The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-06-17
Mr.. BALLISGER PROVEN UNFIT.

Mr.. Ballinger should never have been
chosen as Secretary of the Interior
While the prosecution" had its ups
and downs as the case dragged along,
and while the "defense," with an adj
vantage in machinery, and the stimu-
lation to effort that causes the hare
TO run his best two leaps in front OF
the hounds, made as good a showing
IS was possible, 1t Is plain, at the end
of the investigation, as it was ut its
beginning, that Mr.. Ballinger is unfit.
President Taft, who selected Mr..
Ballinger, may have been peculiarly
unfortunate, peculiarly negligent or
merely peculiarly constituted. No
matter why the appointment was made
or how innocently, 1t was not one that
did credit to the Administration or
promised any good results.
President Taft's most ardent admir-
ers-and he has many admirers de-
spite the fact that his first year IN the
White House has been anything but
brilliant-find 1t impossible toapplaud
his course in the Ballinger case. He
was at first imposed upon. no doubt,
but very easily imposed upon. The
surprisingly slip-shod manner in
which Mr. Ballinger was "exoner-
ated," was, however, an imposition
upon the public whose servant the
President is. Il would be more ex-
act to say an attempted imposition.
The effort to aequit Mr.. Ballinger by
the power of presidential Endorsement,
sans investigation, was distinct fall
IRE. But for the fact that humble
stenographer-let his motives be
what you will-told the story of how
the exoneration letter was prepared,
the investigation would have closed
without a frank admission from The
White House of an error that the de-
Yelopments of the investigation made
patent Granting that the President
had none but the best motives in dele
eating the presidential power of ex-
oneration to an understrapper who,
as 1t now appears, had a grudge
against Mr.. CLAWS, the means en-
bloyed TO clear Mr.. Ballinger. TO Gust
Mr. CLAWS and to make 1t impossible
for Mr.. Pinchot 10 remain in the pub
lie service, were characterized by an
utter lack of the judicial earnestness,
elaboration and fairness that were
naturally to be expected Of a former
member of the bench, and a man IN
whose personal problty everyone re-
posed the utmost confidence. The
Investigation was forced, because pub
lie opinion, expressed through many
channels. outweighed a presidential
opinion, expressed in a letter written
BY Mr.. Lawler and edited and elabor-
ated, in haste. by its gigner. The Ad-
ministration might have saved Itself
Its present embarrassment by d can
did statement that while the President
rested every confidence In the Cabinet
mmber. against whom charges and n
situations were made. the Presidents
personal investigation had. Of neceg-
sly, been hurried, and a full and fair
sitting Of the charges was invited
But the Administration adopted the
opposite course. II stood pat upon
an investigation that II knew to hive
been q farce, defied the public TO 20
behind the returns, sci about packing
the investigating committee as a
criminal jury Is packed where the de-
PENDANT owns The Circuit Judge, and
prepared to apply a new coal Of white
wash to cover an old one that had be
gun to crack and peel.
Enough has been developed to show
to the satisfaction Of a vast majority
Of the taxpayers OF the United States
that anyone of fair intelligence aud IN
tentions might go into a crowd and
pick out man better fitted than Hr.
Ballinger for the position Of trust
low occupied by Nj. BaIlinger. As
Nr. Root said. with natural choler.
when tie attorney Tor the .proseeu-
ton" attempted to show that Presi-
dent Taft'5 contradiction Of Sten0-
grapher Kerby was eontradIcted b.
the documents IN evidence, the Presi-
dent has not been on trial In this case.
Mf. BalIinger has been the defend
ant" A Mr.. Pinehot said, some
weeks ago, Mr.. Ballinger has not been
charged with criminal offenses, aud
II such charges We're to be laid a
grand jury and not q Congressional
Committee, would be the proper body
to lay them before. Il was not neees-
sary to show that Mr.. Ballinger Is a
felon in order 10 prove that he Is not
a suitable Secretary of the Interior
There Is a wide margin of difference
between the ideal Cabinet officer and
the common crook. This fact Is over
looked BY persons who assume that
unless Mr. Ballinger e proven 10 have
been engaged IN felonious undertak-
ings those who contended, and who
now contend, that he should never
have been, and should not remain. q
member of the Cabinet, have nc
ground to stand upon
In the wilderness of words that has
sprung up since the beginning Of he
investigation the objects Of that N
Yestigation have been lost sight Of
It was not intended to show whether
or not Mr.. Ba1linger ought to be In
fail. but merely to show whether he