The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-22
PINGREE TALKS FOR ALGER.
MICHIGAN'S GOVERNOR STANDS
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.

Says Course Pursued by Mckinley
Was Little Less Than COwardIy
and Was Very UnmnnIy--AIger Told
the President Long Ago He Was
Ready to Resign, but Mckinley
Would Not Hear to It-Wants Mich
igan TO Uphold AI2er.
Detroi, Mch., July 2l.-Gov. Pingree TO-
day handed 10 the Associated Press a pre-
pared, signed interview, giving what the
Governor asserts TO be facts which are
absolutely reliable, tearing upon the refa-
tions between Gen. Alger and President
Mckinley with which the public are not
familiar"
Al The outset the Governor said: Il have
no hesitation in Saying that the course
pursued by the President In this matter is
little less than cowaIdly. 1t is. to say the
least, very unmanly."
Gov. Pingree said his information did
moi come from Gen. Alger, but from "one
whose nowledge of the facts cannot be
disputed"
Proceeding, he says that repeatedly since
the eastern newspapers began their at
tacks upon Secretary Alger, the secretary
informed the President that, If these press
comments embarrassed the administration
in the slightest degree, he would resign a
once, but the President as often protested
emphaticelly that he had the utmost con-
fideuce in Secretary Aiger and his conduct
of the war department, and that the coun-
try could not afford 10 lose his services.
The Governor says that a the time his
alleged alliance" with Gen. Ager was
announced and before his disavowal of
interviews criticising the President had
reached Washington, Gen. Alger told the
President that, upon the Presidents
slightest intimaton, he would resign, but
the President refused to entertain the
idea for a moment.
As to the "alleged alliance" being any
reason for asking for Gen. Ayers resig-
nation, Gov. Pingree says: Long before
my announcement that l would support
Gen. Alger for the Senate, Secretary of
State Hay, on June 2 last, requested Vice
President Hobart to intimate to Gen. AL
ger that his resignation would be accept
able to the President and would relieve
him of the embarrassment attacks of the
press upon the conduct of the war. Mr..
Hobart very properly declined to be a par
ty 10 such unmanly, not to say cowardly
proceeding and expressed his opinion in
terms decidedly vigorous.
After that Gen. Alger, entirely ignorant
of this miserable conspiracy several times
offered to end the attacks by submitting
his resignation, but still the President did
not have the courage TO express himself
to his secretary. Gen. Alger finally did
hand his resignation 10 the President to
take effect Jan. 2. The President dared
I
ask him to retire and give his reasons for
making the request. He finally accom-
pushed by indiTection what he dared not
do in an open and frank manner himself"
Gov. Pingree states that Mr.. Hobart was
finally prevailed upon by Attorney General
| Griggs to convey to the secretary the in
formal ton that his resignation was desir-
ed, and gave my alleged alliance with the
| secretary as the preteXt"
He adds: Il am told on the very best
authority that Gen. Alger made very few
appointments of officers during the war
and that The commissions were issued ell
most entirely upon the order of the Presi-
dent"
The Governor asserts that the most re-
cent attacks upon Alger We're caused by
his frank declaration of opposition to
trusts. and he adds that there IS de-
cided odor of trusts around the present adj
ministration, with Mark Hanna as the ac-
knowledged king maker
In conclusion the Governor calls upon
| Michigan people and newspapers to pro-
test against the injustice done the states
foremost representative in public hfe. It
is cOnjectured here that Brig. Gen Henry
M Dufield gave some of the foregoing
information, but the general declines TO be
interviewed.
Commenting on the whole matter the
| Governor says that Gen. Ayers sacrifice
was compelled by deE.ands of New York
politicians, backed by the "unscrupu!ous
and heartess press" He predicts that il
VIII be learned that the President himself
VIII be responsible for whatever mistakes
have been made in conducting the war"