New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-03
WANT bALL|NGER'S HEAD
Leaders Reported To Be Bom-
harding President with Letters.
is HURTING PARTY, THEY SAY
MIR. Taft Will Not Ask Resigna-
ton, but Would Probably
Accept It if Offered.

Beverly, Mass. Aug. There were In
creasing evidences here to-day that the re-
cent bombardment of the President with let
tiers from Republican leaders i'll all parts
OF the country protesting that Secretary
of the Interior BaIlnger was proving dr.
embarrassment in the laying OF plans TO,
the coming Congressional campaign, Is be-
ginning to have an effect, If not upon the
President himself, at least upon the advis
ers who are closest to him.
No attempt made to-day to deny
the reports that Senator Crane. at the very
outset of his POLITICAL pilgrimage in the
West, had probably suggested to Secretary
Balinger at Minneapolis yesterday tina
his duty to the party might require that ne
sacrifice his place in the Cabinet. All that
Secretary Norton would say after having
considered the matter nearly all day was
that it would be necessary to ask Senator
Crane
The statement was reiterated. however
that President Taft would not so much as
life his little finger If by so doing he coulo
secure the retirement of Secretary Ballinge:
as head of the Interior Department.
In addition to the letters he has received
the President has heard verbally from a
number of the party leaders regarding the
sentimen. toward Secretary Balllnger.
They have talked frankly with Mr.. Tart
on the subject. it is said, and, while they
have agreed with the President apparently
in his position that nothing has been
proved against Secretary Ballinger. they
have put the matter purely on party
ba sis and have said that the campaign
would be much easier with the Baiiinger
issue eliminated. The leaders have de-
clared that the fight is going to be hard
one at best, and, while they feel sorry
for Mr.. Ballinger, they regard his presence
in the Cabinet as a handicap.
President Taft was frankly told a few
DAYS ago that the movement behind James
r Garfield. in Ohio, and the votes cast for
him in the state convention were a protest
against Secretary Ballinger. The ONO
leaders recognized the strength of TINS
movement by making many platform con-
cessions to the Garfield wing of the party
There was no disposition in Beverly to-
day to treat the meeting of Senator crane
and Secretary Ballinger in Minneapolis
Yesterday as accidental" 1t was clearly
intimated. however, that whatever move
was being made against Secretary Bal
linger had it's inception and being with the
active party leaders. and not with Presl-
dent Taft The President II can be posi-
lively stated. will never ask Mr.. Bali1nger
TO resign If the Secretary should FEEL
called upon to resign however, there IS
said to be little doubt that the resignation
would be accepted
Senator Crane came to see President Taft
last Friday His visit was kept a secret,
or at least an attempt was made to keep 1t
SO. Secretary Norton was plainly worried
when he found that Senator Cranes pres
ence in Beverly had been detected The
Senator himself had made secrecy con-
dition Of his coming. 1t is known that
Senator Crane was sent for TO go on an
important mission for the President to
Seattle.
The meeting with Secretary Ballinger at
Minneapolis suggests a modification OF the
original plans and justifies the announce
ment which followed the interview here
that Senator Crane might not go all the
way TO the Coast"
Secretary Norton admitted to-day that
there was more to Senator Cranes mission
than had appeared in the newspapers. 1t
was said to-day that Senator Cranes visit
TO the President was instigated more by
number of party leaders, including the sec
retarv to the President, than by President
Taft himself