The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-02
BALLINGER AlOAD
Secretary of the Interior Is Too
Much to Carry.
Party Leaders Urge Taft to Get
Rid Of Him.
ON SECRET MISSION.
Senator Crane on a Mysterious
Visit to Beverly.
Then Hurries West to Meeting
With Washington Man.

Beverly Mass, Aug. mo state
ment was forthcoming from official
quarters here today regarding the
meeting between Senator Winthrop
Murray Crane and Secretary of the In
terror Ballinger in Minneapolis yester-
day.
When it was suggested to the White
House officers that Senator Crane may
have felt called on. in order to bring
about party harmony. to request the
secretary of the interior to resign, the
only answer was that Senator Crane
would have to be asked about that
phase of the matter. When Senator
Crane came to see President Taft last
Friday an attempt was made to keep
his visit secret. Secretary Norton was
plainly worried when he found that
Senator Cranes presence in Beverly
had been detected. The senator him.
self had made secrecy a condition of
his coming.
1t is known that Senator Crane was
sent for to go on an important mis-
sion for the president to Seattle. The
meeting with Secretary Ballinger at
Minneapolis suggests a modification Of
the original plans and justif1es the an
nouncement which followed the inter-
view here that Senator Crane might
not go all the way to the coast.
Secretary Norton admitted there was
more to Senator Cranes mission than
had appeared in the newspapers. It
was said that Mr.. Cranes visit to the
president was instigated more by GER
tain party leaders, including the sec
rotary to the president, than by Presi-
dent Taft himself.
The president has received many let
tiers suGg esting that Secretary Bailinger,
because Of attacks made on him was
IrOVing an en-: barrassment in the maxi
n IF for CHr1iNU congress
sional campaign. Mr.. Taft having stood
by Secretary Ballinger through all his
troubles and still believing in him, has
refused to heed these complaints. They
have had their effect on others connect
ed with the administration and ire
party however, and it is reported here
that certain Of the leaders may have
taken it on themselves to handle the
situation.
Secretary Ballinger remains to be
reckoned with, however. He has re-
peatedly declared that he would not re-
sign and among his friends there is a
strong belief that he will not resign
unless directly asked to do so by the
president. This. it is declared here. the
president will not do.
Following Senator Crane interview
with the preside mt, the report spread
that it had to do mainly with Mr.. Bal
lpger and that trip through the west
to survey general political conditions
would be an adjunct to the principal
mission. The idea that Senator Craze
was to meet and deal with Secretary
Ballinger was SC strunSiy ieniec by
Secretary MOI ton that the report finally
came to be regarded as erroneous and
was so treated here until yesterday s
meeting in Minneapolis. which seemed
to throw a different light on the situa-
ton.
The president played golf this morn
ing His engagements for this after
l oon include talks with General Leon
erd Wood, Senator Wetmore CT Rhode
Island and Mr.. DeBarrio, prominent
resident of Panama.