The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-20
THE CAUSES OF THIS STEP
RELATIONS BETWEEN AIAGE!
AND kI\LEY STRAINED.
ALGER's CANDIDACY FOR StNATORSnP
his Doubt, IS Made his Longer Stay in the
Cabinet Undesirable. Especially as he
Enlisted in his Service Gov.
Plngree of Michigan.

Washington. July 19.-Secretary Alger
today rendered to the President his resig-
nation of the War Portfolio. THE resig-
nation will become effective August 1st.
though it was rendered "at the pleasure
of the President"
successor. But it is entirely speculative.
for notwithstanding the reports that Mr..
Alger would not long continue at the
mead of the War Department his actual
| resignation came suddenly and unexpect-
edly. So little was it expected at this
time that some of the Cabinet officers,
when the news first became public were
inclined to regard the announcement as
premature. Formal acceptance of the
resignation had not been made by the
President mp to a late hour tonight, but
will be in letter to be written within
the next day or two. No official state
ment as to the cause of the resignation
was procurable either from the President
or from Secretary Alger, neither of whom
would talk on the subject. Nor was the
letter of resignation obtainable at this
time. For the present nothing will b.,
made known officially concerning the
severance of the official relations between
the President and his War Minister. but
later on. the correspondence closing the
latter's career as Chief of the War De
parfment doubtless will be given to the
I press.
J The belief had prevailed in Washing
ton for some time that Secretary Alger
would resign from the Cabinet, but the
date generally set for it was toward
the close Of the war after he had sub
mitted his annual report, in which he in
tended to sum up what had been accom-
plished during his brief. but eventful di-
rection of the War Department. It's
tender then had been regarded as almost
Il foregone conclusion in view of Mr..
l-Alger's announcement about Il month
ago that he had concluded to enter into
| competition for the vacancy in the Uni
ted States Senate to succeed Senator
Mcmillan, strong supporter of the Ad-
ministration and that he had enlisted in
his active support Gov. Pingree. to whom
had been attributed free criticisms of
the policy that was supposed to be cher
ished by the President toward the Fill
pinOs. There have been many eXplana-
tions and denials of the facts in the case
but in the end the impression was CON
veyed that the result of the Michigan
candidacy of the Secretary had been to
change the relations between the Presi-
dent and himself to- such degree as to
make q restoration Of their former status
impossible and to render the connection
of the two as part Of the same official
family undesirable. AT one time since
then there was ground for the belief that
Il rupture might be avoided. but this be-
lief ceased to be hold when the news
spread that Vice President Hobart and
Secretary 4Alger Were i'm conference mt
Normanhurst. 1t was largely at least rs
a result of tnls conference that Secretary
Alger decided to leave the Cabinet at
this time. AT this conference there were
present besiue Secretary Alger. his mill
tary aide and close personal and political
friend and advisor Maj. Hopkins, and
perhaps some other persons or person
VINO also felt deep interest in the fu
ture OF the Secretary.
Among the names which have been
mentioned from time to time in this dis
cussion when talk OF Secretary Ayers
Forthcoming esignation has been rife
have been those OF General Horace Por-
ter. of New York, now Ambassador to
France: Governor Roosevelt, of New
York; General Harrison Graves and As
sistant Secretary Meikeljohn. The name
of Gen. Corbin has been mentioned in
connection with an ad interim appoint
ment pending the selection of a perma-
nent occupant of the office. This gossip
also included questions of locality, and the
| opinion was expressed in some well-post-
ed quarters that the selection would be
made from the West. All this, however.
is mere speculation, and it seems proba-
BILE from the fact that the resigna tion
was submitted only today that the Presi-
dent has not yet had time to canvass the
situation and make a selection.
AS to the report that Gen. Corbin
would be Secretary ad interim. an Off
Ger close to the General said there was
no basis for the report; that the Presi
dent had never contemplated naming
Gen. Corbin ad interim. and that if such
appointment were rendered it would not
be accepted.
There was some talk also that Gen
Corbin might be given the portfolio per-
manently, although this was regarded rs
improbable even among Gen. Corhin's
friends There would he precedent for
such course. however, as in the case of
Gen. Schofields Cabinet service.
There has been no disclosure of what
was passed by the seaside, but it is sig