The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-03-10
BiLLINGER RESIGNS.
As Secretary of the lnteriOr-WaItcr
L. Fisher, of Chicago, Succeeds
Him.

Washington, March 1.-Richard A
Ballinger's resignation as secretary O
she interior, dated January 19, last
was accepted today by President Taft
and Walter L. Fisher, of Chicago, was
appointed as MS successor, his com
mission being signed Immediately by
the president Mr.. Fisher will take
Office within a few days.
Secretary OF the Interior Ballingel
rendered his resignation in a letter
on January 10, basing it entirely upon
the condition CT his health. The pres
ident replied at once, expressing his
confidence in Secretary Ballinger, his
reluctance to accept his resignation
and requested the secretary to remain
in office until the close of the session
Of congress. Immediately upon the
adjournment of congress, Secretary
Ballinger renewed his request that he
be relieved at date suiting the presi-
dents convenience, but Immediately if
possible. Today President Taft in a
letter formally accepted the resigna-
tion.
Has Confidence of Taft.
The correspondence between the
president and the secretary is not
voluminous, but displays beyond ques-
ton the confidence which Mr. Taft
has reposed in Mr.. Ballinger through
out the long siege and indignation
with which he has viewed the attacks
upon the secrctary's personal and Of
fcial integrity.
Object OF Conspiracy.
II have had the fullest opportunity, "
the president says in his letter ac-
cepting the resignation, 'to know you,
to know your standards of service to
the government and the public; to
know your motives, to know how you
have administered your Office and to
know the motives of those who have
assailed you. I do not hesitate to say
that you have been the object of one
Of the most unscrupulous conspiracies
for the defamation of character that
history can show
Rebels Agents Hypocrisy.
And in the conclusion of his letter
the president declares that "every
fibre Of my nature rebels against such
hyprocisy" (referring to the attacks
upon Ballinger's character), "and
nerves me to fight such combination
and such methods to the bitter end,
lest success in this instance may form
demoralizing precedent. But per-
sonal consideration for you and yours
makes me feel that l have no right to
ask you for further sacrifce."
President Suspicious.
The president goes on to declare it
evident that he himself has been the
ultimate object of the attack and says
that to insist upon Mr.. Ballinger's re-
naming in Office with the prospects
Of further effort against you is self
ishly to impose upon you more Of a |
burden than ought to impose"
The presidents letter of acceptance
will be quoted first as the logical eli
max of the correspondence. It is a |
sweeping and uncompromising decla-
ration of faith in Mr.. Ballinger's per-
Sonal character and motives and in |
his official integrity and competency.
It was written this morning and is ;
as follows:
With Reluctance.
Dear Mr.. Secretary: I accept your
resignation With great reluctance. I
had the fullest opportunity to know
you, to know your standards of SER
vice to the government and to the
public, to know your motives, to know
how you have administered your Office
and to know the motives of those who
have assailed you. I do not hesitate
to say that you have been the object
Of one of the most unscrupulous con-
spiracies of the defamation of charac- ,
Ter that history can show,
Fight it to End. {
II have deemed it my duty not only !
% the government but to society in s
general to fight out this battle to the {
md, confident that in the end your s
:ellow citizens would see that the i'm I
oressions of you as a man and as the Y
administrator of high public Office {
we're false and were the result of
malicious and unprincipled plan for
he press to misrepresent you and c
'our actionss and to torture every cir q
however free from detri- t
mental significance, into proof of cor +
'upt motive. r
Sbnyorn1 with Sucn;o;nn