The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-03-09
Resigns From Cabinet
and will be Succeeded
by Walter |. Fisher.
ENDS A SENSATION
Democrats Had Planned to
Bring Impeachment Pro-
ceedings Against Him.
Washington D.. C.-Bulletin.

H "- ~ - - stf-t 4f-.E t.
Washington d. C.-Bulletin. -
Fred bennett of. North Dakota, COM
missioner-general of the land ONCE, In
the interior department, who was ap-
pointed by Ballinger and is entirely
in sympathy with him, will resign in
a few days and leave Office with Bal
linger, according to an announce
ment late this afternoon.
Washington, b. C.-Richard A.
Ballinger, secretary Of the interior,
today resigned from the ONCE. and
will be succeeded by Walter 1 Fish
er of Chicago.
This announcement was made at
the White House today after a cabi-
net meeting.
This ends one of the most sensa-
tional chapters ever written in the
history Of the federal government.
Ballinger was appointed by Presi-
dent Taft whenahe took Office two
years ago and at once began to at
tract attentionsby restoring to entry
large areas Of water power sites, re-
moved from entry by President
Roosevelt because. of the opportunity
1t provided fors,the creation of a wa
ter power trust. The storm caused
by this action in a few months caused
Ballinger to rescind this order, and
the water power sites were once
more Withdrawn.
Charges by CLAWS.
A little later the discharge Of In.
spector CLAWS was accompanied by
his accusation that Ballinger conniv.
ed at a conspiracy by the Morgan
Guggenheim syndicate to gain pos.
session Of the Cunningham group OF
Alaska coal lands, valued at unknown
millions. A Congressional inquiry
resulted and ~ q part of the conse.
quehces,, F4fsfter oxford Pinchot
was compelled to resign his post. II
was shown that Ballinger had be.
friended these claims when land
commissioner and also that he had
been intimate with George W.,P Per.
kins. Of the. Morgan firm in New
York. There were many other sensa.
tional features. Of the inquiry, includ.
ing discovery that Taft's exoneration
Of Ballinger was based on an ante
dated reports by Acknowledgement
Wickersham. IS.
However, the committee, .controll-
ed by republicans. whitewashed Bal
linser in its report. This report wal
carefully kept from consideration at
the recent session OF, congress. But
the democrats planned q new and Wig.
attack on Ballinger. including
impeachment. Proceeding Whether
this had anything to do with u Bal
fingers restoration today. can only
be ,c%ontectured, but 1t. Is supposed the
president. did not care, to have him
made the basis Of partisan attack
on the administration.
Is Fisher .. Oonarvationist.
!. Waiter l., Fisher. the. new. secre-
'tary OF the interior. ista Chicago law.
yer. ciubman and reform politician.
For years hesvas secretary Of the Mu-
nicipai owneEship- Voters League
and TOR the past SIX months has been
. member Of Taft's Railway securi-
ties commtssiop. He Was former
~ president Of the National. lCppser-
walton League. The. selection. af IN
,ayowed conseryationist to succeed
BallinEer Is taken, TO indicate that
the president wishes to leave no
doubt .as4.to his own. attitude toward
this policy, for which the Roosevelt.
administration was most renowned.
s ~,
RATES TO.
.DNAfAINy r,N~fY HNorr