The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-03
Taft Is Bombarded With
Protests Against Retain
ing the Secretary
MEETING IN CHICAGO TO
DISCUSS THE SUBJECT
BaIlinger Denies That He and Senator
Crane Talked of Formers Resig-
nation But 1t Is Believed
to BE a Fact

/ Beverly, Mass, August 2-There was in-
creasng evidence here today that the re-
cent bombardment of the President with
letters from republican leaders in all
parts of the country protesting that Sec
retary of the Interior Balinger was prov
ing an embarrassment In the laying OF
plans for the coming congressional cam
paigns is beginning to have effect IL not
upon the President himself at least upon
the advisers who are closest to him.
No attempt was made today to deny
the reports that Senator Crane, at the
every outset of his political pilgrimage in
the west, had probably suggested to Sec
| rotary Ballinger at Minneapolis yesterday
| that his duty to the party might re-
quire that he 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 as much az
| lift his big toe IL so by doing he could
boot the retirement of the Secretary of
the Interior over the goal.
ceived the President has heard verbal
ly from number of the leaders of the
| party regarding the sentiment toward
Secretary Ballnger They have talked
frankly with President Taft on the sub
ject, 1t 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 a party basis and
hor otI fhaf f1,a lon he
much easier with the Ballinger issue
eliminated
The leaders have asserted that the fight
is going to be a 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 told a few days ago
| that the movement behind James r. GAR
| field in Ohio and the votes cast for him
| in the state convention were a protest
against Secretary Ballinger. The Ohio
| leaders recognized the strength of this
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 intimated. however, that
whatever move was being made against
ginning with the active party leaders
and not with President Taft.
The President, 1t was stated. will
never ask Mr.. Ballinger to resign.
If the secretary should feel called
upon to resign, however, there Is said
to be little doubt that his resignation
would be accepted.
BaIIinger Wakes Wroth
Chicago, August 2.-Secretary Bal
Elinger today denied that his conference
yesterday with Senator Crane at Min
neap polls, Miss, related to or would be
followed by his resignation.
Mr. Ballinger said the matter dis
cussed was not even of direct interest
to himself. He denounced his foes In
strong language and said he intended
to ignore them entirely. His denial
was issued after reading the dispatches
from Beverly which indicated that SEN
ator Cranes mission to the west was to
carry the hint that Mr.. Ballinger would
aid the party in the forthcoming cleo
tions by withdrawing at this time.
There is no resignation on the card.
l can tell you," said Mr. Ballinger
Continuing he said:
Il am simply on my way to the coast
for a little rest. Some want me to
make my rest permanent, but 1t will
not be so long as President Taft is
satisfied. l met Crane yesterday morn
ing through no arrangement of mine
and the matter we discussed was pol
itics, of course. but did not interest
me at all.
Mr. Crane, who came like | did.
Unexpectedly, wished to consult me OH
q matter and / did the best l could
In advising him and my resignation was
In no wise mentioned"
Mr.. Ballinger late today held con-
ferenca with Oscar I.awlar aSSiafQnt
attorney general for the interior de-
partment. The subject of discussion
at this meeting was not made public.