New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-26
PINGREE-ALGER ALLIANCE.
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE SEQ.
RETARY OF WARS ACTION.
SPECULATION AS TO THE ADMINISTRA1
TONS COURSE 80 PINGREE's POWER
IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF. 4;
ALGER'S RESIGNATION
[BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE !

ALGER'S RESIGNATION
[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRrBUNE.l
Detroit. June 25.-The alliance between Cove
ernor Pingree and Secretary Alger for the pur.
pose OF defeating the reelection OF Senator
Mcmillan to the United States Senate was for
mally announced here last week, and continues.
in spite Of the fact that among well-informed
people IL was known to be impending for the
last six months to be the political sensation OF
the hour. A short year ago It would have been
a bold man who should have yentured to pre-
dict Pngree- -Alger coalition for any purpose
whatsoever The two men were known to hold
diametricay opposed views on most subjects.
political and financial The conversion, there.
fore. OF Secretary Alger to the somewhat radi-
cal views of Governor Pngree on trusts, taxa
tion Of the railroads and the election OF Sena.
tors by direct vote Of the people excites some
thing more than passing comment. II gives
rise to the fear that II Is the signal for the be-
ginning of faction fight which not only viii
threaten TO disrupt the party in the State. but
may likewise force the National Administration
in Washington. against its will, into taking
sides with either the other OF the con-
tending factions.
PINGREE RULING POWER IN STATE.
The political conditions in the State are Pc
cuar Though he calls himself Republican.
Governor Pingree Is a law unto himself. Party
platforms do not bind him. The wishes OF con-
ventions he ignores. Candidates for the Leg
isature must be loyal TO him first and to their
constituencies afterward. He exacts blind
obedience to his orders, and rules his following
in the most approved fashion OF benevolent
tyrant He is indeed, the ideal political boss"
Talk about the Quays the Platts. the Gormans'
Alongside of Pingree they are not "in It," lmas-
Inc a district convention in NewYork or Penn
sylvania after having chosen candidate for
the Legislature. told that its action must be
rescinded and So-and-So chosen. Here II IL Q
common occurrence, and what is more, so I'M
pcit is the faith Of the Pingreeites in the judg-
ment discretion and rectitude OF their leader
that they promptly and cheerfully coppy with
his least wish. His control over his followers
is indeed marvellous. 1t has no parallel in this
any other country.
Leaving out OF consideration the Democratic
organization, whose decline and fall might in
terestngly be set forth some day by our dis
tingushed fellow wtownsman Don NJ. Dickinson.
there is nothing to oppose the Pingree influence
except the old-line Republicans The organiza-
tion such as it is is in their hands, and hereto
fore that fact has been duly recognized by the
Administration in Washington. To illustrate
this it is necessary only to recall one Of the
chief grievances the Pingree people had against
President Mckinley in the campaign Of last
autumn. They charged not merely that Fed
eral appointments had been manipulated In the
interest OF Senator Burrows. but they insisted
that their pet scheme Of equal taxation"
beaten in the Legislature by the treachery OF a
single member who resigned his seat at a crit
ical time when his presence would have insured
the passage OF the measure. and whose act was
rewarded subsequently by his appointment to .
lucrative Federal office.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS COURSE.
In view of these facts, not yet forgotten by the
friends of the Governor there is some curiosity
to know what course the Administration in
Washington will hereafter follow. Will II con-
tinue to stand. as it has done so far here and
elsewhere, by the regular organization" or
will the conversion OF the Secretary involve
with ii the transfer of the Federal patronage
and sympathy from the followers or the two
United States Senators and most of the Repre-
sentatives in the lower branch OF Congress to
those of Governor Pingree? 1t is a question
which is already beginning to agitate the mind
of every practical" politician
The bitterness of last years conflict and the
desperate efforts made in the Legislature subse-
quently to defeat Burrows for re- election TO the
Senate foreshadow one Of the liveliest political
campaigns this autumn the State has yet seen
The Governor never does things by halves. and
he was never known to finch when 1t seemed
desirable to call spade a spade. In October
last he denounced Burrows in the most violent
language on the platform from which both were
speaking. He may be depended upon to
his mind in characteristic fashion on the subject
OF Mcmillan and his candidacy when the proper
time comes Indeed, as between Burrows and
Mcmillan he would much prefer to defeat the
latter for he not only represents but actually
is everything the Governor holds to be abb
horrent in politics and finance.
The claim put forth by Governor Pingree that
the election of Secretary Alger TO the Senate
would harmonic" the party arouses nothing
except merriment. AS long the Governor is
the party, or as long as Pingree is Pingree, COM
promise, reconciliation harmony, or-to
borrow the language OF diplomacy--a modus
vivendi is impossible. With Pngree IL is bend
or break. You must be either with him or
against him. Half measures or a conditional
support won't do. If the coalition with Alger
involves anything except an unconditional
render the part OF the Secretary that fact
has either escaped notice or been carefully sup
pressed. Hence 1t follows that an understand
ing with the old-time Republicans. except on
conditions laid down by the Governor-condi-
tions, II is needless TO say, which the two Sena-
tors could not accepts not within the range
OF human probabit 1t is, in fact an irt-
descent dream.