Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-17
BlIIINGER PUTS IT UP
TO FELLOW CABIN INEfTEERs

Washington, Sept, 10. -- whether
Richard A. Ballinger's resignation ae
secretary Of the interior VIII follow
immediately upon the meeting OF the
ca binet September 2s 10 attend when
he Is now en- route from Seattle, OF
whether he will retain his position in-
defniitely--at least until after the de-
livery to congress or the reports OF
the committee that investigated MS
Stewardship OF the public domain
depends now upon the attitude OF his
ca binet associates.
Mr.. Ballinger is coming to Wash
ington. his friends say, wholly uncon-
scious of any act on his part of which
he should be condemned and has de-
termined TO force his chief and his OF
ficial colleagues to be In effect his
Judges II they concur in the view az
present attributed to Mr. Taft that
the accused secretary shall be sustain
ca as an innocent and prosecuted man,
he viii retain his position; II they fan
to back him up, he viii resign That
this is Mr. Ballinger's position was
learned here today upon authority
hardly 10 be questioned.
At the first meeting of the cabinet
after the summer, Secretary Dickin-
son, the democratic member, viii not
have returned from the Philippines
and will, therefore, be saved the EN-
barrassment Of participation In what
Is regarded as largely problem or
reoublican policy. The meeting Is eN-
pected to last three days. II Will sur
prise nobody here If the Balllnger case
occupies large part Of the time
Rumors have been constant ana
definite here during the last Few
DAYS that Mr.. Ballinger's resignation
would be one Of the first develop
ments Of the cabinet meeting; but his
friends. including his associates. IN
the interior department. have refused
TO believe that he wonld retire under
fire and have pointed 10 his repeat
ed declaration TO the contrary, ana TO
the recent statement attributed TO him
that he would resign only at the spe-
cific request Of the president.
Some OF these. however, admitted
that they themselves and the secretary
are alive to the fact that the turmoil
and uncertainty into which the pro-
tracted controversy has plunged the
department must be abated soon un-
less this important branch OF the pub
he service is 20 become demofahzeu-
Nobody here doubts that a major
it,-au but one Of the republican
mem bers-of the Investigating COM
mittee, will sustain Secretary Ballin-
gcr. But MIR. Ballinger and his paru-
sans here were greatly disappointed
that the absence Of Senator's Root ana
FLINT from the Minneapolis meeting
left the pro- Ballinger portion of the
in the minority and per-
mittcd the democrats and the insur-
rent republican membets to put iOrth
reports concerning him. These re-
ports for many weeks will stand be-
fore the country as the only findings
OF the committee. whereas he had re-
He'd upon the majority for Nindlca-
ton.
IL is this failure OF the committee
10 take final action which. II is said.
has determined Mr.. Ballingers course.
II was said here today by close friend
of the secretary that had the major
its OF the committee been ready 20
report al the Minneapolis meeting.
he would have then rendered his
resignation 20 the president and urged
It's acceptance on the ground that the
lisseusions 10 which he has been
marty we're detrimental to the public
interest
This situation IS said 20 have con
yiuced Mr. Ballingcr that his position,
IN spite Of the continued support OF the
president. had become untenahie. Tn
4 bic. ng he sees ~. to resign AZ either
,indioated Or condemned by the com
tnittee. he has decided 1t Is said. 10
demand Of his superior and his capi-
ret associate either Nindication or
condemnation.
AIR. Ballinger lett his home in Sc
sttie Yesterday and will reach Wash
nrton several DAYS in advance Or the
cabinet session. His purpose In thus
sxDediting his return is believed "a be
10 counsel With his immediate SUBJ