New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-08
PRESIDENT, Accepting ResIgna-
tiOn. Says Secretary Was
Victim Of Conspiracy.
W. /. FISHER IN CABINET
~. Taft Expresses His Conf
~. aarcs in Integrity of Retir-
:.r oficial-New Secretary a
prominent Conservationist.
,r,or, IN, Tribune Bureau

Ia
'-,.tion Of Richard A. Ballinser as sec
-. NJ the Interior ana announced
Ualter /, Fisher. Of Chicago had
. ' ,,rointed Mr.. Balhnger's success
e.,rctarv Ballinger. discussing MS
,-.s,ior said i. was his purpose 10
..,,o tho erch-conspirators VINO
s.re been following me with the as
..,.s Knife. The country shall know
sny the injustice Of the attacks upon
ne" -.-.-..,o. or
al health and the fact that he was un-
.tie In bear the expense of remaining IN
-. cabinet Correspondence between
- president and Mr.. Ballinger was
- r,ihHc which shows that after
ing offered his resignation orally
and the President had refused TO accept
=, tho Secretary handed in a written
..sieration on January ~ Of this year
..a .bs President replied on January %
ss,irr the secretary TO defer the matter
-, ,,,tu after the close Of the short
session II Congress.
In Giving his consent to the S'cre'ar!
-e,irement. Mr. Taft takes occasion TO
s,.iaro with emphasis his unchanging
,.,,b i'm tbc integrity. the motives ana
enc official standards Of Mr. Ballinger
.,d his unmcasurcd indignation at the
r,s,bo5s of those VINO assailed him. de-
,I.rirr that he has been the subject OF
o,o Of the most INSCRIPTIONS conspira-
-. fo. defamation of character that
history can show
Tho Secretary late to-day. in state |
,cert given out at the Interior Depart
wen, evprc-sed the intention 10 return !
,,-,bvith to seattle. and after rest re-
syne the practice Of law. He said that
HE defence had cost him not less tnan |
S9jUn. and pc is now poor man.
Walter l.. Fisher. Mr.. Ballinger's sue
c.ssor yno viii assume office as Secre-
,ary NJ the Interior within few days, Is a
perublican. and II was said at the White |
House to-day that Senator Cullom, OF
Illinois. vas consulted in regard TO MS
arpointmeut His appointment gives
,oo rls,fs I'm the cabinet TO Chicago |
men Secretary MacVeagh. Of the Treas
ury Department. being also a resident OF
that cts. Mr. Fisher has been notably
active IN the movement for the conserVa-
ZION Of natural resources. and is vice.
ar,.ident Of the National Conservation |!
Association. of which Clifford Pinchot Is !
president Officers Of that association
whose headquarters arc in Washington
,xrrcssrd themselves as more than
pleased with the appointment OF Mr.. /
Fisher
ssllinq.r to Prosecute Accusers.
Thi, is the statement which Mr.. Bal
unger issued this afternoon, and he re-
fused t. add % 10.
! shall Immediately return 10 my nome
al Seattle. and after securing the neceS-
sary rest. VIII actively take up my pro-
iessional work The President has so
Mlly expressed his confidence I'm me IN
BIS letter that I nave only to add that L
20 out of office feeling that no man
could have been more loNaly supported
than have been by the President at al
times. lnd ue has my lasting dnecuon
and my SUPPORT IN SO ar as my feeble
efforts may be of value.
give J my post without any regrets,
except that OF PARTING with most agree
able associations. In fact ! am as
happy to ac free of the burdens OF the
Office As Was reluctant 10 assume thehi'
Tie department. in all its bureaus Is
IN better state Of effective organization
than ever i'm its history. in which ! take
"a 4n accord %
and other officers a full measure of just
conmendation for their energy, LOYALTY
and devotion 10 the public service. Their
assistance and cooperation have been or
great qualification 70 me.
The great burden Of departmental
work. added 10 the stTaln Of contendlnS
against assaults from wicked and dis
honest m.n. has seriously injured my
health, and the cost of my defence has
not been less than $1,000, leaving me
poor man
u Is my purpose to prosecute the arch
consplraiOrs VINO have been following me
With the desassin's knife The country
shall know fully the injustice Of the at
lacks urou me.
a Cruel Tragedy. Says Mr.. Taft.
The Presidents letter Of acceptance
vas written this morning. and is as fol-
lows.
Dear Mr. Secretary: / accept your
resignation with great reluctance.
have had the fullest opportunity to know
you, 10 know your standards OF service
u the government and the public. TO
Know N0ur motives, to know now you
nave administered Nour office ana 10
Know the motives Of those who have as
sailed You
90 not hesitate to say that YOU have
bten the object OF one Of the most un-
scrJpuluua cOnspiracies for the defama-
u0n Of character that history can show.
have deemed il my duty. not only 10
me government. but to society in gem
ersl to ight out this battle TO the end,
confident that in the end your fellow
Cilzens would see that the impressions
u You as man ana as the admins
uator Of high public office were false.
ona We're the result Of malicious and
unprncipled plan for the use Of the
press 70 misrepresent you and your &C
''hs. and 10 torture every Circumstance,
however free from detrimental signih-
'ance. into proof of corrupt motive.
:, With the hypocritical pretence that
tAeE dld not accuse YOU Of corruption in
Vfoer 70 avoid The necessity that even
ne worst criminal is entitled to-to wit.
mat of definitely formulated charge OF
So'ne misconduCt-they shOwered you
WIN suspicion. and by the most petit
logging methods exploited 10 the public
matters which had no relevancy 10 an
hsue u either corruption or efficiency I'm
tVnce' but which paraded before an
hysterical body OF headline readers,
served to blacken your character and 10
ooscure the proper issue OF your honesty
ana effectiveness as public servant
'. ne result has been a cruel tragedy
iou and yours have lost health and have
zen burdened financially The cOnspir-
a'ors who have not hesitated I'm their
pursuit of you to resort 10 the meanest
vi methods, including the corruption Of
,"ur most confidential assistant. plume