The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-21
ALGER SEEMS 10 LIKE 1T.
THE GAME WAS APPARENTLY NOT
WORTH THE CANDLE.

The Secretary Feels Relieved of n
Great Burden and Says Hereafter
He VIII Have Only His own to
Bear-iiis Resignation and the
Presidents RepIy-EIihu Root Is
strongly Mentioned for Succession
to the Department..
! Washington, July 20.-Secretary Aiger
will relinquish the war portfolio before
Aug. l. He called upon President McKin-
ley al the White House this morning short
ly before noon and was with him for few
minutes. When he left he appeared to be
in excellent spirits. His face was wreathed
with smiles as he expressed to several
nwapaper men who gathered about him
his appreciation of their good wishes.
You feel relieved of a great burden"
one of them suggested.
'Yes, do" replied the secretary. Here
after l will only have my own burden to
carry"
| The secretary said that he would relin-
| qulsh his portfolio as soon as the pending
! routine matters of the department were
/ cleared up and Assistant Secretary Meikle-
! john, to whom the war Office is to be turn
ed over pending the appointment of Gen
Ayers successor, is ready to assume
charge. Mr.. Meiklejohn wired this morn
ing that he would be back on Saturday
Il shall retire before Aug l." said the
| secretary. Gen. Alger said he would go
back to Michigan, and for the present
a least, devote his attention to his health
| The secretary said he knew nothing about
his successor. Asked as to whether he
would press his senatorial candidacy. the
secretary replied: Il cannot tell now"
The Correspondence.
The following Is Secretary Alger's let
ter of resignation and the Presidents re-
ply to it:
July 10, 1899 Sir: I beg to tender to
you my resignation of the office of Secre-
| tary of War to take effect at such time
in the near future as you may decide the
| affairs of this department win permit.
In terminating my official connection
with your administration l wish for you
continuous health and The highest meas
ure Of success in carrying out the great
work entrusted to you
Il have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servant
"R. A. Alger."
ITO the President"
| The President replied:
Executive Mansion, Washington, July
20, 1S99.-Hon r. A. Alger, Secretary of
War: Dear Sir-Your resignation of the
office of Secretary of War, under date of
July 19, is accepted 10 take effect the first
| of August, 1899.
In thus severing the official relation
| which has continued for more than two
| years, l desire 10 thank you for the fGith-
| full service you have rendered the country
at a most exacting period and to wish you
| bannV 0as
! of high regard and esteem, l am, yours
sincerely. William Mckinley"
Secretary Alger maintained the same
! reticence to-day that he adopted yester-
day after the resignation had been pre-
sented He would make no statement. and
! every inquiry was met with the declara-
| ton that this same silence would be pre-
| served so long as he was a member of the
| cabinet.
| Question of Succession.
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 speculation,
| but it can be stated with authority that
| vet the President has made no selection.
| Both Secretary Long and Postmaster Cen
eral Smith who were with the President
for a snort time expressed the belief that
no member OF the cabinet would care 10
! be shifted to the war department.
mentioned was that of Gen. Horace Por-
ter. ambassador to France. Senator
! Thurston of Nebraska called at the White
| House during the day and urged the pro
motion of Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn.
Nearly every general who figured in the
recent war has been mentioned as posi-
! bility, that of Gen. James II. Wilson being
! about the most prominent in that class.
! A strong belief expressed in certain cir
| cles is that the successor Of Mr.. Afger viii
| come from New York. In this connection
! the name of Mr.. Elihu Root has been
| suggested. high administration official
| said to-day that the next Secretary OF War
wiz not only be q New Yorker, but a law
ver as we'll The authority for this state
! ment was in consultation with the Presi-
dent to-day and stated that, while it may
! lie said that the selection has not yet been
finally ragssd upon, New York, now with
/ oIl representa- ion, has the strongest claim
! for RECOGNITION. The belief gained strength
| that Mr.. Root would lie rendered the port
| folio.