Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-21

ONLY HIS OWN BURDEN TO
CARRY.
WASHINGTON. July 2O.-Secretary
Alger will relinquish the war port
folio before August /. He called upon
President Mckinley at the White
House shortly before noon to-day, and
was with him for few miutes. When
he left he appeared to be in excellent
spirits. His face was wreathed in
smiles, as he expressed TO several
newspaper men who had gathered
about him his appreciation of their
good wishes.
You feel relieved of a great bur-
den?" one of them suggested.
Yes, l do replied the secretary
Hereafter l will only have my own
burden to carry"
The secretary said that he would re-
linquish his portfolio as soon as the
pending routine matters of the depart
ment were cleared up, and Assistant
Secretary MeilSlejohn, to whom the
war Office is TO be turned over pending
the appointment of Gen. Ayers sue
cessor is ready to assume charge.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn wired
this morning that he would be back on
Saturday. Il shall retire before August
l." said the secretary. Gen. Alger
said he would go back to Michigan and
for the present, at least, devote his at
tention to his health. The secretary
said he knew nothing about his sue
cessor. Asked as to whether he would
press his senatorial candidacy. the
secretry replied: Il cannot tell now"
Postmaster General Smith saw the
President to-day. AS he left the White
House he gave an emphatic denial TO
the suggestion of his possible trans
feral to the war office. 81 have troubles
enough of my own" he said smiling.
Secretary Alger was an hour late in
reaching his onlce this morning. lie spent
spondence at his residence There wero
more than the usual number of kilograms.
Every member Of the Secretary's family
outside of Washington wired approval OF
his action yesterday, and also the Secre-
tary himself did not exhibit any Of the
others, there IS reason to believe they in
cluded messages from persons very prom
inent IN political life.
arrived "A Iie Of
fee he entered Immediately into confer
ence with Adjt Gen Corbn and Mai. Hop
kins Senator Fairbanks also called. He
was taken into the private office. and half
an hour was spent in conference.
During the morning, Maj. Prudeu, assist
ant private secretary to the President.
called at the Department to see tho Sec
rotary and the impression prevailed that
he had brought with him the Presidents
letter OF acceptance OF Secretary Ayers
resignation. This turned out to be an err
ror and up to noon, at which hour the
Secretary left the Department for his
home the Presidents letter had not been
received.
While it has not been definitely decided,
Il Is probable that Secretary Alger VIII
relinquish his duties early next week, per-
maps on mDIudS.
The most absorbing and generally dis
cussed topic here to-day was the choice Of
a successor TO Secretary Alger.
Many names were mentioned in the spec
ulation but It can be stated with author
ity that as yet the President has made no
selection Both Secretary Long and POST
master General Smith. who we're with the
President for short time. expressed The
belief that no member OF the cabinet would
care TO be shifted TO the War Department.
Among the many names most PROMINENT
Is mentioned was that Of Gen. Horace
Porter ambassador to France
Senator Thurston, Of Nebraska, called at
the White House during the day and urged
the promotion OF Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn
Nearly every general who figured in The
recent war has been mentioned a. pos
sibllity, the name OF Gen. James II. Wiz
son being the most prominent ia this class
A strong belief Is expressed in certain
circles that the successor Of Mr.. Aiger VIII
come from New York. In this connection
the name Of Mr. EHhu Root mas been sug-
gestcd A high administration official
said to-day that the rext Secretary ~ War
will not only Be "A New Yorker but law
yer as well. The authority for this state
ment was in consultation with the Presi-
dent to-day and state that while it may
be said that as yet the selection has not
been finally passed upon. New York, now
without representation has the strongest
claim for recognition.