Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-18
BALLlNCER 1UkNSTOCABlNET
Disappointed by Failure Of Majority
Of Committee to Get Together.
ADMINISTRATION TO BE JUDGE
WilI Demand Either Condemnation
or Nindication ny Government
Early Returns 90 secure Aid of
Immediate Subordinates.


ard A. Ballinger's resignation as secre-
tary OF the interior viii follow Immediately
on the-meeting OF the cabinet. September ~,
TO attend which he Is now route from
Seattle. or whether he will retain his posi-
ton indefinitely-at least until after the
delivery to congress of the reports of the
committee which Investigated his steward
ship Of the public domain-depends now
upon the attitude OF his cabinet associates.
Mr.. Ballinger is coming to Washington,
his friends here insist wholly unconscious
OF any act on his part for which he should
ne condemned and has determined to force
his chief and his official colleagues to be
in effect his Judge II they concur in the
view at present attributed TO Mr.. Taft
that the accused secretary shall be sus-
tained as an innocent and prosecuted man
he will retain his position; IL they fail 10
b back him up he will resign. That this Is
Mr. Ballinger's position was learned here
today upon authority hardly to be ques-
toned.
Dickinson In Philippines.
At the first meeting OF the cabinet after
the summer recess Secretary Of War Dick
inson. the only democrat will not have
returned from the Philippines and there
~ fore will be saved the embarrassment Of
participating in what is regarded as largely
a problem OF republican policy. The meet
ing is expected to last three days. 1t will
surprise nobody here IL the Balinger case
occupies a large part of the time.
Rumors have been constant and deciI-
eddy definite here during the last few days
that Mr.. BRlhnger's resignation would be
one OF the first Developments of the cabi-
net meeting. but his friends, including his
associates In the Interior department, have
refused to believe that he would retire
under fire" and have pointed to his Oft
repeated declaration to the contrary and
TO the recent statement attributed TO him
that he would resign only at the specific
request OF the president.
Turmoil Must he Abated.
Some Of these however,. today admitted
themselves and the secretary to he alive to
the fact that the turmoil and uncertainty
into which the protracted controversy has
plunged the department must be abated
soon unless this important branch of the
public service is to become hopelessly de-
moralized. Nobody here doubts that ma
jorlty-all but one OF the republican mem
bers-of the investigating committee will
sustain Secretary Balinger in their report
To congress. But Secretary Ballinger and
his partisans here were greatly disap-
pointed that the absence of Senators Root
and Flint from the Minneapolis meeting
left the pro- Ballnger portion of the com
mittee in the minority and permitted the
democrats and the insurgegt republican
member to put forth reports condemning
him, which for many weeks will stand be-
fore the country as the only findings of
the investigating committee. whereas he
had relied on the majority for vindica-
ton. II is this failure Of the committee to
take final action which It is said has de-
termined Secretary Ballinger's course.
Position 10 Untenable.
II was said here today by a close friend
of the secretary that had the majority Of
the committee been ready to report at Min
neapolis he would then have rendered his
resignation to the president and urged its
acceptance, on the ground that the dissen-
sions to which he has been a party were
detrimental to the public interest. When
the committee failed at Minneapolis TO take
action a whole and when there was no
Quorum az the subsequent meeting in Chi
cago, 1t became apparent that no decision
could be looked for for practically several
months.
This situation Is said 10 have convinced
MIR. Bsl!'nger that his position, In spit,
of the continued support OF the president
fas become untenable. Unable, as he see,
IT, 10 resign as either indicated or con.
demned by the committee. ne has decided
Il Is said to demand OF his superior ant
his cabinet associates either vindication OF
condemnation.
Secretary Ballinger left his home in Seat
tie yesterday and will reach Washington
several days in advance of the cabinet
session. His purpose in thus expeditinl
h s return is believed to be to consult Will
his immediate subordinates and to gall
their assistance In preparing for his de
mand upon the cabinet for show down
SPOKANE, Wash. Sept. Isl dom
care what anybody says about me so Ion,
as | am conscious OF doing my duty, no
only as a private citizen. but as a publ,
officer The man who pursues the cours
that seems TO him to meet the obligation
OF his place In life has no need to fea
about the future" SO declared Richard A
Bannge~. secretary of the interior toda,
at the noon luncheon of the Chamber o
Commerce.
so far as the public service of ttr
country Is concerned every man / know
in this administration is tailoring first I,
know the needs Of the nation. then Il
= execute these needs within the limits OF
the law and the constitution. We have no
reached the day when the Fundamental
doctrines OF this republic can be forgotten
OF overlooked"
nEREMT nnnEnC Enn AnARO