The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-07-25
PINGREE VERY INDIGNANT
Attacks the President and Alleges Ger
tain Things Regarding the Ro-
tirement of Alger.

DETROIT, July Ex-Governor Pingree
handed The Associated Press prepared,
signed interview on the Alger resigna.
ton, the information he said he did not
secure from Alger, but from a reliable
source.
At the outset, the governor says: 81
have no hesitation in saying that the
course pursued by the president, in this
matter, is little less than co wardly. II
is, to say the least, very unmanly."
Proceeding he says that repeatedly
since the eastern newspapers began their
attack upon Secretary Alger, the secre-
tary informed the president that if
these press comments embarrassed the
administration he would resign at once,
but the president said he had the utmost
confidence in Alger an d his conduct OF
the war department and the country
could not afford to lose his services.
The governor said that at the time his
"alleged alliance" with General Alger
was announced, and before his dis
avowal of interviews criticizing the
president had reached Washington
| G eneral Alger told the president that
upon the presidents slightest intima
ton, he would resign, but the president
refused to entertain the idea.
AS to the "alleged alliance" being
any reason for asking for Alger's resig
nation, Governor Pingree says that
long before his announcement that he
would support Alger for the senate
Secretary Hay, on June 2, requested
Vice President Hobart to intimate tc
| General Alger that his resignation
would be acceptable to the president
and would relieve him from the em
barrassing attacks of the press on the
conduct Of the war. Mr.. Hobart very
properly declined and expressed his
opinion in terms decidedly vigorous.
After that General Alger severa
times offered to resign. General AlgeI
finally did hand his resignation to the
president to take effect Jan. 2.
Governor Pingree states that Mr.. Ho
bart was finally prevailed upon by At
torney General Griggs to convey to tn,
secretary that his resignation was de
sired, and "gave my alleged allianc
with the secretary as preteXt."
The governor said Alger's sacrifice
was compelled by New York politi
clans, backed by the "unscrupulous anC
heartless press" He predicted that i
will be learned "that the president him
self has been responsible for whateve
mistakes have been made in conducting
the war"
He said: II am told on the very bes
: authority that General Alger mad
very few appointments of officers dur
: ing the war, and the commissions wer
issued almost entirely on the orders q
the president"
The governor alleged that the NOR
recent attacks upon Alger in the eas
were caused by his frank declaration G
} opposition to trusts, and he added tina
"there is decided odor of trusts aroun
the present administration, with Mar
Hanna as the acknowledged 'king
; maker"
1t was conjectured here that Brigi
dier General Henry M. Duffield CAV
some Of the foregoing information, bu
i the general declined to be interviewed
Is Chase S. Osborn, state railroad con
missioner, who was reputed to be Gel
t. eral Alger's representative in preparin
, for the senatorial campaign, spent SCI
! eral hours at the governors residence
supposedly assisting III preparing of til
| governors statement.