Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-28
TAFT in r,ckLlsH PLACE.
BaIlinser Pinchot Row Puts President
in Embarrassing Position.

Washington, Feb. 2S.--President Taft
confronts the most embarrassing situ-
alton that has developed during his adj
ministration. The Pinchot- -Ballinger
inquiry, despite the efforts of the con-
gressional committee to prevent the
presidents name or personality being
dragged into the affair, has taken such
q turn that the administration appar-
emily can not remain silent
Secretary Ballinger's precipitate and
bitter reply last night to Pinchot's
statements on the witness stand has
brought matters to a crisis. 1t is I'M
derstood that Ballinger acted without
advising with the other cabinet officers,
in issuing his short denunciatory state
ment, and the result has been to give
much uneasiness to the presidents ad-
visers.
Ballinger charged that Pinchot ''at-
tempted. without success, to deceive
the president" No such charge has
been laid against Mr.. Pinchot up to
this time, nor had it been understood
that Ballinger would make such a.
charge. The inference from his state
ment is that the president became
aware of the fact that Pinchot was
trying to deceive him before he wrote
the letter exonerating Ballinger. I'm
chot's subsequent discharge was not
for attempted deceit, but for insubordi-
nation.
May Seek Taft Testimony.
Mr.. Pinchot's attorneys made an ef-
fort on Saturday to have his CONVEX
sation with the president admitted as
testimony before the committee. In
view of the charge now put forward
by Ballinger it is believed that the
attorneys for Mr.. Pinchot will insist
that this conversation and other mat
ters relating to interviews with the
president be permitted to come as
statements from the witness.
The committee has no desire to let
Mr.. Pinchot repeat the conversations
with the president if it can avoid Civ
ing the permission. Such action will
draw the president directly into the
case, and John J. Vertrees. attorney for
Secretary Ballinger, has intimated that
he would feel called upon to summon
the president as a witness in case Pin
cifiiott cifiiott Is allowed to repeat his version
Of conversations at the White House.
The administration can not we'll
avoid completely in the hearing. Mr..
Pinchot promised on Saturday to have
Director Frederick H. Newell and Chief
Engineer Arthur p. Davis of the re-
clamation service called to the stand
to support his claim that they had not
voluntarily advised that the lands
withdrawn for reclamation purposes be
restored to entry.
The testimony of these two men who
are still in the public service is re-
sponsible positions, if it bears out Mr..
Pinchot's charges. will be of most
embarra assing sort to the president.
Cabinet is Badly Divided.
The cabinet itself is understood to be
badly torn up over the way things have
developed since the Pinchot- BallinEer
controversy began. The president has
stood by his secretary OF the interior.
He went over the charges against Bal
linger. as did the attorney general, be-
fore making any decision as to Ballin-
gers conduct When the letter was is
sued generating the secretary Of the
interior. the president stated that he
and the attorney general had consid-
cred every nhasA OF the case, and found
Secretary Baliinger q friend Of con-