Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-21
Gov. Pingree Assails the President in
Alger's Defense.
ACCUSES HIM OF COWARDICE
Would Not Accept Secretary's
Resignation When Offered.
ALLEGED INSIDE HISTORY

DETROIT, Mich July 21-Gov Pingree
today handed to the Associated Press a
prepared, signed interview, giving what
| the governor asserts to be facts which
are absolutely reliable, bearing upon the
| relations between Gen. Alger and Presi-
| dent Mckinley, with which the public
are not familiar
AT the outset the governor says: II have
no hesitation in saying that the course
pursued by the President in this matter
is little less than cowardly. 1t is, to say
the least, very unmanly."
Gov. Pingree said his information did
not come from Gen. AIger, but from lone
| whose knowledge of the facts cannot be
disputed
Proceeding. he says that repeatedly since
the eastern newspapers began their at
tack upon Secretary Alger, the Secretary
informed the President that if these press
comments embarrassed the administration
in the slightest degree, he would resign
at once, but the President as often pro-
tested emphatically that he had the ut
most confidence in Secretary Ager and
his conduct of the War Department, and
that the country could not afford to lose
his services.
The governor says that at the time his
alleged alliance" with Gen. Alger was
announced and before his disavowal of
interviews criticising the President had
reached Washington Gen. Alger told the
President that upon the slightest intima-
ton he would resign, but the President
refused to entertain the idea for mo-
ment.
Concerning the Alleged Alliance.
AS to the alleged alliance being any
reason for asking for General Algers resig-
nation, Governor Pingree says: Long be-
fore my announcement that [ would sup
port General Alger for the Senate Secre-
tary of State Hay, on June last, requested
Vice President Hobart to intimate to Cen
eral A1ger that his resignation would be ac-
ceptable to the President, and would relieve
him from the embarrassing attacks of the
press upon the conduct of the war Mr..
Hobart very properly declined to be
party to such an unmanly, not to say cow
ardly, proceeding, and expressed his optn-
ion in terms decidedly vigorous.
After that General Alger entirely igno-
rant of this miserable conspiracy, several
times offered to end the attacks by sub
mitting his resignation, but still the Presi-
dent did not have the courage to express
himself to his Secretary, General Alger
finally did hand his resignation to the
President, to take effect January 2.
The President dared not face the general
in a manly way and ask him to retire, and
give his reasons for making the request
He finally accomplished by indirection what
he dared not do in an open and frank man
ner himself"
Governor Pingree states that Mr. Hobart
was finally prevailed upon by Attorney
General Griggs to convey to the Secretary
that his resignation was desired, and gave
my alleged alliance with the Secretary as a
preteXt."
Demanded by New York Politicians.
Commenting upon the whole matter, the
governor says that the generals sacrifice
was compelled by demands of New York
politicians, backed by the ''unscrupulous
and heartless press He predicts that it
will be learned that the President himself
has been responsible for whatever mis-
takes have been made in conducting the
war"
He adds: 81 am told on the very best
authority that Gen. Alger made very few
appointments of officers during the war,
and that the commissions were issued al
most entirely upon the orders of the Presi-
dent
The governor alleges that the mora re-
cent attacks upon Alger in the east were
caused by his frank declaration of opposi-
tion to trusts, and adds that there is a
decided odor of trusts around the present
administration, with Mark Hanna as the
acknowledged king maker"
In conclusion, the governor calls upon
Michigan people and newspapers to pro
test against the injustice done the state $
foremost representative in public life. 1t
is conjectured here that Brig Gen. Henry
NJ. Duftield gave some of the foregoing in
formation but the general declined to be
interviewed.
Chase S. Osborn, state railroad commits
sioner, who is reputed to be Gen. Ayers
representative in preparing for the sena-
torlal campaign, spent several hours last
night at the governors residence, suppos-
ably assisting in preparation of the gov
ernors statement.