Connecticut western news., 1892-02-18
A SCANDAL IN POLITICS.
AN ATTACK MADE ON ALGER'S Po-
 llTICAL RECORD.

The Generals Friends Refute the Charges
 Made Against Him and Claim That the
 Administration Caused Them to Be
 Published to Kill His Candidacy.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-General J. 0. Kelton, adjutant general of the United States army. has received the following sworn statement of Samuel R. Wooster, late surgeon of the First Michigan cavalry and acting brigade surgeon, with reference to General Alger's military record The statement is made because of a bitter edi- torial attack on General Alger in the New York Sun:
 "I enlisted as assistant surgeon of the Eighth Michigan infantry, Aug. 19, 1881; was promoted to surgeon of the First Michi- gan cavalry, Feb. 26, 1868; mustered out Oct. 10, 1864.
 'The First cavalry was one of Clusters Michigan cavalry brigade during the cam paign of 1863 and 1864, and up to the time of my discharge from the service was act ing brigade surgeon on General Clusters staff at the battle of Shepardstown, Va, at which I was present, and where we were forced to retire across the Potomac on ac- count of the great strength of the enemy
 "I knew that General Alger, then Colonel Alger, of the Fifth Michigan cavalry, com manding his own and the Sixth Michigan cavalry was detailed to protect the cross- ing of the balance of the command with the artillery and train, which he accomplished. During this campaign General Alger's health was very much impaired, and the night after our crossing into Maryland from Shep- ardstown he was very ill. The following morning, we were gathering the sick and wounded together to send to hospital, in- formed Colonel Alger that he was not able to march, and must go to the hospital.
 Custer Charged with Being Unjust.
 ''Ths was customary for surgeons in the field to do when the command was on the move, and l accordingly directed that Col onel Alger be sent to Annapolis with others, and distinctly remember that 1 told him I would forward the proper papers to him there, as we wished to get the sick and wounded away at once. made applica- tion for his leave to General Custer, report ing the facts, and supposed that it was granted, and never heard to the contrary until yesterday.
 "In my opinion there never was a moro unjust act committed against soldier than that which is reported to have been by Gen. era1 Custer in his reporting him as absent without leave and recommending his dis missal All who knew General Alger at the war knew he was very prompt and punctual in his duties, and he would have been one of the last men in the world to disobey an order or fail to perform his duty. If there is any person responsible for his being sent to the hospital without the proper order accompanying am that person. Will you do General Alger and me the justice to file this sworn statement with his war record in your office3 I have the honor to be, gen eral, very respectfully, your obedient ser want, SAMUEL R. WOOSTER"
 General Alger Defends Himse1E
 DETROIT, Feb. l5.-In an authorized inter view General Alger declares that he has but little to say in answer to Dana's editorial concerning him. He absolutely denies, how ever, that he applied for ten days leave of absence after the crossing near Shepherds town, Va, but reiterates that he was sent into the hosp.cal without requesting it, therefore a request for leave could not have been denied by Custer He also answers Dana by saying his retirement from the army was not one iota different in form from the thousands of others who were honorably discharged
 The Administration Accused.
 CHICAGO, Feb. 15.-A special to The Trib- lTOu w tudI iIlcuuS VI General Alger claim to have evidence that agents of the administration were respon- sible for the New York Suns attack on the generals military record, and charge that Secretary Elkins was the direct and respon- ible agent in the recent publication of the statement from the war department records that Alger had been recommended to be lishonorably discharged from the army for being absent without leave. MT. Elkins, it is said, had a double purpose to serve in killing off Alger as presidential candidate.
 One was to clear the track for his chief, President Harrison, and the other to punish Thomas c. Platt The latter has made no secret of his preference for Alger after Blaine, and MT. Elkins in striking at Gen. .ral Alger also struck indirectly at Platt.
 They think that the generals statements
 ent out from Detroit completely disposes ,f Editor Dana's charges, and are taking ad- vantage of the attack to put bis candidacy on an aggressive basis.
 New York's Big Mass Meeting.
 NEW YORK, Feb. 12.-The mass meeting If the Democrats called to protest against the early state convention to name dele ;ates to the national convention drew to- ,ether a crowd that filled Cooper Union to ,verfiowing. It was an enthusiastic crowd,
 %, and every point made by the speakers against the state committee's action was greeted with hand clapping and shouts of applause.
 The following resolutions were presented
 o the meeting for action:
 Resolved, That this assembly o' Democrats f the city of New York now makes its respect full protest and appeal against the uncalled for md ill advised action of the state committee in designating so early a date as Monday, the 22d February, for the meeting of the state con- ention, which is to elest delegates to the na~ ional convention, appointed to be held at Chi ago on June 2i, 1892.
 unctions and political powers in trust for the velfare of the party. Its action in calling the tate convention for Feb. 2, and thereby fore ng the holding of the primaries on brief notice, contrary to party usage and irregular. It ienies to the Democratic electors of this state ul fair and effective exercise of their right to represented in caucuses, primaries and dis rict and sta; conventions This action is . rave violation of the political duties of the ommittee, which cannot but expose the party need. ess danger in the election next Noveu- Ter.
 Resolved. That a copy of these resolutions yer the hand of the president of this meeting @ sent to the several mbers of the state com uittee. and that committee of fifty, with pos CT oadd to its numbers, be appointed by the chair nsn of this meeting to communicate with the members of the Democratic state committee, md respectfully to protest against their action
 n designating the date already fixed for the late convention. and that they be urged to re- consider such action and revoke their call, and | if that is not done that the committee hereby reated exercise such further powers and take .uch other action as may secure proper repre- entation of the people of the state in the m ional convention of the party and as may seem roper. in accordance with the spirit of theno