Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-01-12
MOTHERS FRIEND
A IMMINENT FOR EXTERNAL USE.
THE PUBLIC STILL IN DOUBT

No one appears to question the hon
esty of purpose of ex-Chief Forester
Pinchot, but many do question the pro-
priety of his last official acts and the
wisdom of the methods employed by
him. That he could openly ignore the
President, repudiate the executives
actions, throw doubt upon the conduct
of his superiors, and remain in office,
was something that even Pinchot could
hardly have thought probable. Under
the Roosevelt regime he is said to have
| conducted his department with abso-
lutte disregard of his immediate super
iors, going directly to the president
with all plans and grievances. This
may account for the method pursued
under the present administration and
which finally brought about his sum-
mary dismissal The administration
could hardly have retained its own
self respect and not pursued the
course it did toward a recaIcitraat
subordinate. A.
Pinchot, doubtless, foresaw the
course that the President would pur-
sue and openly invited dismissal for
the sake of directing public attention
even more strongly to the charges
against Ballinger That is one con
struction that is put upon his conduct
If such were the case he succeeded
His sacrifice of his official position
such being the motive, was not with
out result. 1t concentrated attention
on the forthcoming investigation and
rendered it more than ever impossible
for the administration forces to ad-
minister a liberal dose of whitewasl
and close up the incident.
Ballinger may deserve the clean bill
of health that President Taft and Al
torney General Wickersham have Civ
en- him Unfortunately Wickersham in
his long professional career has beer
attorney for the same class of inter
ests that Pinchot is assaiIing, appears
to have been very tender fingered ii
the Indictment of the sugar trust ofic-
ials higher up" and his endorsement
of Ballinger's past official acts does
not carry quite as much conviction Il
the puOilfsas the Secretary Of the In.
the people are still in extreme doub
as to whether Ballinger is a guilty
man or not Nothing that has yet beer
forthcoming from the administration
has satisfied them of his innocence
While the evidence may all be easil!
explained away when the investigation
begins its work the reading of it, as
now presented, leaves a very unfavor
able impression. Those who have stud
led it are apt to think that the Secre
tary Of the Interior is guilty of the
charges made against him or that hi
has been merely indiscreet in his off1c
I ial associations, but no one is apt L
believe him entirely faultless
Pinchot doesn't seem to be worrying
over the situation. man of wealth
of untiring energy, thoroughly familiar
with the subject, he is apt to be a sor
of Banquo's ghost for the Ballingel
end of the administration for the mex
three years. This administration
will be doing well if it passes int
history with no more of a scandal thar
has so far been evolved. And if TIL
irrepressible Teddy should take hant
in it on his return the forebodings O
an internal struggle that will surpas!
anything the Republican party has ev
er known will doubtless be fully real
lied.