The herald., 1897-02-08
plication BY withdrawing his name from

plication by withdrawing his name from
further consideration.
President Harrison explained that
geographical considerations rendered
1t impossible to give Michigan a capinat
representative, and thanked Gen: Alger
for his courtesy, adding that II the De-
troit man had in view any candidate
for a secondary Office he would be glad
to make the appointment. Gen. Alger
said he would be gratified IL his frfend,
Col. Henry Duffleld of Detroit were ap-
pointed solicitorge President
Harrison thanked him for the sugges.
tion and the conference ended. Duffield
never was named, however.
When it was given out, unofficsally
that Alger was to be Harrison's secre-
tary of war James G. Blaine wrote to
General Alger announcing that he was
to be Harrison's premier and expressing
his warm qualification over the selec-
tion of the Detroit man. Afterward,
when 1t became known that Alger had
been turned down. Blaine wrote another
letter to his Michigan friend. 1t was
red hot. And the language used to-
ward the nations chief executive was
hardly what would ordinarily be looked
for from ones principal counselor. That
Blaine letter, during the last egh.
years, has been the principal ray that
has lighted the gloom of General Alger's
political aspirations.
Blaine finally left the cabinet and en-
tered the field for the presidential nomi-
nation against his chief The Alger in
cident may not have figured materially
in bringing about this outcome. but /.
was the first rupture between Harrison
and Blaine.
General Alger is a "self-made man."
If any one ever justified such term.
He began life without dollar, and has
earned by hard work every dollar that
fortune has given him.
Today General Alger is a millionaire:
how much more than millionaire it is
difficult to say, for his wealth is invested
in busy manufactures and mills, Civ
ing employment to thousands of Ameri-
can workingmen. He is not a pluto
crat, but business man. He has won
national reputation for his open handed
philanthropy, and has always been es-
pecially popular among the laboring
classes. From his youth General Alger
has taken deep and active interest in
political affairs. and has been honored
by the voters of his state by election and
reelection as governor. He is an en-
thusiastic G. A. r. man and has served
as national commander of that organi
cation.
In craftsmanship General Alger is not
a "jingo." He is American to the core,
with healthy regard for all things
American, and sufficient backbone to
make his sentiments effective. He will
bring to the office great business ability
and thorough knowledge of military
affairs, both theoretical and practical.
The following story told of General AL
ger may serve to throw a light upon the
personal characteristics of the man.
Just before young Alger was called
away by the eXigencies of war his finan-
ces were so low that the borrowed a
few dollars from friend Several years
later Alger left the service. and with the
small sum of money which he brought
home invested in a heavy fur overcoat
and a watch and chain. About the first
person he met after donning his new
possessions was the creditor of former
years, whose whereabout in the mean
time We're unknown. Alger greeted his
old friend. cordially, and instantly slip
ped off the overcoat and handed II to
him. together with the watch and chain.
Just keep those" he said, I'm going
to work up in the woods. Some time I'll
redeem them with the money owe you"
And he did.-Chicago Times Herald