The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-07
SAYS RESULT OF
CONSTANT ASSAULTS
is CRUEL TRAGEDY
Expresses Greatest Apprecia-
ton for Loyalty and Eff
ficiency of Retiring Sec
retary-SuccesSor is
a Pinchot Conser-
VatiOniStS

WASHINGTON, ID. g.. March
ITO the accompaniment of a
letter brissiing with denunciation
of the ..muck-rakers.. President
Taft to-day accepted the resigna-
ton Of Richard Achilles Baiiin-
ger rs secretary OF the interior.
The announcements came in the
form Of simple statement NJ tile
White House that Walter l.. FISH
er, OF Chicago, q lawyer, and for
mer president OF the National
Conservation League" had been
appointed 10 Baiiinger's place,
and would take Office within a
few days.
With the making public later
OF letters which passed between
the President and Haliinger, IL
became known for the first time
that the secretary had verbally
asked To be relieved Of his cahi-
net post. ON the ground OF ill.,
health, some time prior to JAN
nary 10, and that In letter bear
Ing that date IN. had submitted
u formal resignation.
Rumors that a new Democratic
House would undertake impcarh-
ment Of BaliinEcr because OF the
disclosures by joint congress
si0sial committee. which inyesff-
gated the Hal er-Pfnchot con-
troyersy. prece.ssd tire final action
during the Last few days.
Fisher, the new secretary Of the
interior. IL .l>inchoa conscrva-
zionist" His selection Is regard
ed here AZ nm attempt TO placate
prOgreSsiyes and an endeavor ON
the part OF the President to re-
store peace In the conservation
war.
The National Conservation League.
OF which Fisher was president, was
merged with the National Conserva-
ton Association--the organized oppo-
sition of the Ballinger land policies.
Fisher is nov honorary vice president
Of that organization, of which Clifford
Pfnchot former chief forester. is
president Overton w Price. for
merry associate forester. discharged
with Pinchot by presidential order
because of their activity against Bal
finger. Is an active associate OF Fish
err.
The new secretary has been active
In the conservation movement since
Its inception.
Il feel better than I have felt In
his last cabinet meeting to-day.
viii get ready TO leave for Seattle
as soon as possible. That is all /
can say now
On January %, replying to Ballin-
gers letters OF resignation, the Presi-
dent wrote:
Dear Mr.. Secretary:
For reasons which have deeply
themselves In my heart afsd
mind. ] would never consent to con-
slider your resignation on any ground
that was based on the good OF the
service or OF helping me personally
or politically. for no such ground is
tenabie by me. Only on the score of
your health and personal convent
encc or to prevent further pecuniary
sacrifice on your part will consider
the possibility of accepting your re-
signation. But not even on the lat
ter grounds can l consider until af-
ter Congress adjourns. until after all
unjust attacks are ended. until after
have had the benefit OF your valu-
able and necessary aid during the re-
mainder OF crowded session, and
until we have reached the calm Pc
riod which l hope will follow the
present hurry and pressure and ne
cessity for constant action and watch
ing incident to the close of a short
session. Then I'll take II UP and an
swer you at length
Relterates His Request.
On March Ballinger addressed a
letter to the President reiterating his
request for Immediate consideration
of his resignation.
To-day the President wrote him as
Dear Mr.. Secretary: accept your
resignation with great reluctance. l
have had the fullest opportunity 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
hesitate to say that you have been
the object OF one Of the most unscru-
puious., conspiracies for the defama-
ton OF character that history can
show. / have deemed 1t my duty. not
only to the government. but to So
riety In general. to fight out this bat
tie TO the end, confident that In the
end your fellow citixens would see
that the Impressions OF you as q man
and a. the administrator Of n high
public office were false and were the
result OF . malicious and unprincipled
plan for the uae Of the press to mis-
represent you and your actionA and to
torture every circumstances. however
free from detrimental significance.
Into proof Of corrupt motive.
with the hypocriticai pretence
Inst they did not accuse you Of COR
ruption in order to avoid the neces-
siit, that even the worst criminal
II eusitled to. to-wit: that Of defi-
Altely formulated charge OF some
yCsntinusd ~ TOurth Paxs,s