The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-07-27
Washington Letter.
Washi ngton, July "a, 1899.

Ao""'
It is not difficult to understand why the
president chose Mr.. Elihu Root, of New
York, an eminent lawyer, to succeed
Secretary Alger, at the head of the war
department. While this administration,
as result of the war with Spain, has had
more legal questions, and more difficult
ones to deal with than usually falls to the
lot of a single administration, the present
cabinet has less legal talent than almost
any presidents cabinet has ever had. AS
it now stands, Secretary Long and At
torney General Griggs are the only law
yers in the cabinet. Secretary Hay and
Postmaster General Smith are newspaper
men; Secretaries Gage and Hitchcock,
are business men, and Secretary Wilson
Is practical farmer and agricultural ex-
pert Another good lawyer was needed
in the cabinet, and President Mckinley
in common with nearly everybody else,
thinks that Mr.. Root will fill the bill. II
public commendation counted for any
thing it would be certain that Secretary
Root would become very popular offici-
al, but it will really depend largely upon
what occurs in the Philippines. II we
win in all the fighting and no scandals
develop in connection with the army over
there, everybody will sing Secretary Roots
praises. Bet if things go wrong in any
way when there is fighting on hand, the
American people have habit, as old as
the government, of holding the secretary
of war responsible, and the new secretary
will have to take his chances. In any
event, he is not likely to find the war de-
partment bed of roses.
President and Mrs. Mckinley will go
to Lake Champlain this week for an in
definite stay, depending upon Mrs. Nc
Kinley's health, which has been in very
unsatisfactory condition since her return
from Massachusetts, several weeks ago.
Gossip has it that the president, with
the assistance of Gen. Miles and Gen.
Corbin, is going to personally direct mill
tary matters in the Philippines, leaving
Secretary Root free hand to handle the
important semi-legal matters which are
constantly coming up in consequence of
our military government of Cuba and
Porto Rico. This may or may not be
true, but any plan depending upon the
harmonious working together of Gems.
Miles and Corbin, whose hatred for each
other was one of the principal factors in
all of Miles trouble with the war depart
ment, starts with failure staring 1t in the
face. Adjutant Gen. Corbin has had the
ear of Secretary Alger and of the presi-
dent, ever since the war began, and has
been openly charged with missing no
opportunity to poison the minds Of both
of them against General Miles. OF course
If the president orders Gen. Miles to join
Gen. Corbin in conference with him, he
will have to do it, but the spirit with
which he would enter such conferences
might be easily guessed.
Admiral Dewey having cabled his ap-
proval of the plans submitted to him,
through the courtesy of Secretary Long,
of the Washington committee of 100 for
his reception to Washington and the pre-
sentation to him of the sword voted him
by congress, the committeeman are work.
ing to make the event a notable one, and
everybody seems disposed to help them.
No exact date can be set for the reception
yet, but in as much as this reception is to
be semi. official affair, participated in by
the president and his cabinet, and all the
prominent public men who happen to be
in Washington, at the time, strong effort
will be made to get the admiral to come
direct to Washington, without stopping
in New York, and let the Washington
reception be the first he receives in the
country, and the chances favor success,
as both the president and secretary of the
navy personally favor that idea. How
ever, the matter will be decided by the
admiral alone, as no orders will be issued
to influence him.
A great many agree with "Corporap
Tanners summing up Of the forcing of
Secretary Alger, whose resignation takes
effect August /, out of the cabinet-"Al-
ger passes, but the trouble continues.
Other mistakes will come in the conduct
of the war department. Reflective minds
will see then that he was not to blame.
The fact is, the trouble Is imbedded in
the system, which is travelling In the ruts
of antiquity. Until the system changes,
the trouble will go on" That there is
truth In this statement of the case Is
known to every man familiar with the
war department, and that may be one
reason why none of the other members of
the cabinet were willing to become secre-
tary of war. The only thing surprising
about Secretary Alger's resignation was
that he stood the pressure as long as he
did before handing it to the president
Those who had seen similar fights made
upon cabinet officers had been predicting
for months that he would be bound to
resign eventually.