Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-17
MAY RESIGN AT FIRST
MEETING TO Bt HELD
Secretary of interior Doesn't Like
Way the investigating Committee
Has Acted and II Is Understood He
viii Force Some Kind of Action by
His Superiors Sept. 20.

" Aoftl-\O ONs -. u, sfit- ~.
Whether Richard 4. BaIlinger's rcsig
nation as secretary of the interior
will follow Immediately upon the
meeting of the cabinet September 90,
to attend which he is now en- route
from Seattle, or whether he will re-
tain his position indefinitely Least
until after the delivery to congress of
the reports of the committee which
investigated his stewardship of the
public domain. depends now upon
the attitude of his cabinet associates.
MIR. Ballinger is coming to Washing
ton, his friends here insist. wholly I'M
conscious of any act on his part.
either of commission or omission, for
which he should be condemned and
Las determined to force his chief and
his official colleagues. TO be in effect
his judges. If they concur in the
view at present attributed to Mr..
Taft. that the accused secretary shall
be sustained as an innocent and per-
secuted man, he will retain his posi-
ton: if they fail so to back him up.
he will resign forthwith. The report
in sustance. is Mr.. Ballingers pres
ent position. was learned here today
upon authority hardly 10 be ques-
toned.
Dickinson Will be Absent.
At the first meeting of the cabinet
after the summer recess, Secretary Oh
War Dickinson, the Democratic mem
her. will not have returned from the
PhilipDines end will therefore be saw
cd tho embarrassment of participation
in what is regarded as largely prob
lem of Republican policy. The meet
ing is expected 10 last three days
and the President expects TO clear
up a number OF important matters;
but it will surprise nobody here II
the Ballnger case occupies a large
part of the time.
Resignation Expected First.
Rumors have been constant and de-
cidedly definite here during the past
few DAYS to the effect that Mr. Bal
fingers resignation would be one OF
the first Developments of the cabinet
meetings; but his friends, including
his associates in the interior depart
ment. have refused 10 believe that he
would retire under fire" and have
Iointed to his oft-repeafed declara-
ton 10 the contrary and to the recent
statement attributed to him, that he
would resign only at the specific re-
guest of the President.
Some of these. however, today ad-
nitted themselves and the secretary
to he alive to the fact that the tur-
mol and uncertainty into which the
protractcd controversy has plunged
the department must be abatcd soor
unless this important branch of the
public service is to become hopeless
" demoralized.
Report Of Committee
Nobody here dOHbts that majority
all but one of the Republican mem
hers Of the sO-called Bslliugcr-Pin-
cho; investigating commitiee-win
sustain Secretary Ballinger in their
report 20 congress. The views 81
that majority to that effect arc well
known. hut Secretary Bailingcr and
his partisans here were greatly dis
appointed that the absence Of Sena
tors Root and Flint from the Mime.
apoIis meeting left the pro-Rallinger
portion Of the committee IN the MI
nority and permitted tho Democrats
and insurgcni Republican 10 PIT forth
reports coadcrning him which. foT
many weeks. will stand before the
country as tho only findings of the in
ve-tiraf;oa cormiffcc; whereas he
rad relied upon the majority for \
vipdicafion. u is this failure ~ the
committee 20 take final action which
II IS said. has determined Secretary
IialIinrcr's course.
u was said here to-day by a ciosc
friend 81 the secretary that had fhr
majority been ready ~ report ~ tho
Ninncap polls meeting he would have
then rendered his resignation 10 The
President and urged iis acceptance
on the ground that the disscnsious
~ which he han bccn party were
defrins nfal 10 the public interest.
Will Make Demands.
Wnru the committee failed ~ Min
ncapoiis 70 take action a. q whole
and uhcn there was no quorum a.
tho suh4cfucaf meeting IN Chicazo.
j.. b,cau,c apparent that no decision
could be looked for practically for
several months. Iris Situation IS raid
10 have convinced Mr. RaninRc- thai
hie POSITION. IN spite ~ she continued
suproTt 81 TIE Prcsi5cnt. has becomr
unienabic. Unable. a. he sees 10. to