The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-08
Richard Bdllinger Resigns
 As Member of Taft Cabinet
THE NEW MEMBER
 OF THE CABINET

New York, March 7.-Walter Lowrte Fisher, newly appointed Secretary of the Interior, has been one of President Pin chots stanchest supporters in the mat ter of the conservation of natural re- sources. He is vice president of the Ma tional Conservation association, of which MT. Pinchot is president. MT. Fisher will be 49 years old next July. He was born at Wheeling W. Va. and received his education at the Marietta, O., college, and the Hanover, Ind. college. He has been in law practice at Chicago 2s years.
 MT. Fisher has been identified with the so-called reform wing of the republican party. He was instrumental in the for nation of the Municipal Voters league Of Chicago, which is generally credited with much progress made in the last 15 years in the purifcation of local politics.
 His greatest fame comes from his work in reorganizing the street railway sys- tenn of that city.
 The first intimation the new Secretary of the Interior had that his appointment had been made public came to him th's afternoon when he bought neWspapef. He left for Washington this afternoon.
 Now the merry war begins, l sup pose," he said, when the reporters found him.
 Then, after four preliminary dratts' MT Fisher gave out the following wrlt- ten statement, which is the only quota tion he would allow:
 q have no statement to make except that I have accepted this position With deep appreciation of its obligation ana or it's opportunities to accomplish practical and constructive work"
 Wednesday night or Thursday morning MT. Fisher plans to go to Washington where he will remain long enough to per feet his plans for taking office, and then continue to Chicago to wind up his per sonal affairs He wished it understood that his appointment grew out of no tech- rfcal acouaintance with forestry, but rather from his long service as counsei in civic matters involving adjustment oe- tween warning private and public ln- terests.
 Mir. Fisher still is a member of the committee appointed by the President to report on federal regulation of railroad S6CuTltl6S HOW III bcSSioh III N''S N'NS His friends expect to see him retain hls committee membership which pays no salary
 It is the understanding that he first came prominently into President Tatt notice when he was recommended Dy members of the Chicago bar for va cancy on the United States supreme court bench.
 Friends explained MT. Fishers connec- ton with the Conservation League or America and its successor, the National Conservation association. The league was the first effort of Theodore Roosevelt to give conservation working organiza- ton and 1t comprised all other organiza- tions In various parts of the country hav- ing the same ends in view. The associa- ton succeeded 1t as an organization of
 individuals and President Taft, It's first announced member, gave out his accept ance in letter to MT. Fisher.
 No stress is laid here on the fact that Clifford Pinchot is now president of the association of which MT. Fisher is vice president nor Is 1t thought to give any hint of what policy MT. Fisher will pur- sue in his conduct of the department.