The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-15
NNG0 IN TBE CABINET.
General Alger Has Been the War
Member of That Body.
WISE AND PRACTICAL ADVISER.
Interesting Facts Concerning the Reia-
tions of Senator Hanna and the Presi-
dent-A Crank with . Cane--Peculiar
Phases OF the spanish Agitation.

hAohiNUiONi ApIll 10 = lCpStihi. =
There Is one member of President Mckin-
ley's cabinet who feels that he has been
vindicated by recent events General Alger,
the secretary of war, has from the first be-
lieyed that we were sure TO have aserlous
time with Spain. He said so last summer
when the presidents policy Of pressing
Spain up TO the point of surrendering
Cuba by series of steps and pressures
was first formulated, and he has never
wavered In his belief. So believing, he
has argued for aggressive action not be-
cause he wanted war, but because he be-
lieyed trouble was inevitable, and he
wanted to got through with 1t as quickly
as possible.
Vigorous War Secretary.
On account of his conviction, his strong
love for liberty and his keen sympathy
with any people struggling for freedom,
Secretary Alger has for months been
known as the LINGO member of the cabi-
net" am not aware that General Alger
has ever been disinclined to accept this
title. He has not been rampant for war,
unreasonable and excitable, but he has
steadily maintained digniled belief that
war was coming and that the best thing
wa could do was to shape our policies to
that end. How much credit should be
given to General Alger for his foresight
for his early and constant urging that the
government should take time by the fore
lock and prepare for the worst, so that
were war to come IL might be quickly dis
posed of with a triumph Of our arms, / do
not pretend to know, but the gossip in
Washington Is that he has been of inestt-
mable service to bis country In this re-
spect. He has b66n besides wise and
practical adviser, stanch supporter OF
the president at all times and most
effective and vigorous secretary Of war.
There has been SO much gossip about
Senator Hanna q attitude during the Span
ish crisis that feel like telling q few in
teresting facts which have come to my
ears. 1t is not my business to defend Mr..
Hanna. but IL is worth while to repeat a
description of him which heard from the
lips of member of the cabinet.
senator Hanna's Attitude.
"Mr Hanna is much misunderstood,
said this cabinet officer. she makes no
effort to run the president. Mr.. Hanna
looks up to the president as a great big
man. He has not that boundless conf
dence In himself which would enable him
TO do anything more than to offer his
opinions in a respectful way. No man
who comes in contact with President Nc
Kinley could take any other view of him.
The president encourages frank expression
of opinion, but he has a dignity and a
bearing through which no sensible man
would attempt to thrust impertinent or
insistent influence. Mr.. Hanna, / hap
pen to know, has been very careful in all
this. He has recognized the president not
only as his official but as his intellectual
superior and has always conducted him
self properly and as u man should in the
presence of the president of the United
States.
Moreover, 1 am able to say" con-
tinued this cabinet man, "that Mr.. Han
mas companionship and advice-for the
Ohio senator is a companionable man and
one of strong, good sense-the president
greatly appreciates. He has never shown
the slightest irritation about 1t; quite the
contrary. This Is tho best proof in the
world that Mr.. Hanna has kept his place,
like a gentleman, for any one that knows
William Mckinley as i know him is aware
that any other conduct would be quickly
resented. There have been a great deal of
misunderstanding about this Hanna mat
ter and no end of lying and malice. Mr..
Hanna has not been a peace at any price
man at all. On tho contrary, his hobby
has been that the president should be let
alone to work out the problem In his own
way.
That Senator Hanna is man of cour-
age know. One day, not long ago, the
Ohio senator was walking down the
street when he was accosted by specimen
of the genus crank, who wanted to take
the senator to task about the silver ques-
IL h. haA
a number of letters advising him what to
do about silver and outlining most elab-
crate programme for the Republican par
ty. To these long and impractical com.
munications the senator had not given a
reply, SO the letter writer came up to Ham
ma In an insulting and offensive manner,
and when he was told to be a little moro
| civil in his talk he raised a big cane
which he was carrying, stepped in front
| of tho senator and threatened him with
personal chastisement then and there.
/ Hanna did not finch. He seized the man
| by the shoulders, shook him a bit, looked
| him In the eye and told him that he was
making a fool of himself and that the
| best thing he could do was to make of
| with himself as fast as possible. Some
what to Mr.. Hanna's surprise, the crank
| accepted this advice and vamoosed.
| Unjust Suspicious.
One Of the peculiar phases Of this whole
Spanish agitation has been the suspicious
ness and abuse so rampant In certain cir
cles. Public men, even the president OF
the United States, have been charged with
all sorts Of crime and trickery. II one
were to believe half he hears, there are
few honest men In Washington, but all
are looking after army contracts or are
trying to work the stock market. / am
not q hero worshiper, and / try to keep
my ears and eyes open, but must confess
that, although tolerably familiar with
what Is going on, have seen very little
indeed upon which to base such accusa-
tions. / give 1t as my conviction that not
one man in ten suspected of being stock
speculator in these trying times has any
thing whatever TO do with stocks. Two
Instances come TO my mind-Senators
Elkins and Hanna. Both have been
charged with speculation, but well
known broker who knows about all the
speculation going on in town tells INC
that neither Elkins nor Hanna speculates
at all. And so 1t goes.