The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-07-22
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER
THE LAST or ALGER AS SECRETARY
OF WAR.
Republicans Working to Prevent
Bryan's Nomination by DEM
ocrats.
Washington, JulY II, 1so0.

OF his determination to remain in
the Cabinet until after the first of
next January were not humilia-
tion enough for Mr.. Mckinley,
Secretary Alger has actually had
the gall to demand of Mr.. Nc
Kinley that he make public
statement denying that he would
like Alger's resignation. This is
what the boys call rubbing it
in" on Mr.. Mckinley, but those
who think that Mr.. Mckinley
should have fired Alger when the
scandals OF the war with Spain
first became public, instead of as
sissting in having him white
washed, are not inclined to SYM
pathize with his embarrassment
at the demand. And there are
quite a number VINO are glad the
demand has been made. Mr..
Mckinley has, through close per-
sonal friends, allowed the public
to suppose that he was anxious to
have Alger resign, but wished
him to do so voluntarily. Now,
it is up to him, to say once for all,
whether he gwishes Alger to re-
main in his Cabinet.
The law very plainly says that
in the absence of both the secre-
tary and assistant secretary of
war, The general commanding
the army shall be acting secreta-
ry of war. Alger and his assist.
ant have both been away since
Friday, and the result was the abb
solute suspension of all public
business requiring the signature
or action of the secretary Of war,
although Gen. Miles was in his
office in the state war and navy
department each day, prepared
to perform the duties of secretary
of war. Adjutant General Corbin
said that Gen. Miles was acting
secretary of war, but as a matter
Of fact, from Friday until today,
Gen. Miles did not sign a single
paper as acting secretary, al
though there mrst have been
hundreds relating to routine mat
ters requiring the secretary s
signature. 1t was another added
to the many unnecessary Sights
put upon Gen. Miles by Secretary
Alger and the willing tools with
which he has surrounded himself
in the war department. Although
the law says that Gen. Miles
should have been acting secreta-
ry OF war. during those three
days, Alger, assuming himself
greater than the law, said that
there should be no secretary OF
war during that period, and his
word was obeyed, regardless OF
cost or inconvenience, and all
business held up to await his re-
turn.
So many more or less prominent
republicans have come to Wash
ington of late with substantially
the same story about Col. Bryan :
loss of popularity in the west, that
it is practically certain that these
men are working in concert, try
ing to prevent Col. Bryan being
ienominated for president by the
democrats. Whether they are
doing this under instructions from
the republican leaders, who are
known to fear Col. Bryan's S can
didacy, or in the interest Of the
hand-full of eastern democrats
who, although they cannot pledge
single electoral vote, are also
trying to prevent Col. Bryan &
nomination, is not entirely clear.
but that they are spreading the
story with purpose is as clear as
anything can be-as clear as the
falsity of the story, for instance
Representative Lentz, of Ohio,
is in Washington upon important
legal business. He no longer re-
CARDS himself as candidate fol
the democratic gubernatoria
nomination, but frankly says ht
would like to hive the second
place on the Bryan ticket, ant
adds that he has received en-.
couragement enough to cause hin
to believe that he may receive tht
nomination for vice president.
Ex- Senator Dubois says that i
the republican platform comel
out squarly for the single goIs
standard, as now seems likely, i
will elect Bryan by republican
votes; that he knows of thousandl
who voted the republican ticke
in 1895, solely because of thu