The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-08
CLIFFORD PINCHOT is
DISMISSED BY TAFT

| OlONAkOOED ID i AE /
Continued from Page One.
with carrying out under direction OF The
President
Through Mr.. Pinchot's efforts funds
appropriated for the use of the Interioi
Department in administering certain pub
lie lands under It's jurisdiction were trans.
ferred to Mr.. Pinchots bureau,
Altogether. Mr.. Pinchot welded a ire
mendous influence in the Roosevelt ad.
ministration and some OF his critics have
contended that his whole trouble, cul-
minating In HIS dismissal last night, has
been due to belief that he was independ-
ent of superior authority and possessed
an immunity from discipline such as he
was credited with having when Col.
Roosevelt was in the White House.
Friendly with Taft.
President Taft and Mr.. Pinehot have
been good friends. Mr.. Taft has publicly
expressed his admiration for the ener-
getio and enthusiastic forester. On two
occasions he made known that he had a
high opinion of Mr. Pinchot's dislnter-
ested services in behalf OF the conserva-
ton of natural resources.
At meeting of the governors of States
presided over by Mr.. Taft on December 8,
1908. at a theater in this city, Mr.. Taft.
then President-elect, spoke of the debt
that the public owes Clifford Pinchot,'
and added other words complimentary to
Mr.. Pinchot.
Ar the time President Taft wrote his
generation of Secretary BalIinger from
the charges made by Special Agent Gla-
Wis, ne sent letter to Mr.. Pinchot COM
pumenting him highly for his conseva-
ton work and assuring him that he had
the support of the Taft administration.
How far the political considerations in
volved played a part in the consideration
Of Mr.. Ptnchot's case by the President and
the members of the Cabinet. il they
played any part at all, has not been dis
closed.
It is known that President Taft made
every effort TO bring about a better feel
ing between Secretary BaIlinger and For
ester Pinchot These efforts were IN
successful.
Even after the President knew Mr..
Pinchot's subordinates, Price and Shaw,
had been conducting a magazine and
press campaign to inture the Secretary
OF the Interior, he refrained from taking
any action against them, on the ground
that to do so might have an effect on
the investigation which Mr.. BaIlinger
had demanded into his own official con-
duct
There are people in Washington who
have said that to dismiss MT Pinchot
from Office would be a great political
mistake. They contended that most of
Col. Roosevelts friends would rally to
Mr.. Pinchots support. with the object
of injuring the Taft administration. and
that the people of the country. few OF
whom understood the Ballinger- Pinchot
controversy. would be influenced by the
magazine and periodical campaign to be-
lieve that to put 1t mildly. Mr.. P!nchot
had been dismissed for attempting to
prevent monopolistic control OF water
power sites and coal lands.
Evidence Against shaw.
According 10 part of the information
in the possession of the administration.
Law officer Shaw. whose dismissal was
ordered. not only assisted Special Agent
CLAWS, who was connected with another
department Of the government, in prepar-
Ing the indictment against Secretary Bal
linger. but accompanied Mr. CLAWS 70
Boston and waited there until the latter
returned from Beverly, where he had
laid his charges before President Taft.
1t was alleged that the CLAWS charges.
or summary of them. were offered by
either Associate Forester Price or Law
officer Shaw. or both, TO Washington
newspapers, with the object OF injuring
Mr.. Ballinger IN the public mind
1t is yet too early TO say what effect the
dismissal Of Mr.. Pinchot and his asso-
ciates will have on the investigation into
Mr.. Ballinger's conduct, which Congress
IS TO institute. Mr.. Pinchot, Mr.. Price.
and Mr.. Shaw are now free to say and do
what they please. and it is expected that
they viii be summoned early before the
committee of inquiry
A good deal of uncertainty exists as to
what the scope OF the investigation will
be. and by some the question has been
raised as 20 what there is for Congress to
investigate, anyway, in a controversy
which. according TO one view. mainly con-
Germs the Executive.