The San Francisco call., 1910-08-03
SANDS SLIPPING
BENEATH FEET
OF BALLINGER
Campaign Protests Begin to
Show Effect Upon Taft's
Advisers
No Attempt Made oDeny That
Crane Suggested Party
Sacrifice
Secretary indignantly Refutes
Reports of Possible
Resignation !. 8


N EvERLY, Mass, Aug. 2.-There
n was increasing evidence here to-
day that the recent bombardment
of the president with letters from re-
publican leaders in all parts of the
country protesting that Secretary of
the Interior Ballinger was proving an
embarrassment in the laying of plans
for the coming congressional cam
paign, is beginning to have effect If
not upon the president himself, at least
upon the advisers who are closest to
him.
No attempt was made today to deny
the reports that Senator Crane at the
very outset OF, his political pilgrimage
in the west, had probably suggested to
Secretary Bailinger at Minneapolis
yesterday that his duty to the party
might require that he sacrifice his
place in the cabinet All that Secre-
tary Morton would say, after having
considered the matter carefully all
day, was that it would be necessary to
ask Senator Crane.
President Obdurate
The statement was reiterated, how
ever. that President Taft would not so
much as lift his little finger. if by so
doing he could secure the retirement
of Secretary Ballinger as head of the
interior department
In addition to the letters he has re-
ceived the president has heard ver-
bally from number Of the party lead
ers regarding the sentiment toward
Secretary Bsiiinger. They have talked
frankly with Mr.. TaftSon the subject,
it is said. and while they have agreed
with the president apparently in his
position that nothing has been proved
against Secretary Ballinger, they have
put the matter purely on a party basis
and have said that the campaign
would be much easier with the Ballin-
ger issue eliminated
The leaders have declared that the
fight is going to. be a hard one at best,
and while they feel sorry for Ballinger
they regard his presence in the cabi-
net as handicap
President Taft was frankly told a
few days ago that the movement be-
hind James r. Garfield in Ohio and the
votes cast for him in the state con-
vention were protest again Secretary
Ballinger. The Ohio leaders recognized
the strength of this movement by maxi
ing many platform concessions to the
Garfield wing of the party.
today to treat the meeting of Senator
Crane and Secretary Ballinger in Min
neapolis yesterday as accidental" 1t
was clearly intimated, however, that
any move being made against Secre-
tary Ballinger had its inception with
President Taft. The president, it can
be positively stated, will never ask
Ballinger to resign
If the secretary should feel called
upon to resign, however, there is said
to be little doubt that his resignation
would be accepted.
Cranes Visit Secret
When Senator Crane went to see
H. L
was made to keep his visit secret
Secretary Norton was plainly worried
when he found that Senator Cranes
presence in Beverly had been detected.
The senator himself had made secrecy
a condition of his coming.
1t is known that Snator Crane was
sent for to go on an important mission
for the president to Seattle
The meeting with Secretary Ballinrer
at Minneapolis suggests a modification
of the original predictions and justifies
the announcement which followed the
interview here that Senator Crane
might go all the way to the coast
BalIinger Denies Story
CHICAGO, Aug. 2.-Secretary RaIl;n-
ger today denied that his conference
yesterday with Senator Crane at Min
neapolis.. Mimi, related to or would he
followed by his resignation. Hhe de-
nounced his foes In strong language
and said he intended to ignore them
entirely. His denial was issued after
reading the dispatches from .ReverIv
Mass, which indicated that Senator
Cranes mission to the west was to
carry the hint that Mr.. Ballinger would
aid the party in forthcoming elections
by withdrawing at this time
There's no resignation on the card
I can tell you," was Mr.. BaIlinger's re-
ply to this.
Continuing, he said:
II simply am on my way to the
coast for a little rest. Some of them
want to make my rest permanent. but
1t will not be so as long as President
Taft is satisfied. / met Crane yester
day morning through no arranEemenr
of mine and the matter we discussed
politics, OF course-was nothing which
interested me directly at all. Mr.
Crane wished to consult me on the
matter and came to where 1 was. that's
all. There is nothing mysterious about
it. / guess he has gone back east now.
"All this vicious attack by unscrupu-
lous men, backed by newspapers with
even less scruples. go off me like water
OFF ducks back. That never will in