The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-08

WASHINGTON, March ITO the
accompaniment OF letter filed with
denunciation Of the ''muckrakers,
President Taft today accepted the
resignation of Richard Achilles Bal
linger as secretary of the interior.
The announcement came in the
form OF a statement at the white
house that Walter l.. Fisher, OF Chi
cago, a lawyer, and former president
of the National Conservation league"
had been appointed to Ballinger
place and would take office within
few days.
With the making public later OF let
tiers which passed between the prss'-
dent and Ballinger, II became known
for the first time that the secretary
had verbally asked to De relieved OF
his cabinet post on the ground OF Ill
health some time prior to Jan. 10,
and that in a letter bearing that date.
he had submitted forhAai resigna-
ton.
Rumors that a new Democratic
house would undertake The impeach-
ment OF Ballinger because OF rhe dis
closures by a joint congressional COM
mittee which investigated the BAL
linger- Pinchot controveisy.--nrece
the final action during the last few
days.
Fisher, the new secretary of the
Interior, Is a "Pinchot conservation
ist." His selection is regarded here
as an attempt to placate the progress
sives and an endeavor on the part
OF the president to restore peace In
the conservation var.
az
of which Fisher 1cs president, was
merged with the National Conserva-
ton Association, the organized OPP
position of the B.lliuger land poll
cies. Fisher Is now honorary vice
president of that organization, of
which Clifford Pinchct. former chief
forester, Is president Overton w.
Price, formerly associate forester, dis
charged with Pinchot by Presidential
order because Of their activity against
Ballinger, is an active associate OF
Fisher.
The new secretary has been active
In the new conservation movement
since its inception.
II feel better than | have felt in
two years." said Ballinger as he left
the cabinet meeting toiay. Il will
get ready to leave for Seattle as soon
as possible. That is all can say
now"
On Jan. %, replying to Ballinger's
letter of resignation, the president
wrote:
Dear Mr.. secretary-For reasons
which have deeply impressed them
selves In my heart and mind, i would
never consent to consider your resig-
nation on any ground that was based
on the good Of the service or OF help
ing me personally or politically. for no
such ground Is tensble by me. only on
the score of your health and personal
cuniary sacrifice on your part viii
consider accepting your resignation.
But not even on the latter grounds can
/ consider II until after congress ad-
tourns until after all unjust attacks
are ended, until after 1 have had the
benefit OF your valuable and necessary
aid during the remainder OF crowd,
ed session, and until we have reached
the calm period which 1 hope will fol-
low the present hurry and pressure
and necessity for constant action and
watching incident TO the close OF
short session Then I'll take 1t up and
answer you at length
On March 6, Ballinger addressed a
letter to the president reiterating his
request for immediate acceptance OF
his resignation.
The president answered him as fol-
lows:
NV Dear Secretary--I accept your
resignation with great reluctance. I
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 Of
flee and to know the motives OF those
who have assailed you. do not hest
tate TO say that you have been the OBJ
feet of one of the most unscrupulous
conspiracies for the defamation OF
character that history can show 1
have deemed II my duty not only TO
the government. but to society In gem
eral, 10 hight out this battle to the end.
confident that In the end your fellow
citizens would see that the impression
OF YOU as a man and as the admins
trator OF high public office were
false and were the result OF q ma
licious and unprincipled plan Tor the
use OF the press to misrepresent you
and your actions. and TO torture every
Circumstances, however free from det-
rimental circumstances, Into proof OF
corrupt motive.
with the hypodriticai pretense they
did not accuse of corruption In order
to avoid the necessity, that even the
That oil, q definitely formulated charge
OF some misconduct; they showered
you With suspicion and by the most
pettifogging methods, exploited the
bubble matters which had no relevancy
10 an issue OF either corruption or
efficiency in office. but which paraded
before an hysterical body OF headline
character and to obscure the proper
issue Of your honesty and Effectiveness
l as n public servant. H..
The result has been q cruel tragedy