New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-08

Mr.. BILLINGER'S RESIGNATION.
President Taft's charactcristically man
ly letter TO Secretary Ballingcr accept
ing the latterS resignation as Secretary
of the Interior will estop malicious SuG-
gestions from Mr.. Ballingcr'S enemies
that political considerations played
part in his withdrawal from the Cabi-
net The President makes IT absolutely
plain that the retiring Secretary enjoyed
his complete confidence and respect and
that no thought Of SilcncinG or avoiding
criticism Of the policy pursued 10y the
Interior Department since March -
1909 could have influenced him in ne
cepling Mr. Ballinger'S decision 10 take
up again q professional career inter
ruptcd AZ a material personal sacrifice.
On the contrary. Mr.. Taft expresses
most emphatically his deteStaiion of the
methods employed to discredit the Sec
rotary. who. i'm his opinion. has been "th"
object of one Of the most inscriptions
"conSpiraceS for tie defamation OF
character V hich history can show.
The assaults made on Nj Rallin-cr
had aroused the Presidents righteous
indignation. and ne could have been
tempted by no argument of cXpedlcncy
to seem 10 consent 10 the Secretary
retirement ~ means Of foreSjallinc
further attacks upon him i'm the press
or I'm tho ne"y Congress Mr. Tart was
fully determined 20 uphold the right rs
he saw il. and he has had better
opportunity than any ono else io judge
OF Mr. Rallingcr'c fidelity. zeal and com
pptcncy ~ public officer Possessed
of that intimate knowledge. nc was de
termincd. ~ no tells Mr. BallinGcr 10
fight out the battle 10 a finish. "conndchi
"tbat I'm the end Your fellow citizens
would soc that the impressions of Won
"as q man and a. the administrators II
"a high public office were false ana were
''thc result of malicious and unprlp1-
pied plan for the usc of the press !"
"misreprcSert YOU and Your actions
only the Sccrctary's desire 10 quit Once
for pressing personal reasons could have
led the President to consent =" SOCK
now head for tho Interior ipcl 'rimcht.
II has been "A remarkable feature 81
the assaults on the administration
conservation programm" that they have
Lcen Immediately directed not at the
President hut AT member of the 'an'-
net who could have remained IN once
only ON the condition that he was al
ministcrin= his department In accord
,rcc with the Presidents wishes. Inc
disingcnuouSneSs e. that rocodurc was
obvious. But there being no ground On
which to attack The President himself.
tho uaradoXicHl suggestion was mace
that tho Secretary was doing unwillingiy
what the President wanted him To 90
and was working covcrily To undo Wh''
he was doing publicly.
The President has named ~ Mr. Bai'
linror's successor Mr.. Walter J." Fisher
one of the organizers of the C"lscrNl-
lion League of America and Nice-pre>l-
dent Of the National Conservation AS>''-
ci,tion of which Mr.. Pinchot Is preNl-
don't The new Secretary will carry out
the same policies that Mr. BalIinger car
ried ont. for the administration c"liN'r-
Walton programme is just what II naN
,I,vovs bcou. If MIR. Fisher receives the
concentration of Mr.. BallingcrS critics
ror doing i'm office exactly what Mr.. haI-
lincer did the whole Rallinscr conSlIr-
acv will he completely exposed ~ one VI
,,,reonol ,,crspcUtiOn