The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-08
Taft Says Secretary of Inte- ri0r Is Victim of Infa-
 nous Conspiracy
FISHER APPOINTED
 AS HIS SUCCESSOR
Offered Resignation Some Time Ago. Will Retire and Practice Law. Defense Has Made Him
 a Poor Man

a Poor Man 1 Washington. March 1.-The resignation of Richard A. Ballnger of Seattle as Sec retary of the Interior was accepted today by President Taft. and Walter L. Fisher of Chicago was appointed as his suc- cessor
 It appears in the correspondence be- tween MT. Ballinger and the President, which was given out in full by the White l House, that the secretary's resignation had been in the Presidents hands since January 1s; that 1t was held in suspense at the urgent request of the President. and that the latter at last accepted it only at the urgent request of Mir. Ballinger. In giving his consent to the secretary's retirement MT. Taft emphasizes his faith in the integrity, the motives and the of icia standards of MT. Ballinger, and his indignation at the methods of those who assailed him, saying that he has been the subject of the most interruptions con spiracy for the defamation of character that history can show. | The secretary late today, in written statement given out at the interior de- partment, expressed the intention to re- | turn forthwith 10 Seattle and after a rest resume the practice of law. He says that | his defense has cost him not less than $25,0O0, and that he is now poor man. At the same time he declares 1t his pur- pose ito prosecute the arch conspirators who have been following me with the sassin's knife"
 Fisher Is Republican 1 Walter Loweye Fisher MT. Ballingers successor. who will assume office as Sec retary of the Interior within few days Is a republican, and 1t was said at the White House today that Senator Cullom, senior senator from Illinois, was consulted in regard to his appointment. His appoint | ment gives two places in the cabinet to | Chicago men-Secretary MacVeagh of the treasury being also a resident of that city.
 | MT. Fisher has been notably active in the movement for the conservation of | natural resources and is vice president 1 of the National Conservation association, oe which Clifford Pinchot is president. | Officers of that association, whose head quarters are in Washington, express themselves as pleased with the appoint ment of MT. Fisher
 | This Is the statement which Mir Bal finger issued this afternoon: !. T shall immediately returnft Ito my home ] at Seattle and after securing necessary rest will actively take unl my profess sionaf work
 The President has so fully expressed his confidence in me in his letter that have only to add that l go out of office feeling that no man could have been more Loyalty supported than I have been by the President at all times, and he has my lasting affection and my support in- solar as my feeble efforts may be of l value.
 q give up my post without any re- grets, except that to part with most agreeable associations In fact l am as happy to be free of the burdens of the office as I was reluctant to assume them.
 Proud of Work
 The department, In all it's bureaus. is in a better state of effective organiza- ton than ever in Its history, which I take pride, and wish to accord to the chiefs and other officers full measure of | just commendation for their energy, loy- / alty and devotion to the public service. Their assistance and cooperation has been of great gratifcation to me-
 The great burden of departmental work added to the train of contending against assaults from wicked and dis honest men, has seriously injured my health and the cost of my defense has not been less than s25,0 leaving me a poor man.
 Tt is my purpose to prosecute the arch conspirators who have been fol- lowing me with the assassins knife. The country shall know fully the in- justice of the attacks upon me-" | The retirement of MT. Ballinger and | the appointment of his successor bring | to a close the most sensational incl dent thus far of the Taft administra- tion indeed. one of the most spectac- ,Ilar battles in recent political history. | It began with a difference in con | ception of policy toward the treat ment of public lands, especially the | forest preserves between Mir. Ballin- | ger and Clifford Pinchot then chief for ester of the United States whose bu- reau was a part of the department of agriculture. MT. Pinchot's views of | these matters had been more in ac- cord with those of MT. Ballingers pre- decessor, James R. Garfield. | Open warfare broke out when charges relating to MT. Ballinger's ad- mipistration of the public lands es- pecially in Alaska and more partic- | ularly to the treatment by the general land office of the so-called Cunning ham claims" coal lands in Alaska were | filed with the President by L. R. Gla- wis. then a field agent of the land of fee. As result of these charges Gla- wis was dismissed for insubordination by order of the President. Subsequent fly Chief Forester P1nchot addressed d l Ietter 10 tne ldte senator DOlllVer lfl | which he espoused the cause in which Glavis had fallen, and he, too, was dis missed by the Secretary of Agricul- ture. likewise under orders from the President
 Was Fierce Battle
 From that time on the battle ragged with increasing heat and finally culml- ma ted in congressional Investigation
 The committee could not get together on its subject of report, The democratic minority on the committee "stole march, on the republicans and at Min | neapois met as a quorum of the com mittee and adopted report finding Sec retary Ballinger guilty of the charges against him and demanding his removal from office.
 Representative Madison of Kansas an insurgent republican, also issued a re- port to the secretary. Later the repub- lican majority met at Chicago and adopt ed report signed by the republicans, except Mir. Madison, which exonerated the secretary. None of the reports were acted upon in manner by Congress. to which they were submitted.
 President Taft from the outset has been active in the defensive of Secre- tary Ballinger and his support of his cabinet member has never waivered Ii Is doubtful whether on any subject con nected with his administration he has been more emphatically immovable. The attitude of his mind on the subject Is