The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-17
PLAN TO |MpEACH HIM.
OPPONENTS ARE DETERMINED
TO FORCE BALLINGER OUT
OF OFFICE.
No Use To "WhitcwaSh" NOW--if
Ballingcr Refuses To Resign, Taft
Cannot Remove Him Without Re-
vcrsing His Decision.

1NlCldTu n. balllnSer steps uOWn ana
out of his own accord or President
Taft, following a discussion of the
case at the coming Cabinet reunion
in this city, takes action, the worst
is yet to come" for the Administra-
ton in it's efforts to throw off the
incubus of Ballinger.
Secretary Ballinger is not expected
to resign voluntarily, nor is there any
strong belief that the President, in
the absence of a unanimous report
from the investigating committee
against his Secretary of the Interior,
will ask for his resignation. AS long
as Ballinger is head of the executive
department which has charge of the
nations lands, mines and other nat
ural resources Mr.. Taft will have
trouble to face, for those who are op-
posed to his retention and who be-
lieve that Glavis-Pinchot charges
have been sustained mean to keep up
the fight until they force the appoint
ment Of another Secretary of the In
terror.
Four Democratic members and
one Republican Insurgent member of
the joint Congressional investigating
committee have signed a report de-
claring their belief that Secretary
Ballinger should be removed. Enough
Republican regulars bolted the meet
ing to be able to present a party
claim that no quorum was present.
The Democrats and the Insurgent
member, considering that they have
performed their duty in attending
the meeting Of the committee on the
date set by Chairman Nelson, have
intimated that they do not consider
1t necessary to attend any further
meetings. The Republicans are in a
quandary. A majority Of the mem
bers, all Republicans are anxious to
vote in favor of a report whitewash-
ing Ballinger, but they hesitate about
taking such action at this juncture,
fearing it will receive the indignation
of the country. They would prefer
to bring out their report of exonera-
tion after the Congressional elections
are over.
But those who have been following
the situation closely believe 1T will
make little difference what these alb
sentee Republicans report They be-
lieve Ballinger must go. 1t would
aid the party in some districts If the
Republicans should join with the
Democrats and Insurgent Madison in
voting for the removal of Ballinger.
but no one here believes they will
take any such action.
The difficulty about condemning
Ballinger is that such a report, while
furnishing the President with a con-
venient excuse for seeking his resig-
nation, would be directly contrary to
the stand taken by Mr. Taft and his
associates. The President held that
the CLAWS charges were not proved,
and considered them as almost friv-
olous. Acknowledgement Wicker
sham called them moonshine and the
raVing of megalomaniac Other
members of the Presidents official
family insisted that Ballinger should
remain. Now verdict by the com
mittee to the effect that the CLAWS
charges were sustained would be
serious reflection on the judgment Of
the Administration and especially the
judicial determination Of the Presi-
dent. who held that the charges were
not sustained
Seeking no other way to secure his
removal certain members Of Congress
are considering plans for the i'm
peachment Of Secretary Ballinger If
ne Is not out Of the way by the time
the committee reports are submitted
to Congress. Unless Secretary Bal
lingor resigns or the President forces |
MS removal from the Cabinet, there |
is only one way in which he can he |
no other way is prescribed in the |
constitution. The President is su-
preme over the executive branch with |
in the scope Of the Constitution and
the laws Of the country.
Congress, however much it NAV
condemn a civil officer Of the Gov
or
er"meht' cannot say to the President: |
You must remove him" There is
constitutional means of disposing
oi recreant officers. and that is by
Impeachment. The House must brins
proceedings impeaching the integrity
OF the Official and under the Consti- |
tuition he must be given a fair trial |
nN the Spnotp