Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-12
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS EAGER
FOR PUBLIC OPINION OF BAL.
LINGER ROW.
TEST OF POPULARITY FOR
TAFT's ADMINISTRATION
Senators Not Anxious to Sit On Inves-
tisatins Committee, Fearing Effect
of Verdict-Many Disguised With
Whole Affair But Can't Head Off the
Probe.
Especial Correspondence.l

washington, Jan. 12.-Wanted, by a
large number of members of both
houses of congress, some quick and ac-
curate reports from the United States
on the developing course of public
opinion concerning the Ballinger-P Pin
ckot controversy in its, newest phases.
Any person who can produce the de-
sired evidence will make himself ex-
ceeding solid" with numerous uncer-
tain statesmen
For the very suddenness of the crisis.
the swiftness OF Developments, in the
last few days, has made it utterly i'm
possible for the most astute of politi-
Clans 10 keep his ear to the telephone
receiver of his wireless apparatus by
which he keeps in touch with senti-
ment at home.
Is the public. heretofore recognized
as decidedly in sympathy with Pinchot
in the conservation warfare, going to
stand with Pinchot against Ballinger
and Taft. as heretofore it. has stood
with Pinchot against Ballinger?
Will President Taft's vigorous course
command the country. and turn the
tide in favor of the administration. or
will the people sympathize with Pin
chot and continue TO stand by him de-
spite that in doing so they will be in
opposition to the president?
Test Has Come.
The test of the Taft administrations
hold on the confidence of the country
has come, and come so swiftly that no
politician likes to guess on the popular
verdict. Consequently the comments
of the home newspapers are being
watched with the most intense concern
and the daily grist of mail from back
home is opened and studied with keen
concern
The future of the whole controversy
depends in large way on the Develop
nlent of evidence about the condition
of the public mind, in the next few
days. There is no doubt that among
public men something like disgust with
the whole controversy is growing up
They would like to be done with the af
fair, but they see no way out of it,
Senator'S Shy at Job.
In the senate, for instance, several
senators who have been talked about
as possible members of the investi
eating committee have made clear that
they don't want such service. Some
of them feel that it would involve
vast amount of work with no satisfac-
tory results Others confront embar-
easements in their political situation,
which they believe would injure them
with powerful interests at home, no
matter how iudicially they conducted
Z, en-, 4r;o 10, l,e
For myself said one senator today,
81 shall vote against the resolution
for the Investigation. I see no good to
be accomplished by it. 1 have never
seen a legislative proceeding that
looked more utterly farcical to me,
than this one There isn't any chance
whatever for the real question which
has been in the public mind. to be set
tied by any investigation. That ques-
ton is not whether Mr. Pinchot and
his organization have been unduly
jealous. or whether Mr.. Pinchot was
guilty of breach of official propriety
in writing his letter to Senator Dol
liver 1t is whether Secretary Bal
fingers convictions and affiliations arc
such that he can be relied upon to adj
minister the conservation policy with
the public interest primarily in his
mind The charges that have been
made--the charges which are of real
concern to the public, anyhow-relate
to Mr. Ballinger. l don't suppose any
body is innocent enough to think thai
anything will come out of an investi-
cation which will affect the public
sentiment about that general controv-
ersy. l may be alone in doing SO, but
1 shall vote against any investigation"
Can't Head 1t off.
While there is evidence of good
deal of feeling, there is no chance
whatever of the investigation being
headed off 1t will be too useful, in the
future, as a legislative buffer against
undesirable legislation; that is, legis-
lation which the leaders regard as un-
desirable.
The disposition of public men to be