Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-07-28

From our Regular Correspondent

not difficult to understand why the
President chose Mr.. Elihu Root, OF
New York, All eminent lawyer, TO sue
coed Secretary Alger, at the head %
the war Dep arimcnt. While this adj
ministration, as result Of the war
with Spain, has had more legal ques-
tions, and more difficult ones to deal
with than usually falls to the lot of :"
single administration, the present
Cabinet has less legal talent than al
most any Presidents Cabinet has cv-
er had. As it now stands, Secretary
Long ana Attorney General Griggs
are the only lawyers in the Cabinet
! S cretary Hay and Postmaster Gen
Smth,are newspaper men; Secretaries
GAGE and Hitchcock, are Business
men, and Secretary Wilson is prac-
teal farmer and agricultural expert.
Another good lawyer was needed
in the Cabinet, and President Mckin-
ley in common with nearly everybody
else, thinks that Mr.. Root will filllhe
bill, Ifpublic commentator counted
for anything it would be certain that
Secretary Root would become n very
popular official, but it will really de
pend largely upon what occurs III the
Philippines. If we win in all the fight
ing and no scandals develop in con-
nection with the army over there,
everybody will sing Secretary Roots
praises. But if things 90 wrong in any
way when there is fighting on hand,
the American people have habit as
old rs the government, Ofholding the
Secretary of war responsible, ana the
anew Secretary will have TO take his
chances. In any event he is not likely
to find the war Department bed OF
roses.
The President and Mrs. Mckinley
will 90 to lake Champaign this week,
for al indefinite stay, depending upon
Mrs. McKinley's health, which has
been in a very unsatisfactory condi-
ton simse her return from MasSachu-
sets, several weeks ago.
Gossip has it that the President,
with the assistance of Gen. Miles and
Gen Corbin,, is going to personally
direct military matters in the Philip
pines, leaving Secre tary Root a free
hand to handle the important semi
legal matters which are constantly
ceming up in consequence Ofour NIL
i,ary government Of Cuba and Porto
Rico. Tins may or may not be true,
but any plan depending upon the har-
monions working together of Gems.
Miles and Corbin, whose hatred for
each other was enc Of the principal
factors in all of Miles trouble with
the War Department, starts with
failure staring it in the face. Adult
ant Gen. COrbin has had the ear oil
Secretary Alger and Of the President,
ever since the war began, and has
been openly charged with missing no
opportunity 10 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 INN, he will have to
do it, but tho spirit with which lie
would enter such conferences might
be easily guessed.
A great many agree with "Corpo.
raj" Tanners summing mp of the fore
ing Of Secretary Alger, whose resig-
nation takes effect August l, out Of
the Cabinet-"Alger 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 Sys.
TEN changes, the trouble will 90 on"
That there is truth in this statement
of the case is known to every Eian
familiar with the War Department,
and that may be one reason why
uone Of the other members Of the
Cabinet were willing to become Sec
rotary of War. The only thing sur.
prising about Secretary Ayers resig
nation was that he stood the pres
sure as long as he did before banding
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.
Remarkable Rescue.
Mrs. Michael Curtain, Plainfeld.