The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-11
FOR POLITICAL CAPITAL
ALGER's COMMENT AT HOME ON THE
CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
Not Surprising, He Says, that ga Few
Slips Have Been Made"-Win Re-
main in Detroit "a Week.

DETROIT Mich, Sept. 1O-Secretary
Alger arrived at the Michigan Central Sta
ton from the East at 9:45 to-day. Accom-
panying him were Mrs Alger and their
son, Capt. Fred Alger, who is gradually
recovering from fever contracted in Cuba;
also, Colonel Hecker and Major Hopkins,
the secretary's war aids, both Detrofters.
The general upon alghting first kissed
his little granddaughter and then warmly
greeted Governor Pingree To the report
er's question General Alger remarked that
all that he would say was that he was
glad to get home and especially to breathe
Michigan air again. The secretary was
then driven to his residence. accompanied
by Governor Pingree. After arriving home
General Alger said he intended to remain
until a week from tomorrow. Being asked
TO make statement for publication rela-
tive to the charges against his administra-
ton Of the War Department, the secretary
replied:
What do you mean to do? Get down in
the sewer with these sensational people?
They are not worrying me. There is moth
ing to the charges excepting somebody's
desire to make political capital The work
the department has had to do in so short
a time has been a very great tax. The COM
have had distribution of more than nine
hundred tons of provisions-rations and
forage-daily part of which has involved
transportation more than half around the
world. Il is not surprising that some few
slips have been emade.
Il have asked the President 20 appoint
the strongest commission possible to Sc
cure. to conduct an inquiry into the con-
duct of the war 1t will be made up Of some
of the ablest army officers and it's work
will be of the greatest Importance as ap-
piled to the past and as affecting the
future. Its greatest value will be in per-
fecting the entire organization of the army
and applying in this provision the lessons
of the past
The reception given to Secretary of War
Alger this evening by his fellow-citzens was
a huge success At o'clock the secretary
was escorted from his residence on Fort
street to the Light Guard armory by about
one thousand marchers, headed by the De-
troit battalions of the Michigan Naval Re-
serves and Company M, of the Thirty-third
Michigan Volunteers, the only Detroit COM
pany which participated in the Santiago
campaign. In addition to the military there
were several G. A. r. posts, headed by the
Detroit Post, and about two hundred of
the Detroit letter carriers.
Secretary Alger stood on the front steps
of his residence with Governor Pingree while
the procession passed in review. Then his
and other carriages brought up the rear of
the parade. The new Light Guard armory
had been respondent with flowers and bunt-
ing in honor of the secretary's reception.
The speakers stage was backed by an i'm
mense picture of the President fanked on
either side by broad expanse of red, white
and blue bunting. At the front of the stage
was a large picture of the secretary pref
THY decorated with smilax. When General
Alger Colonel Hecker Governor Pingree
and the other speakers of the evening as
cended the platform the audepce arose en-
masse and cheered for the secretary.
Governor Pingree, after he had opened the
meeting, turned it over to Hon. Alfred Rus
sell. who, in accepting, took occasion to
eulogize the secretary as an organizer of
victories Mr. Russell said that in Mlchi-
gan Secretary Alger needed no defenders
against the recent criticisms of his conduct
of the war; as his friends here do not be-
lieve them. Rev. Washington l. Gardner,
secretary Of state and widely known c. A.
r. veteran, followed Mr.. Russell and said
that in after years Secretary Alger would
take place as the great secretary of war.
A number of other Detroiters followed Mr..
Gardner in five-minute speeches. all eulogis-
tic of the general. Mr.. Russell then pre-
scented the guest of honor. the secretary
himself. General Alger said in part:
l thank God / am home again. / had not
expected such welcome, and my heart is
too full to be expressed in words. People
not actively in it can scarcely realize the
storm of the past few months. The or
ganizing of an army of 100000 men was
great task. That some things might have
been done better l have no doubt but as
regards the War Department. / ask the
world TO turn the strongest searchiight it
has upon it. / am making no defense as the
department has nothing to defend. In war
there are always Sickness DEATH wounds
and misery. but with one single exception
there has been no complaint to the depart
ment from the men in the field. The men
are all heroes, those who have spent their
time in the great camps in the South as
well as those who fought in the terrible
campaigns"
Secretary Alger praised the work of the
transportation department, of which Col.
Hecker, of Detroit, was at the head Major
Hopper, the secretary's aid, also came in for
share of the praise. Secretary Alger
facetiously remarking: 1--WE could not have
run the war without him.
The general asserted that no State had a
Governor who looked after his troops bet
ter and more actively than did Governor
Pingree. The reception closed with three
rousing cheers for 1.-The whole Michigan out
fit in the war" When the secretary began
his handshaking with the multitude he was
borne from the platform and thousands of
his fellow-toWnsmen Crashed his hand in q
manner which was anything but perfume
tory.
AIger Victim of Red Tape.
MANSFIELD, o.. Sept 1O.--The reception
which was accorded Secretary of War Al