The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-01-08
LETTER TO OOLlvER
IS THE REASON ASSIGNED
TAFT Aroused to Thorough ID
dlgaation Over SubOTdinate's
Open Defiance As

washington, jan 3.--Gifford PIN
chot, chief forester and intimate
irlcnd OF Theodore Roosevelt, last
night was dismissed from the serv-
ice Of the United States by President
Taft for insubol dination. Associate
Forester Oyeiton W. Price and AS
sistant Law Officer Alexander G.,
Shaw, Pinchots immediate assistants
IN the forestry bureau, followed their
chief out of the government employ.
Thoroughly indignant over the ac
ton of Mr.. Pinchot In inducing Sen
ator Dolliver to read a letter from
him In the senate yesterday Presi
dent Taft would listen to no advice
that the forester's violation of execu
tive orders be overlooked pending the
inquiry soon to be undertaken by con-
gress. He declared the dignity Of the
office he had been chosen by the peo
pie 10 fill was being attacked and he
would be unfaithful to his trust II
he submitted longer.
Means Political Warfare
Mr. Taft undoubtedly realizes full
ly what the dismissal Of Forester Pin
chot means in a political way. He
has been convinced for some time
that the socalled insurgents" and
other critics of his administration
had enlisted the services of Mr.. Pin
chot and practically were defying
him to separate Pinchot from his Of
flee. The latters letter of Thursday
few here doubt, was written with the
direct purpose of putting 1t square.
ly up to the president"
The President sought to avoid the
threatened war as long as he could,
but declared that patience had ceas
ed to be virtue. He picked up the
gauge of battle thrown down by Mr..
Pinchot by the hand of Senator Dol
liver in the senate, and with the adj
ministration supporters is ready for
Situation Tense
Political observers declare the sit.
Uation is the most tense of many
years. No one is willing to prophesy
the outcome.
In the house Speaker Cannon lost
his first fight to the insurgents
who, combining with the Democrats.
caused to be adopted an amendment
To- the Ballngcr- Pinchot inquiry reso
luton, so as to take from the speak
er the power to appoint the house
members OF the joint special commit
tee Of investigators.
The margin of victory was narrow
one of three votes, but the insltil
ents" and Democrats alike are jubl'
liant. The dismissal of Pinchot has
lent fuel to the flame of their delega-
tion and they are venturing all man
ner Of predictions as 10 what Is to
happen IN the future.
Republicans Cause Downfall
Three Republicans, not classed as
insurgents" but who profess their
friendship for Pinchot, voted with
the insurgents" and Democrats fo'
the amendment, which calls for the
selection of the house investigators
by election from the floor These
two incidents at the capitol and
White House, kept Washington in a
political ferment all day.
The cabinet was In special session
during practically all day. Secre-
! tary Palllnger, cognizant of the ac
Z tion that was about 10 be taken, re
mained away from the afternoon sit
ting. Ii was at the end of this spe
cial session that the President gave
out the letter he had written to Mr.
! Pinchot.
Wilson One Accuser
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
Pinchot's immediate superior, It ap
pears, was one of the foresters chic
( accusers He told President Taft
that he had advised Mr.. Pinchot no
10 send the letter to Senator Dolliyeri
that Pinchot had told him he had
such a letter in mind. and could in
duce Senator Dolliveg" to read It ui
the very day that President Taft
special message transmitting the at
!. torney generals exoneration OF Sec
! retary Ballinger was to be presente'
to the senate
II was this story of Plnchot's ap
parently calculated insubordlnatiol
that aroused the President to th
keenest resentment
M Taft accused Pinchot OF havin
taken his stand against Secretary Ba
linger wholly upon the evidence ad
duced by l.. II. CLAWS and withou
, regard to the evidence on the othe
, side. on file in the interior depart
, ment. The letter directing Secretar
Wilson to dismiss the forester fortl
With, was carefully famed durin
. the afternoon sitting OF tbe cabine
and was revised several times b
fore finally being made public. II
the Presidents own statement Of tb
! case
: Seems Not Worried
ii Mr.. pinchot received tho President
: letter and Secretary Wilson's pc
9 emptory note Of Dismissal; but notl
ling about his demeanor indicated h
gas surprised OF distressed W ei'l
leF, To an accompaniment Of SOUND