The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-03
Is RICHARDS HOODOO BROKEN?

Balilnger, having IN his possession the UNI
equivocal endorsement of the President, is in
position to remain obtuse to the most pointed
hints from Beverly. In the absence of any new
condition he can continue to cmbarrass the adj
mnistration by refusing to detach himself until
such time as Mr. Taft decides to do the incon
sistent and error-confessing act Of discharglng
man of whom he so completely approved. But
safe as is his own technical standing, Ballinger-
ism has at last reached the point where the most
it can do is to take care of itself 1t cannot,
as formerly, elevate and destroy others. 1t can
no longer find expression Of its animus at the
White House The time has passed when it
could kill snakes with The presidential club.
This difference in the relative position of Bal
linger finds clear illustration in the announced
appointment Of Joseph Austin Holmes to be
director Of the newly established Bureau of
Mines. 1t shows that the Ballinger influence
is now only nominal 1t makes it patent that
the President has at length learned to disregard
the Department of the Interior as a source of adj
vice.
Balhnger fought Holmes with the peculiar in
tensity Of man who courts destruction by max
ing of every skirmish vital crisis. He fought
him because he was friend of Pinchot. He
denounced him because he on terms with
Garfield. He inveighed against him because,
although not actively concerned, 1t was under
stood that his sympathies in the question of con-
servation were against the Guggenheims. More
to tho point, he doubtless resisted his appoint
ment because he is recognized progressive In
his specialties, and because he is known as man
who never flags and never lets up in the effort
to make official position count for official ac-
accomplishment. Under DIR. Holmes the Bureau
of Mines will be concrete governmental depart
ment. 1t will escape the precedent of delay, and
sloth and red tape. 1t will spell action and ini-
tiative 1t will enforce the powers it has, and
seek the powers it needs. No wonder Ballinger
and the mine-owning Guggenheims prefer
its head anybody and anything rather than this
virile antithesis to departmental figure head.
Dr. Holmes is South Carolinan, whose chief
work for years was done in North Carolina He
was one of the handful of men who helped in that
State to establish the newly reorganized Uni
versity. For wears he was State geoogist at per
sonal sacrifice. He combined wide interests with
the genius of concentration. He possessed the
ability of doing the necessary thing with all but
impossible means. In connection with his work
for the Government he has done much for the
South and for the past few years as much again
aud more tor the West. AS the mead OF the I'M
portant new bureau, he may be depended upon
TO work as ably for the country at large. En-
dorsed for the position by the great mass of indie
pendent mine owners and operators alike. recon-
mended by years of the finest service, Ballinger
succeeded in holding up DR.. Holmes appoint
ment for months. His success in doing so was
one of the strongest evidences of the peculiar
hypnotism that he seems 10 exert upon the gen
teman of the White House. That he did not
finally succeed brings the hope that the long and
humiiating spell of what is generally considered
malign influence is broken at last.