The San Francisco call., 1899-07-20

y ALL HEADQUARTERS, VEL
LINGTON HOTEL. WASHING
TON, July 1S.-Algerism is at last
~ at an end. Official ostracism, per
ststent and pointed. aided by the
sage advice Of Vice President Hobart,
has finally brought about the result so
urgently demanded by the counry-the
resignation Of Russell A AIger as Sec
retary Of War
The resignation was not voluntary
Had it not been rendered it would have
been requested.
The climax in the career of General
Alger as head of the War Department
came at the White House soon after
noon to-day. when the President de-
clined To carry any longer the heavy
load of the Secretary's ineffiCienCy. al
though the latter suggested means by
which he could be induced to remain
in the Cabinet This suggestion was
that the President should publicly an
nounce his satisfaction with General
Alger's conduct Of his department.
Plainly approaching the feeling of the
country. and believing that the public
interests demanded that there should be
at the head Of the War Department a
man Of vigcr and judgment, capable of
handling the Philippine situation, the
President. it is said. was compelled to
show General Alger that he could not
d as he desired
Thereupon General Alger informed
the President that his resignation was
at his disposal and produced a formal
letter Of resignation. which he had pre-
pared in anticipation Of the Presidents
decIination TO comply with his wishes,
the resignation TO take effect at the
pleasure Of the President
This dramatic scene will probably be
never accurately described. Secretary
Alger declined to speak Of what
passed between him and the President,
and referred all inquirers to the White
House for an explanation At the
White House requests for information
were met with the statement that
General Alger might have something
to say. It can be said authOritatively.
however. that the President made it
clear to-day that the chief cause Of his
desire for d severance of the official
relations existing between them was
the alliance General Alger had formed
with Governor Pingree.
The formal exchange Of letters
which will close Secretary Ayers CON
nection with the War Department will
be concluded with the Presidents ac-
ceptance Of the Secretary's resigna-
tion. IT is unlikely that this will give
any indication as to the exact reason
for action on either side.
in his last hours of political trouble
Secretary Alger turned to his great
and good friend, Vice President Ho-
bart. Upon pFetext of going to New
York to witness the yacht race, Secre-
tary Alger visited Vice President Ho-
bart and informed him of the trouble
in the Presidents official family. He
urged Vice President Hobart to use his
good offices with the President to the
end that he might remain in the Cabi-
net long enough to prepare his annual
report.
Secretary AIger, it is stated, drew
up provisional resignation on the
lines indicated and placed it in the
hands Of the Vice President. Either the
text or the distance of this provi-
sional resignation was conveyed to the
President, but it was not acceptable.
When Secretary Alger returned to
the department to-day, after his talk
with the President, he looked like a
man from whose mind weight had
been lifted. However, although he
must have felt the ignominy of being
practically dismissed from the Cabinet,
he did not show it to department Off
ciaIs nor TO his callers. Yet to his per-
sonal friends he expressed himself with
bitterness concerning the treatment he
had received. Outside of the matter of
personal pride, there is no question. that
he is glad he has resigned. and that
he can now retire TO private life to OBJ
tain the rest he needs
It was stated late tonight that the
President had not fully determined
upon a successor to Secretary Alger
but that the names receiving most
serious consideration at the present