The San Francisco call., 1910-03-23
'MEETING ASKED BY A
CABLE FROM KHARTUM
Absence From BaIlinger Inves-
tigatiOn Excused on Ground
Of Much Needed
Rest
AVOIDS APPEARANCE OF
DIRECT SLAP AT TAFT


WASHINGTON. March 22.-Washing-
ton today woke up to the fact that Gift
ford Pinchot. whom President Taft re-
Gently removed from the position OF
chief forester Of the United States. was
on the ocean. already four days out on
the steamer President Grant. on his
way to meet former President Roose-
veit probably at Naples.
Pinchot is due al Hamburg Monday;
Colonel Roosevelt is 10 arrive at Naples
the following Saturday.
The widely current rumor here is
that Pincnot goes TO meet the returning
traveller IN compliance with summons
received by cable Friday. Nobody in d
position 10 know would either confirm
or deny this part of the story. There
is no disposition TO deny that Pinchot's
principal errsnd abroad is to meet
Roosevelt.
Root Involved in RumOrS
ii is to be taken for granted the
former president viii receive from the
deposed chief forester. with whom he
was on peculiarly intimate terms. his
first direct information bearing on the
BaHinger-PIachot controversy from
any # the principals in that dispute.
was rumored here today that Sen
all Root, a member Of the investi-
eating committee and secretary of
state in the Roosevelt cabinet. had
written 10 Roosevelt at zhartum on
the subject.
senator Root would not talk about
the matter, and no confirmation of the
rumor was obtainable from any other
source. If it were true, it might af-
ford at east partial reason for the
supposed cablegram to Pinchot.
Pinchots friends here scon at the
suggestion that he would quit the in
vesugation Of the controversy in
which he is so deeply concerned on the
eve II Secretary Ballinger's testimony
in order 10 seek an unlimited inter
view with the former president
Slap at Administration?
On the other hand those who know
Roosevelt say that he is too good a
politician not TO realize that to give
Pinchot an unsought hearing before he
had had an opportunity TO discuss the
matter with President Taft or some
. member Of his political family would
he generally regarded as a direct slap
9t an administration he would natur-
ally feel bound TO support.
Pinchot slipped away from Washing
ton quietly Friday evening and next
DAY sailed from New York for Eu-
rope His absence on Saturday from
the BaIlinger-Pinchot hearing. at which
he has been a constant attendant. at
tracted little attention. though he had
not intimated to his associates that he
intended to go away for long trip
Trip Undertaken Suddenly
Thomas r. shipp.secretary OF the Ma
fional Conservation association, of
which Pinchot is president, said today
that the former forester had gone to
ope for much needed vacation"
5ge said that Pinchot's side of the case
had practically all been presented. and
he felt it was an opportune time for
him 70 60 away.
lie admitted that Pinchot had made
up his mind about the trip rather sud
denly. but he professed to know moth
ing Of the reported Roosevelt -Pinchot
meeting. He did not attempt to deny
that Pinchot might see his former chief
before he returned 10 the United States.
Feels Need of Vac alton
Later Mr.. Shipp issued the following
formal statement:
Mr. Pinchot sailed for Europe on
the President Grant of the Ham
burg American line last Saturday
afternoon He viii go to Copen-
hagen. Denmark, where he viii
visit his sister, Lady Johnston.
M Pinchot has been working hard
and felt that a vacation for a
while would do him good. do not
know when he will return. He has
engagements in the United States
early IN May.
The only address Pinchot left behind
him at his Washington residence was
Copenhagen. and large number of
letters and kilograms are being for
warded to him there in care of his
sister.
The former forester's mother accom-
= ned him to New York. but remained
there at the home of her other son
|. Amos r. Pinchot. His private secre-
tary remained behind. He also de-
clared that Pinchot was simply going
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