The San Francisco call., 1899-07-03
CLAIMS He HAS
BEEN M|SQUOTED
Governor Pingree's Let
ter to Alger.
AN AVOWAL OF FRIENDSHIP
RoASTS SENATORS MCMILLAN
AND BURROWS.
Regrets the Treatment He Has Re
ceived and Promises to Sup
port Mckinley if he Is
Renominated.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

DETROIT. July 2-Governor Pin
gree tonight dispatched a letter to
Secretary Alger, brought out by criti-
cisms of the Secretary and numerous
comments recently published concern
ing the agreement made by the Cover
nor to support the Secretary in his
campaign for the United States Sena-
torship. The letter is as follows:
My Dear General: I subscribe to a clip
ping bureau and | have, within the past
few days been receiving large numbers of
clippings from newspapers published in
every part of the country, containing
what purports to be an interview with me
in which criticisms of the present admin
fstrat1on are put in my mouth. l am as
tonished at the circulation and credence
which this alleged interview has received.
| would not take cognizance of it, were
1t not for the fact that it seems to have
been so widely circulated and also for the
have yet to learn that what is termed po-
litical news and opinion are as unreliable,
inaccurate and preJudiced as the newspa-
per mans ingenuity and cunning can
make them. 1t did not seem to me neces-
sary to deny the interview l would not
give 1T any thought whatever, were it not
for the fact that 1t is made the basis of a
petty and mean-spirited attack upon you,
which is, however, but natural product
of small-caliber intellects.
The Interview to which I have re-
ferred is pure fabrication. There is
not single sentence in it which was
spoken by me. 1t is the invention of a
reporter, who may or may not have been
acting under instructions from his chief.
l have at different times expressed my
opinion OF the necessity for the war in
the Philippines. 1 have, in common with
thousands of others in the country, dis
approved of it, and have had no hesita-
tion in giving my views whenever L have
been asked for them. l voted for Nc
Kinley, and l have had no cause what
ever to regret it. If he is q candidate
again will take pleasure in giving him
my support.
1t has always seemed to me that the
criticism by New York newspapers of
the management of the War Department
has amounted to condemnation not only
of the President, but of the entire Cab
met. 1t is well known that no important
step Is taken without the concurrence, or
at least the advice of the President and
the Cabinet. l am well satisfied that the
attack upon the War Department is moth
ing but a Cunningly conceived plot to
create vacancy TO be filed by New
York politician. Already New York
newspapers are discussing the diStribu-
ton of the patronage of the department.
The other papers of the country have
simply repeated what the New York
newspapers have said.
OF course, 1t is not surprising that
Senator Mcmillan and his me, too"
Senator Burrows, have Joined in the con-
temptible scheme TO discredit and defame
the War Department. In so far as the al
legged alliance" with you is concerned, L
can freely and frankly say that none has
been made. As you are already aware, l
simply proffererd you my support in your
candidacy for United States Senator, and
only wanted to know whether you were in
favor of an amendment to the the Consti-
the election of United States Senators by
direct vote OF the people 1 was glad to
be advised by you that you fayGfed the
these things was made the condition of
my support: In common with thousands
of other Michigan people, l merely Of
Tered TO assist you.
If anything, l have protited by 1t politi-
cally, because the American people de-
test cowardly methods of fighting.
The language which is attributed to me
in the false interview in which | am made
TO criticize and abuse the administra lion
should have concerned the interview as
a fabrication at sight. But even more alb
Surd is the statement made by the press
that l was an avowed candidate for the
Republican nomination for President at
the next nauonal convention; that you
have made an alliance with me- and that
therefore, you have practically declared
and should retire from his Cabinet Of
course such a statement is too silly to be
entitled to serious attention 1t is surfi-
cient to say to you that | have not and
never did entertain the remOtest intention
of becoming a candidate for the Presi-
dency The story is only another inven-
tion of Michigan newspapers.
/ think the time is not far distant when
public opinion will compel newspapers to
be fair and decent in their treatment Of
men in public life. Until it does. l am con
vinced that the only course to pursue is to
ignore their malicious attacks ATTEMPTS
to correct their reports only result in pro
voking a more liberal outpouring of ed-
torial venom. After all, it is well to re-
member that newspaper represents the
opinion of only one man. and that his
opinion is undoubtedly influenced by every
motive except a desire to do full Justice
The time is not far distant when the peo-
pie will awake to this fact, and when they
do Aere will be a radical change in the
the country, and especially in their treat
ment of public men.
Regretting if the unwarrantable Der
ties taken with my name have caused
you any embarrassment, l am, yours very
sincerely,
HAZEN S. .PINGREE.