The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-08
Resigns From Cabinet,
Broken in Health
and Purse.
HIS DETRACTORS
FLA YED BY TAFT
President Declares Retiring Sec.
rotary Object Of One of Most
Unscrupulous Conspiracies
for Defamation of Character
in History-Walter L.
Fisher His Successor.


IGNITION of NIchnrd A. Bnliinscr, OF Sc
nttle, n. Secretary of the Interior, ~ns
accepted to-day by President 'rnft, and
Walter l.. Fisher, OF Chicago, WINS ap-
pointed nv his successor.
II appears In the correspondence be
tween Mr.. Ballingcr and the President,
WHICH Was given out in fun by the
White House, that the secretarys res
ignation has been in the Presidents
hands since January . last. that II was
hell in suspense at the request OF the
President. ami that the latter at las.
accented It only at the urgent request
OF NJ. Iailinger
In his letter Of resignation. Mr.. Bal
lnver gives the condition of his health
az tht reason FOR retiring
Ills Detrnctorx Denounced.
In giving his consent 10 the secre-
tary's retirement. Mr. Taft takes occa-
sion to declare with ma rked emphasis
his unchanEins faith in the integrity.
the motives and tile official standards
Of Nj Ballinger, and his unnleas,ired
Indignation at the methods of those
who assailed him, declaring tina, he has
been the .'subject OF one OF the most
Inscriptions conspiracies for the defa
NATION of character that history can
show
. .
ten Statement, given out at the Interior
Department. expressed the intention TO
return forthwith to Seattle. and after
rest resume the practice Of law. lie
says that his defense has cost HIM not
less than s25.000 and that he is now
poo.' man. At the same time he de-
cleres 1t his purpose now ITO prosecute
the arch -conspiratOrs who have been
following ne with the ASA szin's knife"
Walter LOWE Fisher, Mr. Ballinger's
SUCCESSOR, who Viii assume Office as
Secretary OF the Interior within a few
days, is Republican, and ii was aid
at the White House to-day that Senator
Cullom, the senior Senator from lii-
nois. was consulted In regard to his
appointment. His appointment gives
TWO places In the Cabinet 20 Chicago
men. Secretary MacEeagh, of tho Treas
ury, being also (, resident OF thai city.
Mr.. Fisher has been notably active in
the movement for the conservation OF
natural resources, and is a vice presi-
dent OF the National Conservati ton Asso-
citation, Of which Clifford Pinchot is
president. Officers OF that association.
whose Headquarters are in Washington,
expressed themselves as more than
pleased with the appointment OF Mr..
Fisher.
BniltnEer's Statement.
This is the statement which MT. Bal
fused 10 add 20 IT.
- shall Immediately return to my
home at Semitic, and after securing the
necessary rest, Will actively tnkc up my
work. No man could have been more
losniIy supported than hnvc been by
the President at nil times, and he hns
my lasting affection and my special
interest In far as my feeble effort
may he OF value.
81 give up my post without any re-
Ercts EXCEPT TINT Of parting with most
agreeable associations. In fact, an,
az happy to he free of the burden. OF
the office IA was reluctant to assume
them.
The department, In MI It's bureaus,
IL in better stntc of effective organ
ization than ever In Its history, in
which take pride, md wish to accord
to the chiefs and other officers full
measure of Just communication for their
energy. loyalty mud devotion to the pub
lie service. Their assistance and coop
Grafton has been Of great qualification
to me.
Now Poor Man.
''Fhc great burden OF dcpnrtmentaI
work, added to the atrnin OF contcndinE
against ASSAULTS from wick ell and dis
honest men, Inns sertOnsly Injured my
health, and the cost Of my defense has
not been less than $4,000, leaving me
poor man.
1T liz ny purpose to prosecute the
nrch-cOnspirators who hive been fol,
Towing me with the nsxnxsin's knife.
The country shall know fully the In
justice OF the attacks upon me-,
The retirement of Mr.. Rallinger and
the appointment Of his successor bring
TO close tie most sensational incident
thus far OF the Taft administration
indeed, ono Of the most spectacular
in, 40 l.
began With a difference In conception
of policy toward the treatment Of pub-
lie lands, especially the forest pre-
serves, between Mr.. Ballinger and Gift
ford Pinchot, then Chief Forester OF
the United States, whose bureau was
part OF the Department OF Agriculture
Mr. Pinchofs view Of these matters had
been more in accord with those Of Mr..
Ral'inger's predecessor, James r. Gar
field.
The open warfare broke out when
charges relating to Mr.. Ballinger's adj
ministratlon OF the public lands, espe-
cially in Alaska. and more particu-
larly TO the treatment by the General
Land Ohscc Of the so-caIled Cunning
ham claims to coal lands in Alaska.
were filed with the President by l.. r.
CLAWS, then field agent OF the Land
ONCE. AS result OF these charges.
CLAWS was dismissed for insubordi-
nation by order Of the President Sub
sequently, Chief Forester Pinchot ad-
dressed n letter to Senator Doliiver.
In which he espouscd The cause In
which CLAWS had fallen. and he, too,
was dismissed by tho Secretary OF
Agriculture, likewise under orders
from the President. 5
Rattle RACES. 5f
From, that time on the battle ragged
with increasing heat, and finally cul-