Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-08
SUMMARILY ,s-,- ,. ....s
DISMISSED BY PRESIDENT
CONTINUED from Page one.)

must govern me. When the people of
the United States elected me Presi-
dent they placed me in an office of the
highest dignity and charged me with
the duty of maintaining that dignity
and proper respect for the office on the
part of my subordinates Moreover if
were to pass over this matter in sill
.ence, 1t would be most demoralizing
to the discipline of the executive
branch of the government.
by your own conduct you have de-
stroyed your usefulness as a helpful
subordinate of the government and it
therefore now becomes my duty to di-
rect the secretary of agriculture to
remove you from your office as the
forester.
Very Sincerely Yours.
WILLIAM II. TAFT.
HON. CLIFFORD PINCHOT,
Forester"
Secretary Wilson was swift in car
rying out the decision of the Presi-
dent. He addressed to Clifford Pinchot.
forester; Overton W. Price, associate
| forester, and Albert c. Shaw, assistant
law officer of the forestry bureau. let
tiers substantially identical. That to
PinchOt reads:
| Sir: By direction of the Presi-
dent you are hereby removed from
your office as forester. You will de-
liver possession of your offices affairs
belonging to the government to Albert
+. Potter, assistant forester.
Respectfully,
| JAMES WILSON,
secretary of Agriculture
Mr.. Pinchot received the letter of the
| President and Secretary Wilson's per-
| emp:orE note of dismissal tonight
but nothing in his demeanor indicated
that he was surprised or distressed by
either. To ali accompaniment OF
sounds of merrimcnt floating from
above stairs. where was party OF
guests, Mr.. Pinchot came down to meet
the reporters, in evening dress, smiling
and undismayed. Asked if he would
say anything for publication, he re.
piled:
1T will suit me ust as well if yol
make for me just the simple state
ment: I have nothing to say"
Mr.. Pinchot added that he probabl!
would say nothing tomorrow but he would
not say how long he would maintain hi
silence. The dismissal of the principa
officers of the forest service will in n,
way defer or divert the Congressional in
vestigation. One of the subjects eagerl,
debated here tonight was the question
whether the dismissal will rob the investi
cation of much of it's public interest o
will make it more sensational than be
fore. Friends of the administration holt
the former view, and today urged it upol
the President and cabinet officers as ar
gument against the summary dismissals
Friends of Pinchot, on the other hand
have for weeks been declaring that tn
President would not dare to dismiss Pin
tween Taft and Roosevelt. and that
would cause such a split in the Republi
can party as has not been in years.
Friends of the President said tonight
however, that the actual dismissal of Pin
chot could add nothing to the embarrass
ment of the administration inasmuch a.
all the ammunition of Pinchot and hi
partisans had already been directed
against Secretary Ballinger and through
him against the President.
AS for a possible breach between Mr.
Taft and eXPresident Roosevelt, tha
subject is much debated but any discus
sion Of it obviously is entirely specu
lative. On the subject Of a split in the
party all Republicans here regard the sit
uation as exceedingly serious.
| Party leaders in the Senate declare
that the controversy and the summary
action of the President are sure tt
lead to many harsh words in Congress
and to much bitterness of feeling
throughout the country. They say
however. that tie President could not
with dignity, have taken any cIhel
course
| Senator Dixon, of Montana one OF
the few senators who would be quoted
tonight said
Il am very sorry that Mr.. Pinchot
VIII" is q warm friend of mine, wrote
| the letter which resulted in this ac-
tion. The letter undoubtedly will pre-
| i,idice his chances in Congress, but
| the episode will not affect the inves-
tigation by Congress, which will be
| just as thorough as if this action had
| not roen taken
| Senator Nelson. of Minnesota. who
| IS TO ha chairman of the investigation
cor,.nittee indicated today that no ac-
/
| Woul,, affect the scope of thoroughness
| Of the inquiry. Speaker Cannon re-
ceivcd his Jolt today in the House
| Of Represent atives in the vote OF the
| amendment offered by Representative
| Norris of Nebraska, the "Insurgent'
| leader, and the vote was 149 TO LAG, five
voting present
SO unexpected was the victory, that
the insurgents and their Democratic
allies could scarcely believe their ears
when the Speaker announced the vote.
For an instant almost complete silence
reigned. then the storm of applause
broke and for almost a full minute the
noise in the chamber was deafening.
After that the Democrats, jubilant that
they had helped to pierce the hitherto
impervious armor of the Speaker.
seemed willing to abandon their fight
against the resolution itself, which all
the afternoon had appeared too broad
to suit them. and all of them voted for
il on a viva voce vote.
The organization leaders made no
attempt to conceal their confusion.
There was a hurried conference at