The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-05-16
ATTEMPTED TREACHERY.


miDistration. If the attacks came
from the Democrats alone. they could
be met and disposed of in short order,
for the Republican party has never
found any difficulty in disposing of
i enemies in front
Unfortunately, most of the assaults
during the past year have come from
the rear. When Mr.. Taft took Of
flee he inherited a job lot of para
! sites in all the executive departments
as well as a number of higher class
individuals possessing the exaggerat-
FED ego who wanted to shape the
course of the administration to suit
themselves
The Ballinger- Pinchot controversy
arose because the chief forester. in
order TO grasp more power. set out 20
destroy those above him in Office,
and the parasites from time Il time
nave played an important part in
sfhe conspiracy.
Ever since the joint committee Of
j Congress began its investigation OF
the interior department and the for
est service. spies have oeen On the
watch for the purpose of springing
something sensational at an oppor-
tune moment for the purpose of dis
~cred;ting the administration OF Pres
sident Taft
The latest piece of undarhand work
in this direction is the action Of
photographer in the Office OF Secre-
,lA.y BalIinger. one DENLY This per-
son, while possessing the confidence
of hi chief, consorted with the dis
gTuntled faction and tried to place
sAlr. Taft in an embarrassing position
by starting the story which was ex-
Dloded by the statement from the
White house given out on Saturday.
No man in the United States Re-
publican. Democrat or insurgent,
sdoubts the personal honor and in
SJegrity Of the President Yet this man
Denby tried TO make it appear that
ssAIr. Taft was not the author of the
Hletter bearing his signature which ex-
Generated Secretary Ballinger IN the
matter of the Cunningham coal
clai1ns in Alaska.
President Taft stated in the letter
1hat he had carefully examined all
She circumstances in connection with
Sthe official actions of Mr.. Ballinger
sewhile commissioner Of the general
land Office. and had investigated the
charge that he had violated the law
by appearing as attorney for the
Cunningham claimants. finding it
groundIess.
1t is the common practice in high
official circles for subordinates to
prepare memoranda for their supe-
riors. the clerks for their chiefs, the
zchiefs for the heads of departments,
etc. etc. In no other way could the
official business of the government
be transacted, owing to the immense
amount of labor involved in looking
up records, transcribing documents
and work of like nature.
In the particular case upon which
an attempt is being made TO build
Sensation, Oscar LAWYER, assistant al
jorney general of the interior depart
ment, prepared a draft of a letter adj
dressed to Secretary Ball;uger which |
use in case he desired 10 tighten his
labors.
The situation had been thoroughly |
gone over by President Taft, Attorney |
General Wickersham and all others |
INTERESTED. The facts in the ca had |
been noted and all that remained was |
10 prepare the letter. AS before stat |
ed, Mr. Lawler prepared a draft Of /
the document and it was turned over |
80 Mr. Taft in accordance with the
usual custom.
8 The President did not see fit to use
the material furnished by Mr.. LAWYER
Eand personally dictated the letter ex-
Generating Secretary BaIiinger. The
hfact that he incorporated two short /
Paragraphs of the Lawler draft, as it Il
.was right and proper that he should,
lis made the basis for the insinuation
that the President had not examined
ethe facts in the case, as he said he
Mad done, aud that in effect Secretary
Ballinger had exonerated himself.
OF course, the statement from the
sNVhite house will be accepted as the
s-xact truth, and the matter set at rest [
among right-thinking and honest {
rpeople. 1t is only another incident of i
attempted treachery upon the part of
IAN employe in an inferior position, L
swho brings himself into prominence il
Sin q disreputable way. (
As for President Taft. while he IS i
doubtless chagrined over this latest ID
piece of chicanery, he can take COM
fort in the fact that his record is clear 9
and spot1ess and that he possesses the
coincidence ana esteem Of all true {
: americans q
The President has three years yet q
10 serve, and long before the end Of t
That time all the traducers of his adj t
sninistratiOn viii have passed into q
sobIivion. He can well afford to wait d
sIRRIG ALTON IN ASIA.
An irrigation enterprise involving 9
The expenditure OF sSo,0Oo,0O0 is r
. u