Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-08
Washington BoiIs With
Excitement Over Slap
at Roosevelt.
ISSUE FAIRLY JOINED
Deposed Official Only One of
Few Who Remains Calm
Refuses a Statement.

Washington, Jan. s.-Gifford Pinchot,
chief forester OF the United States yes
terday, is a private citizen today, ap-
,parently unconcerned and smiling in
great contrast to the political ferment
In which Washington finds itself. The
summary dismissal conveyed last night
in the presidents letter In the closing
lines. ~by your own accord you have
destroyed your usefulness as a help
ful subordinate Of the government, and
1t therefore now becomes my duty to
direct the secretary of agriculture to
remove you from your Office as for
ESTER has brought nothing from Mr..
lPinchot more than the simple state
ment, 81 would prefer to say nothing
at this time"
Warrington TrembIes.
But political Washington almost
trembles to think what may be the re-
suit Pinchot today, in the opinion of
many, becomes the pivot on which the
insurgent fight with the administration
can turn it's guns. The effect Of Pin
chot, personal friend of Roosevelt and
head champion of the Roosevelt con-
servation policies, being ousted from
Taft's political family is another phase
of the conjectures which I'LL the air.
The effect of Pinchot's dismissal upon
the congressional investigation of Sec
retary Ballinger and the land Office is
another.
See Signs of Coming Tempest.
In the aminous silence which fell on
bo 4xvtO1a citt1otiOu fo1IOu-iOo tho fret
bang after the cabinet meeting yes
terday. afternoon, many political fore
casters see unmistakable signs of a
great tempest within the republican
party with ramifications which some of
the most sanguine fear to think about
These are the only conclusions upon
which all are unanimous.
Taft Has Eyes Open.
That is, that there is a great fight on
hand. one which the president has
sought to avoid, for the present at
least, and, forcing it at this time by
the dismissal of Pinchot. the presi-
dents supporters maintain Taft has
considered all the probable effects and
consequences and has decided to see
it through.
Within few minutes after the pres
ident had instructed Secretary Wilson
to remove Pinchot from the office the
order had been carried out. Similar
letters of dismissal were sent at the
name time to Associate Forester Price
md Assistant Law officer Shaw, the
two men whom Pinchot defended in a
letter to Senator Dolliver, which was
the cause, or one of the contributing
causes, of his dismissal.
Closing Up Affairs.
Pinchot was at his Office early this
morning. He promptly entered upon
the closing up of his work. He persist
ed in his declination to make a state
ment regarding his dismissal. Through
out the bureau of forestry there was a
feeling OF alarm as to what might be-
come of the organization which had
been to large degree the work of the
late chief forester
shal<eup May Go Further.
All the officials of this department !
who occupy places of responsibility I
were personally selected by him. and
whether there will be any further
shakeup of the bureau is a question
that is today calling forth a great deal /
of concern within the bureau.
McCabe Takes Charge.
George McCabe, solicitor for the
agricultural department, called on .
,Pinchot and presented to him a let
ter from Secretary Wilson designat-
ing McCabe as acting forester instead /
of Albert F. Potter, previously as
signed the position, and who is now .
in the west, unable to return for sew
(Con+In,ed on page F'iye)