The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-08
FIRST BREAK IN V
TAFT CABINET
BaIIinger'S Resignation Was
a Surprise.
CHICAGOAN HIS SUCCESSOR

Former Secretary Of the interior
Makes a Brief Statement, Declar-
Ing He VIII Sue His Enemies
President Taft Praises the Retiring
official-A Word About Walter
Lowrie Fisher, Who Is to Succeed
Balllnger.
Washington, March s.--Richard A.
Ballinger, secretary of the interior,
will quit the interior department i'm
mediately upon the qualification OF
Walter L. Fisher, who, according to
statements made by the White House
officials, will be inducted into Office
within the week.
Mr.. Ballinger's retirement makes
the first break in the Taft cabinet.
Although It has been known for a
long time that Ballinger had no in
tentlon OF retaining the interior port
folio until the end of the admins.
tration, the announcement of his res.
ignation at this time came as a sur
prise to officials of political Wash
lngton.
When Mr.. Fisher takes his place in
the presidents official family there
will be three Chicago men present at
the cabinet board Jacob M. Dickin-
son. secretary OF war, and Franklin
MacVeagh. secretary OF tho treasury,
were residents OF Chicago when Sc
lected for cabinet posts. Mr.. Fisher
has been prominent lawyer in that
city for many years. Although a
Republican in politics. Mr.. Fisher
has on occasion steered an indepen.
dent course. He has been identified
with the anti-Lorimer element in II.
linois, and only recently consented
to direct the inquiry about to be un-
dertaken into the circumstances at
tending the election Of william Lori
mer to the United States senate.
MIR. Fisher is one of the vice presi.
dents of the National Conservation
association, of which Clifford Pinchot
is the president and moving spirit.
The announcement of Mr.. Ballin.
gers resignation came out IN the
form OF correspondence that had
passed between the president and
the secretary Of the interior
Taft's Hot Shot.
Mr.. Taft's letter accepting the res.
ignatlon is one of the warmest docu-
ments ever prepared at the White
House. At the conclusion OF trib-
ute to Mr.. Ballinger's service for the
administration. the president wrote
this observation; 81 do not hesitate
to say that you have been the. object
Of one of the most unscrupulous con-
spiracies for the defamation of char
acter that history can show"
The official correspondence shows
that Secretary Ballinger handed a
letter of resignation to President
Taft or Jan. 19. The president re-
fused to accept It at that time, sug.
gesting that the matter be put over
in any event until congress had ad.
journed. Mr.. Ballinger ascribed Ill
health as his reason for desiring to
retire.
The resignation of Secretary Bal.
linger concludes one Of the most
spectacular and sensational battles in
American political history. Shortly
after Mr.. Ballinger' took Office In
President Taft's cabinet, March 5
1909, a controversy began between
him and Clifford Pinchot. chief of the
forest service OF the United States
resulting finally In congressional in
vestigation.
A minority OF members Of the com
mittee issued report at Minneapol
lis, Mimi, and found the secretary
guilty of the charges made against
him by Louis r. CLAWS.
The majority report, signed by all
OF the Republican members OF the
committee. declared that evidence
had failed to mako out case, and
exonerated Balllnger.