Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-01-14
TAFT and Pinchot.

dismissed from the Conservation
service by order OF President Taft.
The circumstance is exceedingly
unfortunate and regretable. No man
In the public service held a higher
position In the confidence Of the
people than did Pinchot at the
moment Of his dismissal. The result
Of this unfortunate occurrence cannot
we'll be estimated or predicted with
certainty at this time.
The wisdom of the presidents
cours must be determined by the
future. A peculiar condition Of
affairs has existed for some time, in
the final adjustment Of which the
public has been intensely interested.
Secretary Ballinger has been under
continuous fire since the CLAWS dis
closure, Notwithstanding the pre-
sident's assurance that his conduct
was above suspicion, and the prompt
retirement of his accuser, the general
public has been 10th to accept In full
confidence the presidents assurance.
An Investigation of the conduct Of
Secretary Ballinger was finally forced
upon the president by public opin-
ion. The president was 10th to
grant it. But despite the support of
the president and the opponents of
the Roosevelt Conservation policies
1t became imperative that the scandal
should be investigated and the facts
made public. 1t is important in this
connection to note, that no breath of
suspicion had rested on Pinchot. He
had the highest confidence and
esteem Of the public. Yet it became
evident at the close Of the last session
of congress, that great consideration
was being given TO the scope Of the
proposed investigation, and especially
by the friends Of the secretary. 1t
had not been usual heretofore to
investigate a public official against
whom no complaint had been lodged.
The public demanded only the invest
igation Of the truth of the charges
made against the secretary. Never
theless, in a letter to Senator Jones
the Secretary requested that the
entire forestry service be included in
the investigation OF the charges
against himself. This not only had
the appearance OF attempted dicta-
ton or his part, but 1T did not ring
with distrust. 1t savored more of
the effort Of a tactician to parry a
probable knock-out-blow, than OF a
man seeking full and complete
examination OF his record as a public
officer. Nevertheless, the scope Of
the investigation was enlarged so as
to include the entire forestry service.
Moreover, the of selecting
the joint committee to investigate
appeared to be in the hands of
Ballinger's friends. These matters
are pertinent TO a proper considera-
tion Of the action of Pinchot which
10 claimed Justified the Presidents
action In summarily dismissing him
from the public service, In view Of
all these circumstances, and many
others Of minor Importance, wa
Pfnch0t Justified In d~istrusting the
good faith Of the proposed investiga-
tion, and in anticipating its probable
result? We believe he was. CLAWS
had already been summarily dismiss
ed by executive order, for undue zeal
Ia protecting the public from coal
thieves. 1t was by no means apparent
judging from deeds not words" just
what-th The executives attitude toward
forest conservation really was. True,
IN executive order forbade any
subordinate furnishing any informa-
ton to Congressman concerning the
conducto Of his Department without
the permission ofhis superior. When
Pinchot sent his letter to Senator
Dolliver to be read on the floor Of the
senate, without permission of his
superior, he violated the order and
thus tt il claimed, ''by his own act
destroyed his usefulness as q helpful
Of the government"
While II may be conceded that subord-
mates should be restrained from
promiscuous distribution of the
Atfalrs Of the several departments OF
government, just why the order should
b msde 20 broad As to preclude
members Of congress from obtaining
any information except through the
heads Of these several departments is
not IT al clear to the average citi-