal
claims In Alaska so adversely TO the
government, that he is not capable
lof protecting the commonwealth.
CLAWS was discharged and the presi-
dent asked congress to investigate
|the secretary's relations TO western
land claims. The original charges
seem TO be sufficiently discredited TO
show that CLAWS was sorely pre-
judiced; but the proceedings were
kept vividly before the public by a
series OF sensational incidents. not
the least OF which was a hasty re-
Election on the president made by
clifford Pincbot, the original conser-
vationist, who was promptly dis
charged by Mr.. Taft. CLAWS and
passed the lie. former Sec
retary Garfield published some state
ments. not complimentary 20 his
successor, and lastly we have a
selling to a news
agency confidential information and
declaring his purpose was patriotic,
as Sis obligation was to the country
and not to the man who employed
him.
This was Kirby. who told OF Law
Ter, Ballinger's confidential man.
Actating the letter In defense OF
which was made public
over the presidents signature. Kir-
by's sting was removed by the
prompt explanation OF the president
that he had submitted the CLAWS
charges to Mr.. Ballinger with in
structions to prepare a reply to them
and submit II to the president. I'm
mediately thereafter Mr.. Taft called
for an investigation.
The result Is what might have
been foreseen. Enemies of the ma
tional administration attempted TO
drag into the mire of scandal the
whole administration: staunch party |
men attempted to suppress evidence
and whitewash the whole AFFAIR; but
- IN hax
in its service men who have to be
Investigated, and. therefore Mr.. Ball
niger will have to go.
He has committed no improper
act since becoming member OF the
cabinet. and he is carrying out the
law In his policy OF conservation;
but Mr. Bahinger Is going no fur
ther in that direction than the law
expressly commands. Western news
papers and western politicians are
defending his course; because the
northwest does not like the idea of
conserving resources. The north
west wants the resources exploited
to attract capital. and Mr.. Ballinger.
like every other man, represents his
own section.
That is why Mr.. Ballinger will
have to be put out OF the interior
department. The Office calls for a
man. who. instead of going just as
far as the law compels him to 20
in conserving the natural wealth of
the country. will rather go as far
as the law viii permit him in the
fu-therance Of that policy. There is
an old saying that "the letter
killeth." It is the spirit OF conser-
walton that is lacking in the Ballin-
ger administration of the interior
department; and. unfortunately. the
intemperance OF Pinchot and CLAWS
has put Ballinger on trial for graver
OffanSaS of which he fc NOT er,,slt,,