Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-03-14
BALL|NGER OUT,
T0WAR ON Enemies
RESIGNATION or SECRETARY OF
INTERIOR ACCEPTED ~
PRESIDENT.
WRITTEN STATEMENT SENT OUT
Walter 1. Fisher, Of Chicago, 10 Ap.
pointed to FIJI vaeaney.-Exe-
cutivs Says Retiring omesf
Was Victim Of Plot.

Washington, March S.-The resigna'
ton Of Richard A. Ballinger, Of Seat.
tie, as secretary of the interior was
accepted by President Taft, and Wal.
ter l.. Fisher, Of Chicago, was ap-
pointed as his successor. 1t appears
in the correspondence between Mr..
Ballinger and the president, which
was given out in full by the White
House, that the secretary's resignation
has been in the presidents hands since
Jan. 10; that 1t was held in suspen-
sion at the urgent request of the pres.
ident, and that the latter at last &C.
cepted 1t only at the urgent request Of
Mr.. Ballinger.
In giving his consent to the secre-
tary's retirement, Mr.. Taft takes &C.
casion to declare with marked empha'
sis his unchanging faith in the integ
rity, the motives and the ohicial
standards of Mr.. Ballinger. and his
unmeasured indignation at the meth.
DDS of those who assailed him. de-
claring that he has been the subject
of one of the most interruptions con-
scter that history can show"
The secretary, in written state
ment given out at the interior de-
partment, expressed the intention to
return forthwith to Seattle and after
q rest resume the practice Of law. He
says that his defense has cost him
not less than SIS 900 and that he 10
now poor man.
Would Punish pistters.
At the same time he declares IL his
purpose now ito prosecute the arch
conspirators who hare been follow
ing me with the assassin's knife"
Walter LOWE Fisher, Mr.. Ballinger's
successor, who will assume ONCE As
secretary Of the interior within . few
days, is a Republican. and 1t was said
at the White House that Senator Gull
lom, the senior senator from Illinois.
was consulted in regard to his ap-
pointment. His appointment gives two
places in the cabinet to Chicago men,
Secretary MacVeagh, Of the treasury,
being also resident Of that city.
Mr.. Fisher has been notably active In
the movement for the conservation Of
natural resources and is vice presi-
dent of the National Conservation as
ISOLATION, of which Clifford Pinchot Is
president. Officers of that association,
whose headquarters are in Washing
ton, expressed themselves as more
than pleased with the appointment Of
Mr.. Fisher.
This is the statement which Mr.. Bal
linger issued and he refused to add
to 1t:
II shall Immediately return. to my
home in Seattle and, after securing the
necessary rest, will actively take up
my professional work.
1.-THE president has so fully ex-
pressed his confidence in me In his
letter that have only to add that I
20 out Of Office feeling that no man
could have been more loyalty sup.
ported than have been by the presi-
dent at all times, and he has my last:
ing affection and my support In 90 far
as my feeble efforts may be Of value.
II give up my post without any re.
grets, except that Of parting with most
agreeable associations. In fact, I am
as happy to be free Of the burdens Of
the office rs was reluctant to assume
them.
1.-THE department in all its bureaus
Is in a better state Of effective organ
ization than ever in its history. in
which l take pride, and wish to accord
to the chiefs and other oficsrs full
measure of Just commentator for
their energy. loyalty and devotion to
the public service.
"The great burdens Of departmental
work, added to the strain of contend
ing against assaults from wicked and
dishonest men, have seriously injured
my health, and the cost OF my defense
has not been less than $25500, leaving
me poor man.
1T is my purpose to prosecute the
arch-conspirators who have been fol-
lowing me with the assassin's knife.
The country shall know fully the in
Justice of the attacks upon me-"
An Historic Battle.
The retirement of Mr.. Ballinger and
the appointment Of his successor bring
to a close the most sensational incl
dent thus far of the Taft administra-
ton. indeed, one Of the most spectacu.
| lar battles in recent political history.
1t began with difference in concep-
ton of policy toward the treatment Of
public lands, especially the forest re-
serves, between Mr.. Ballinger and Gif-
ford Pinchot, then chief forester of
| the United States, whose bureau was q
part of the department Of agriculture.
Mr. Pinchot's views of these matters
had been more in accord with those of
Mr. Ballinger's predecessor. James r.
| Garfield.
The open warfare broke out when
charges relating to Mr.. Ballinger's ad-
ministration of the public lands. es-
pecially in Alaska, and more particu.
larly to the treatment by the general
land Office Of the so.called Cunning
ham claims" to coal lands in Alaska,
were filed with the president by L. r.
CLAWS, then field agent of the land
office. As result Of these charges,
CLAWS was dismissed for insubordina.
ton by order Of the president. Subse.
! quently Chief Forester, Pinchot ad.
dressed letter to Senator Dolliver. in
which he espoused the cause in which
CLAWS had fallen, and he, too, was
dismissed by the secretary of agri.
culture, likewise under orders from
the president.
If you have trouble in getting rid Of
your cold you may know that you are
not treating it properly. There is M