The Mena star., 1899-07-20
Major General Commanding Does Duty as Acting Secretary in
 Secretary Alger's Absence.
THE WARDNER STRIKE DISCUSSED.
Senators Carter and Heitfeld Have an In- terview With the President on the Mat ter-Surgeon General vaughan's Pre- Iiminary Report on the Tuberculosis Congress--Tbe Dewey Home Fund.


 Washington, July i9. The presump- ton is that the president has issued a plain order regarding the war depart ment. An abrupt and radical change took place there yesterday On Satur- day Gen. Miles, by virtue of his rank as major general commanding" was the 'sacting secretary of war" But he was only that nominally. The off cial mail of the secretary of war was withheld from him. If any need arose for instructions the wires were used be- tween Washington and Long Branch. Secretary Alger was communicated with. Gen. Miles sat in his .'headquar- ters" as unoccupied as he has been since the court of inquiry reported that his beef charges were baseless. Yes terday morning, immediately upon the opening of the department. new or der of things went into effect. Gen. Miles, through some mysterious infiu- ence, was at once recognized as tact ing secretary" His desk was piled high with letters, and he was kept busy attaching his autograph to requisi- tions and other routine papers. Army officers were very reticent, but the inn pression was not entirely concealed that the president had reversed the secretary and had insisted that Miles should be recognized as "acting secre- tary."
 The Wardner Strike Discussed.
 Washington. July 19.-President Me Kinley yesterday was called upon by Senator Carter. of Montana, and Sena- tor Heitfeld, of Idaho, accompanied by Edward Boyce, of Butte, Mont, presi- dent of the Westers Fedk ratioa or Miners, and W. R. Goldensmith, secre- tary of the local miners union at Wardner, Ida. The last named gen tlemen are committee representing the miners lately engaged in the strike at Wardner. which are protesting against the calling out of the troops under Gen. Merriam at the request of the governor of Idaho. The interview with the president lasted some time and the entire situa- tion was thoroughly discussed. The committee informed the president that the presence of troops had been repre- sented in false light and added that, in their opinion, the federal authority was being used in an illegitimate man. ner. The president told the committee that the troops had been sent only upon the request of the governor and were there for no other purpose than to pre- serve the peace. After the interview both members of the committee ex- pressed themselves as entirely satisfied with the attitude of the administration, which. they asserted, had been misrep- resented by the local authorities.
 Report on Tuberculosis Congress.
 Washington, July 19.-Surgeon Gen eral George Fully Vaughan. of the marine hospital service, who was de- tailed as d representative of the United States government at the tuberculosis congress, recently held at Berlin, has returned to this city and in Il prelim- mary report says:
 The object of the congress was to bring to- gether men from all parts of the world to dis cuss the best methods of combating the spread of tuberculosis. The congress was held under the protectoratc of the Empress Frederick. and the president was the duke of Ratibor. Many papers were read in discussing the disease from all standpoints, and, while there vas some dif- ference of opinion as to the value Of medicines and serums, there wiss practically unanimity as to the importance of sanitariums in the treat ment and cure of tuberculosis and the preven- tion of the disease by sanitary regulations as to food dwellings nnd the disposal of sputa.