Smyrna times., 1911-03-15
bALLINCER is
OUT OF CABINET
Taft Accepts Resignation and
Appoints W. |. Fisher.
SCORES HIS OPPONENTS

The President, In Accepting Resigna-
tion, Calls Secretary BaIlinger OBJ
ject of "Most Unscrupulous Con-
spiracy."
Richard A. Ballinger's resignation as
secretary of the interior, dated Jan.
10, was accepted by President Taft,
and Walter l.. Fisher, of Chicago, was
appointed as his successor, his COM
mission being signed Immediately by
the president.
Congress has not acted on the Bal
lnger-Pinchot report, but in the next
session, where the administration will
have little say, it would certainly have
come up. 1t is hardly likely he would
have been eXonerated.
Walter Lowrie Fisher, who succeeds
Mr.. Ballinger as secretary of the IN
terror, is a lawyer living in Chicago,
where, since 1906, he has acted as spe-
cial traction counsel for the city of
Chicago. He was born at Wheeling,
W. Va, July 4, 1862, and was educated
at Marietta college, Ohio, and Hanover
college, Indiana, graduating from the
latter in 1888.
Mr.. Fisher has been one of Clifford
Pinchot's staunchest supporters in the
matter of conservation Of natural re-
sources. He was president of the Con-
servation League of America, and is
now vice president of the National
Conservation association, which sue
ceeded the league, and of which Mr..
Pinchot is president.
Secretary Ballinger rendered his re-
signation in letter of Jan. 10, basing
it entirely upon the condition of his
health. The president replied at once,
expressing his confidence in Secretary
Ballinger and his reluctance to ac-
cept his resignation, and requested
the secretary to remain in Office un-
til the close of the session of con.
gress.
Immediately upon the adjournment
of congress Secretary Ballinger re
newed his request that he be relieved
at a date suiting the presidents con
venience, but Immediately if possible
President Taft in letter formally ac
cepted the resignation.
The correspondence between tht
president and the secretary is not vo
luminous, but displays beyond ques
ton the confidence which Mr.. Taf
has reposed in Mr.. Ballinger through
out the long siege and the indignation
with which he has viewed the attack
upon the secretary's personal and OIL
cial integrity.
81 have had the fullest opportunity,
the president says in his letter az
cepting the resignation, ito know yol
to know your standards of service
the government and the public,
know your motives, to know how yo
have administered your Office and
know the motives of those who haV
assailed you. do not hesitate to sa
that you have been the object OF on
of the most unscrupulous conspiraci'
for the defamation of character thi
history can show"
And in conclusion of his letter Il
president declares that every fibre
my nature rebels against such hypo
risy (referring to the attacks upon b;
linger's character) and nerves me
fight such a combination and SUI
methods to the bitter end, lest succe
in this instance may form demoral
ing precedent. But personal consid'
1 alton for you and yours makes me fe
1 that l have no right to ask you for
I further sacrifice"
4 The president goes on to declare
4 evident that he has been himself I
4 ultimate object of the attack, a
\ says that to insist upon Mr.. Ballinge
II remaining in office with the prospe'
/ Of further efforts against you, is
6shly to impose on you more OF
burden than l ought to impose"