The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

Taft.
The summary dismissal conveyed
last night in the presidents letter in
the closing lines, "by your own accord
you have destroyed your usefulness
as helpful subordinate of the gov
eminent and it therefore now be-
comes my duty to direct the secretary
of agriculture to remove you from
your office as the forester" has
brought nothing from Mr.. Pinchot
more than the simple statement, II
would prefer to say nothing at this
time" but political Washington al
most trembles to think what may be
the result.
Pinchot today, in the opinion of
many becomes the pivot on which
the insurgent fight with the admins
tration can turn its guns. The effect
of Pinchot, the personal friend of
Theodore Roosevelt and head cham
pion of the Roosevelt conservation
policies, being ousted from the official
family of President, Taft is another
phase of the conjectures which fill
the air. The effect of Pinchot's dis
missal upon the congressional investi-
cation of Secretary Ballinger and the
land office is another.
In the ominous silence which fell
on the whole situation following the
first bang after the cabinet meeting
at the White House yesterday after
noon, many of the political forecast
ers see unmiStakable signs of a great
tempest within the Republican party,
with ramiications which some of the
most sanguine fear to think about.
There is only one conclusion on
which all are unanimous. That is
there is a great fight on hand. one
which the president has sought to
avoid, for the present at least and in
forcing it at this time by the dismiss
sal of Pinchot, the presidents sup
porters maintain that Mr.. Taft has
considered all the probable effects and
consequences and has decided to sec
it through.
Within few minutes after the
president had instructed Secretary
Wilson to remove Mr.. Pinchot from
office the order had been carried out.
Similar letters of dismissal were
sent at the same time to associate
Forester Overton with Price and AS
sistant Law Officer Shaw, the two
men whom Mr.. Pinchot defended in
the letter to Senator Dolliver, which
was the cause, or one of the contrib
uting causes of his dismissal.
Mr.. Pinchot was at his Office early
this morning. He promptly took up the
closing up of his work and expected
to have a very busy day. To all ap-
peals for further statements regarding
his dismissal by President Taft, Mr..
Pinchot merely smiled his declination
to contribute further to the news on
that subject.
Throughout the bureau of forestry
there was feeling of alarm as to what
might become of the organization which
had been to such a large degree the
work of the late chief forester All of
the officials of this department who oc-
cupy places of responsibility were per-
Bonally selected by him. Whether or
not there will be any further shake up
of the bureau is question that is to-
day calling forth a great deal of con-
Germ within the bureau
Washington, Jan. S.-Gifford Pin
cbot chief forester and intimate
friend of Theodore Roosevelt. has
been dismissed from the service of
the United States by President Taft
for characterization. Associate Fores-
ter Overton w. Price and Assistant
Law officer Alexander C. Shaw. Pin
chot's immediate assistants in the for
estry bureau, followed their chief out
of the government employment
Thoroughly indignant over the ac-
tion of Mr.. Pinchot in inducing Sena-
tor Dolliver to read letter from him
in the senate Mr.. Taft would listen to
no advice that the forester's violation
Of executive orders be overlooked,
pending the inquiry soon to be under
taken by Congress. He declared the
dignity of the office he had been
chosen by the people to fill was being
attacked and he would be unfaithful
to his trust if he submitted longer
Mr. Taft undoubtedly realizes fully
what the dismissal of Forester. Pin
chot means in political way. He
has been convinced for some time that
the so-called insurgents" and other
critics of his administration had en-
listed the services of Mr.. Pinchot and
practically were defying him to sep
1rate Pinchot from his Office. The lat
ter's letter, few here doubt. was writ
ten with the direct purpose of put
ting it squarely up to the president
-sie president sought to avoid the
threatened war as long as he could.
but patience had ceased to be vir-
tue He picked up the gauge Of bat
tle thrown down by Mr. Pinchot by
the hand OF Senator Deliver in the