The times., 1898-08-16
THE SECRETARY OF WAR
widespread Demand for General
A1ger,s Retirernepf

1t would be easy to fill a page with
extracts from editorial articles COMMENT
ing severely on the mismanagement of
the War Department in the war and de-
manding the retirement of Secretary AL
ger. On no other subject has the press
Of the country. regardless of politics,
been more harmonious. The sufferings
of our army at Santiago and after have
stirred UP the country to a degree of
anger rarely witnessed. William E. Cur
tis. Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Record, writes from Boston that
all New England is furious. as the SOL
diers return with tales of deprivation
and preventable Affections. The New
York Times more moderate In tone than
most says:
President Mckinley must th3t the work of
the War Department for some time to come.
possibly for years. is TO be OF a very important
difficult, and, to a great extent, novel charac-
ter. He ought also to that for this work
the department requires a very much better
head than Mr. Alger Mr. Mckinley
has allowed Mr.. Alger 10 remain in cffce FIR
too long, and at a terrible cost to the country
He should now let him go. If there be any
device by which the wretched mans feelings
can be saved, the country will. without being
deceived tolerate it. But it will not patiently
bear his retention.
Among hundreds cf comments. many
of which are unnecessarily harsh are
these:
The President should not wait until his hand
is forced. The suspension OF hcstiities furnishes
opportune occasion for change at the head
of the War Department. Though the war is
ended, a condition OF armed readiness must be
maintained until continued peace is assured.
Alger has proved himself equally incapable of
providing for the volunteers in camp or for sol
ders in the field Philadelphia Times.
Mr. Alger has completely muddled the affairs
of the department OF which he was unfortunately
appointed the responsible head. When he and
his political appointees relinquish cfice, it will
take experienced and competent men long
time to undo their mistakes, and the sooner
it is put out OF their power to make many
more, the lighter will be the task. Gems. Miles
and Merritt may be congratulated upon the
fact that they are where they are in spite
of Mr.. Ayers opposition. Transcript.
The lack of organization and executive ability
in the War Department was demonstrated anew
at Montauk, when. notwithstanding their coming
had been expected, sick soldiers were left with.
out food and compelled to sleep on the ground
1t would be interesting TO know how Secretary
Alger puts in his time--Chicago News
In the Franco-Prussian war the French depart
ment was full of Algers and Sternbergs and the
failure OF the supply department did its share
in demoralizing and defeating Napoeons army.
The Germans on the other hand had built up
an adequate system. and the correspondents
wrote of the perfection OF detail which made
it possible to have hot supper ready for the
troops at the end'cof every march.-Worcezter
Gazette. fNaI
There is no reason why Alger should remain
at the head of the War Department another
day. but there is every reason why he should
not. 1t is practically the unanimous wish of
the army that he should be made to give way
to more competent man.-Kansas City Times.
Ayers misnanagement of his cffice and his
use .of his position to inject politics. whenever
possible, into its affairs, have been the gsavest
scandals and perhaps the only ones, that have
clouded the conduct CT the In the work
OF military rehabilitation and ,readiustment rem
dered necessary by the new conditions which
arrive with peace, a man, the exact opposite in
character and aualifrations to Gen. Alger is de
manded by public ihtcrest.-St. Louis Republic