West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-08-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS AFRAID
THAT ALGER WILL TELL TALES
OUT OF SCHOOL.
The New War Secretary Merely Legal
Adviser to The Adjutant General
Correspondence for the Argus.

/ Correspondence for the Argus.
WAsHiNeroS, d. C. July 81, 1899.
That the administration fears
Alger and the disclosures he may
make after next Tuesday, when he
will turn the War Department
over to Mr.. Ehhu Root who will
become Secretary OF War on that
day, is shown by the frequency
with which lending supporters Of
Mr.. McKinley's policy arc giving
interviews to newspapers jollying
Alger along ss the victim Of persc-
cution, and predicting that time
will Vindicate him and his ad minis
tration OF the War Department.
The object OF these interviews is to
keep Ayers mouth shut. Whether
the ruse will succeed only time can
tell. For months Alger's personal
friends and hangers on have been
making threats as to what he
"NNiN VIZ IL ho was lOtCSu Oub Ol
the Cabinet, and intimating that
he could tell things that would
SHIFT responsibility which he had
been made to bear to other should
ets. 1t is now up to Alger and he
must show whether there was
foundation for those threats or
whether they were merely part Of
bluffing game he played to try to
remain in the Cabinet, after he
knew that he was expected to get
out. Another scheme is also being
worked to keep Alger quiet through
the pockets OF himself and friends.
Ii has been limited to him that
some Cubans and Porto Rlcan
business in which he and his
friends are financially interested
will be Knocked out IL he attempts
to smirch the administration, while
they will be- left alone If he keeps
mum about administration secrets.
TIT
The Navy Department seems
also to have some fake experts. In
order to prevent the bAttleships
Ohio, Missouri, and Maine, now
being built, drawing so much
water that they could not enter
half Of our largest seaports, it has
been found necessary to change
their plans, by substituting IL
inch for 10 in oh armOr aud IL inch
guns for l3 inch guns.
TIL
Representative Clayton, Of Ala,
attended the recent meeting OF the
Democratic National Committee,
OF which he Is q mem Der, and
while in Warrington, this week,
he talked very interestingly of po-
litical matters. For instance, he
said: IL learned while in Chicago
that Bryan would be delegate to
the next National Democratic Con-
vention, and do not violate any
confidence In saying that if future
developments should give 9 pc
cnlisr emphasis to any public
| question, and should lead a major
ity OF the delegates to regard any
other faithful democrat as better
fitted TO lead the party, Mr.. Bryan
will arise in his place in tho Con
vention and support that caudi-
date. | know that he has no
selfish purposes to serve, and re-
CARDS victory for the party as
paramount TO any ambitions which
he may have. look upon Bryan's
denomination as foregone con
clusion. He has the confidence of
the common democracy Of the
country, as no other man has OF
could have. The democratic
masses support him without regard
TO section. lie is stronger than
any faction OF the party, and can
come nearer TO uniting all the ele-
meuts Of the party than any other
man."
TIT
II Secretary Root is to DO only
the legal adviser OF tho War De.
partmont, who is going to direct
it's military affairs? That is
likely to become an important
question when active operations in
the Philippines begin again. Gen.
Miles would be tho proper ofioial,
bnt there is nothing in eight to in-
dlcate that he is To be allowed any
more authority than he has welded
since Adjutant General Corbin be
gan, at The opening Of the var with