The evening times., 1899-07-13
MIR. AIrer,s Position.

The Ohio editor who some time ago pre-
dicted that Alger would stay in the Cabinet
until he was good and ready to go, and
who made the ominous statement that Mr..
Mckinley dared not force him out, +"
seems to have spoken the words Of proph
ecy, based upon an intimate knowledge Of
the influences which made Alger member
of the Presidents official household.
The Secretary's attitude, as defined by
his latest denial of the we'll grounded re-
ports that Mr.. Mckinley was trying to
freeze him out, is one of bold defiance,
not only TO his party anG country. but TO
the President as well. Alger serves notice
on all of his critics that he will not retire
this year, certainly" and he cannot say
as to the future" This is tantamount TO a
declaration to the President by Alger, in
advance Of any formal action on the part
OF his chief, that no force must be en-
plcyed to put him out of the Cabinet
There can be no doubt at all of Mr.. McKin-
ley's desire to get rid of Alger. No further
evidence of this is needed than that the
President has taken directly upon himself
the administration Of the War Department
and the management Of this end of the
Philippine campaign. He has utterly ig-
nored Alger in the organization Of the new
regiments being formed to re-enforce Otis,
and seeks the advice OF others than Alger
in important matters affecting the new plan
OF military operations in the Orient. Mem
bers of the Cabinet who are known to be
close and congenial to Mr.. Mckinley snub
osC C,b d.a-
fence of him in private conversation with
those he characterizes as his critics. ~
. which class, il is needless to say, includes
every honest and well-informed citizen OF
the country, irrespective Of political affilia-
tion. The very fact that he was forced
by the President to attempt a reputation
OF his alliance with Pingree shows that
Alger is aware that Mr.. Mckinley is one
OF his critics"
Therefore when he defes his critics" to
"point TO one thing in his official career
he has done which he ought not to have
done, or to one thing he has not done
which he ought TO have DONE" Alger chaI-
lenges the President. Behind the chal-
lenge. OF course, is the coEardly threat
of connecting Mr.. Mckinley directly with
responsibility for the criminal mistakes
and blunders of the War Department dur
ing the past eighteen months, including
the humiliation of Miles, the protection Of
Carter, and such things. 1t is an insult
TO American manhood, an affront to the
dignity of the Office held by Mr.. Mckinley,
this Algerian defiance of the President
If ii accomplishes the desperate purpose
for which it is intended-the retention of
Alger in the Cabinet until he can retire
when not under fret will show Mr.
Mckinley to be in the most pitiful plight
that has ever befallen a President of the
United States. We have too much respect
for the Presidential Office to believe for an
instant that he is in the unhappy situa-
tion intimated by Alger. We, therefore
do not believe that Alger will be allowed
TO remain at the head of the War DEPART
ment until he voluntarily offers his resig-
naiton- We believe the President has
firmly resolved to get rid of him in the
interest OF his own Administration, and
in behalf of honesty and competency in
the management of what is now one OF
the most important departments of the
Government. And We believe the Presi-
dent will get rid of him just as soon as
he can induce some one capable. and in
whom the nation has confidence, to take
the War portfolio.