The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-03-08

l'NlilS INV WAN NIt 'TFflENll' = hilll's
The country shall know fully the in
justice Of the attacks upon me"
The retirement of Mr.. Ballingor and
the appointment 'of his successor
brings To n close the most sensational
incident thus far of the TAFT admin
istratipn. indeed. one Of the most
spectacular battles in recent political
history
Difference in Policy
II hogan with q difference IN con-
ccption of policy toward the treat
ment of public lands. especially the
forest reserves, between Mr.. Ballin
ger and clifford Pinchot. then chief
forester Of the United states. whose
bureau was a part of the department
of agriculture. Mr.. Pinchots views
had heen more I'm accord with those
of Mr.. Bnlingers predecessor, James
II. Garfield
Open warfare broke out when
charges relating to Mr.. Ballingcr's ad-
ministration of the public lands. espc
cially In Alaska. and more particular
ly ~ the treatment by the general
land office of the so-caled Cunning
were filed with the president by l.. Il.
CLAWS, then field agent Of the land
office.
AS result CLAWS was dismissed
for INSTRUMENTATION by order of the
president. Subsequently chief For
ester Pnchot addressed letter To
Senator Dolliver. and he. too. was dis
missed by the secretary Of agriculture.
likewise under orders from the presi
dent
Battle Rages.
From that time the battle ragged
with increasing heat and finally cul-
minated In congressional investigation.
Not since the famous Schley- Sampson
controversy and court or inquiry after
the Spanish American war has official
Washington been so torn into factions
as during the hearings in this matter
which was universally spoken of as
the Ballinger Pinchot controversy"
Even the committee itself could
not get together on the subject Of It's
report. The democratic minority on
the committee "stole march" on the
republicans and at Minneapolis met
as II quorum OF the committee and
adopted a report finding Secretary
Ballinger guilty of charges against
him and demanding his removal from
office.
Representative Madison of Kansas,
an insurgent republican. also issued Il
report hostile to the secretary. Later
the republican majority met at chi-
cago and adopted Il report, signed by
all the republicans, except Mr. Mad-
son. which sweepingly exonerated Mr.
Ballingor. None of the reports was
acted upon In any manner by con-
| gross. to which they We're submitted.
President Taft. from the outset. has
heen aggressive in the defense Of
Secretary Ballnger and his faith In
his cabinet member has never way
cred. 1t Is doubtful whether on any
subject connected with his administra
| tion has he been more emphatically
! immovable.
The attitude of his mind on the
subject Is clearly shown In the letter
which he wrote to Mr.. Ballinger ac-
cepting his resignation. He is un-
| sparng In his denunelatlon both Of
the methods and of the motives of
those who sought to bring about the
downfall of the secretary.
Tho correspo ondence-Taft.
The story of the resignation and of
the presidents reluctant acceptance
of 1t Is clearly set forth in the cor
respondence which follows.
The presidents letter Of acceptance
| Will be quoted first, as the logical
climax of the correspondence. 1t is n
sweeping and uncompromising decla-
ration of faith in Mr.. Ballinger's per-
sonal character and motives and In his
official integrity and competency.
1t was written this morning and is
as follows:
Dear Mr.. Secretary: ! accept your
resignation with great reluctance
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 those who have assalled You
Continued on Page Six