The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-11
Keep THE ISSUES DIsTINCT.

being mnddled and muddied, precisely
as the least %studious observer knew
mat they would BIO. Tt is extremely
important that they should be kept
clear and distinct. The dismissal o
the forester proves nothing whatever
about the Presidents conservation sys,
pathies. The warmest devotee OF tho
Roosevelt policies would have acted
exactly as Mr.. TAFT acted, If he had
any idea OF keeping his own self
respect. Mr.. Roosevelt himself would
not have hesitated an instant to de-
capitatc Mr.. Pinchot IL Mr.. Pinchot
had given him the same cause. When
Mr.. Pincl'ot induced Senator Dolli-
yer to read his letter in the Senate,
he could not have failed to understand
what the aftermath was sure to be.
Few people doubt that he acted as he
did with the express purpose OF call
ing forth his dismissal.
The wilful provocation being what
1t was, the President made no mistake
in dismissing Mr.. Pinchot. Nothing but
timidity could have prevented him
from doing SO. The Presidents mis-
talte-if he is not simply the victim
of a chain of unhappy circumference
was in ever taking u position when
could lead to such a result. 1t dates
at least back to September IL, when.
lie jcsre,1 hic p,enorab1c 1a+t.r ,fndt
eating II indorsing Secretary Ball
niger. While it is perfectly clear that
the choice of Mr.. Ballinger to head the
Interior Department was an unfortu-
nate one. it is not clear as yet whether
or not he has really transgressed. He.
may lave deserved his vindication.
But the Presidents testimonial was
sweeping and, it seems. supertluously
cordial; the words OF praise for Pin
chot which might easily have accom-
panied it were conspicuous only in
absence; n the effect OF the docu-
ment on public opinion was certainly
not good. Moreover, the letter OF
September 10 both followed and was
Followed by certain evidences that the
Presidents sympathies were with the
.'reactionaries''' in his party. Before
it, came his partial surrender on the
tariff bill. After it, came his warm
praise of the tariff law, his laudation
of Senator .Aldrich as the friend OF
the people and, only the other day.
the suggestion that lie would help to
nght the battle of Cannon and Aldrich
by Withholding patronage from the in
surgents. All these things are rcmem-
bered by the people. and they are I'M
consciously rcading them into the
present sudden h%ullabaloo.
But 1t must be clearly remembered |
that SIR. Taft did not remove Mr.. Pin |
rhot for his views on conservation OF
his opinion of Mr.. Ballinser. He rc-
moved him for characterization, In n
wider sense, he did not remove him
1T all. Mr.. Pinchot removed himself.
In n case, it is entirely unfair to
from the episode that tho
is not favorable to the most
progressive and popular form of con-
servatlon policy. The Times-Dis-
olumns will show that it is
second TO nobody in It's admiration
of Mr.. Pinchot's splendid services, ana
its Endorsement Of what he stands for.
But these things are quite distinct
from Mr., Pinehot's official demeanor
toward his chief, the President. ana
II is only muddytng the waters worse
to seek to show that the President
was rebuking the one when he was
only, very properly. discipllnipg the
other.