1.25" w/ "Inland Ptg. Co." back paper (Spokane). Governor Hay of Washington introduced Taft to the Spokane crowd of 25,000 people.  Richard Ballinger, the Secretary of the Interior, was also present at the event, and this trip was partly in response to a controversy that arose from Gifford Pinchot's criticism of Ballinger just one month prior in Spokane. The Pinchot-Ballinger dispute ultimately led to Pinchot's dismissal from Taft's administration, infuriating Teddy Roosevelt. This 1909-1910 split between Taft and Roosevelt on the issue of conservation was a key factor in Roosevelt's decision to seek the Republican nomination in 1912 before founding his own Progressive Party. A few trivial age spots along top edge 12 o'clock that are barely seen. Still Exc. John Pendergrass Collection.