The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-25
authentic Information Says
Understanding Is Reached
With President.
ASSERTS INNOCENCE,
BUT WOULD AID TAFT
Findings of Committee May Be
Reached by Middle
of July.
By JAMES HAY, JR.

From source so authentic as TO COM
pei belief, comes the infornation today
that an understanding has been reached
between the President and Secretary of
the Interior Rallinger that Mr.. Ballinger
will resign his portfolio as soon as the
committee which has been investigating
the charges against HIM shall have sub
mitted its report.
From the same source comes the fur
ther news that the President will accept
the resignation
SIr. BalIinger Is described as the man
who initiated the plan because Of his
realization that he is q terrific drag on
the Administration and that he will con-
tinue 10 play that role II he remains in
the service irrespective Of whether he
Be declared guilty of unbecominC con
duct or be fully vindicated by the inves-
Jigators.
This does not mean that the Secre-
tary Of the Interior has departed from
his original position that he is abso-
lutely innocent Of wrong-doing or i'm
proper motives in all the things he has
done as head Of the Department Of the
Interior.
Would Stop Embarrassment.
His friends say that he is actuated
by the larger motive. which is a deter
mination not TO further embarrass the
President and his Administration. There
is not a friend of Mr.. Taft who fails 10
realize that the Ballinger- -Pinchot epi-
sode has been tremendous hindrance to
The carrying out OF the Presidents big
policies and legislative plans. Ever since
last summer. when the trouble began at
Beverly, Mr.. Taft has been constantly
engaged in looking after some phase OF
the night. and the controversy has taken
up a great part Of the time which he
might lave devoted TO constructive
work
The President, however, Is a man who
sticks 10 his friends through thick and
thin. and. as he was convinced Of Mr..
Eallinger's innocence, he stood by him
throughout the dispute Now. however.
he and Nr- BalHaEer have been brought
10 realize that tie interests Of the Ad-
ministration and The Republican party
require that the Cabinet shall not be
hampered by having as one Of its mem
bers q man who. because Of the bitter
feeling against him in many sections Of
the country. can not hope to have un-
divided support Of his projects and work
May Report At This Session.
This new agreement viii, according 70
the present plans. result in the submis-
sion OF the investigating committees re-
port before the adjournment OF the
present session OF Congress, II the com
mittee finds that il is possible 10 get
the document completed by July I OF
July I5. the probable date Of adjourn
ment. The friends Of the Administra-
ton are anxious for the report this
summer, as they believe il viii
strengthen The Republicans at the polls
IL It is known that the Ballinger issue
has been done away with by the retire
r1ent of I2allinger TO private life.
Ltei Suits Threatened.
That the Secretary Of the Interior WI
not be through with the mater when he
resigns the portfolio is shown by the
statements If his friends who say that
after he leaves the service he will b,
exceedingly active in instituting libe
suits against the publications which hc
thinks have printed Unjustifiably harsf
criticisms Of him.
Some Of his friends have been urging
him to start the suits for libel immedi
atcly, but he has refused 70 follow tins
counsel, and has said that he preferred
10 have first the official eNOneratior
which he is confident of receiving from
the investigating committee.