Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-20
His Michigan Visit Assigned as
the Cause.
PRINCIPALS WON'T TALK
tho Resignation Was Tom
dored at tho Pleasure of tho Prcsi-
dent IL Will Become Effective Au-
gust I.t.-The Sccretary's Retire.
ment the Result of Conference
with vice-Prcsidemt Hobart.
(By Telegraph 10 virglnian-Pilot3


Washington, July 19.-Secretary Alger
to- day rendered to the President his
resignation of the war portfolio. The
resignation will become effective Au-
gust LIST, though 1t was rendered lat the
pleasure of the President
Gossip has begun already as to his
successor. but 1t is entirely speculative,
for Notwithstanding the reports that
Mr. Alger would not long continue at
the head of the War Department. his
actual resignation came suddenly and
Unexpectedly. SO little was 1t expected
at this time that some of the cabinet
officers. when the news first became
public. were inclined To regard the an
nouncement as premature.
MKINLEY WILL ACCEPT.
Formal acceptance OF the resignation
had not been made by the President up
to Il late hour tonight. but will be in II
letter to be written within the next day
or two.
No official statement rs to the cause
OF the resignation was procurable either
from the President or from Secretary
Alger. neither Of whom would talk on
the subject Nor was the letter of rcs-
ignation obtainable ut this time. For
the present nothing will be made known
officially concerning the severance of
the official relations between the Pres
tnsu -, anu No WI 'l'ii iS.er, ott i,ler
80 80, ''. ,, ~ Ia
49,, ,Ia,,h., .,.,,, .'e '" az
press. M
SPECULATION.
The belief had prevailed in Washing
ton for some time that Secretary Alger
would resign from the cabinet, but the
GATE generally set for 1t was toward the
close of the year after he had submit
TED his annual report. in which he in
tended TO sum up what had been ac-
compiished during his brief but event
ful direction OF the War Department.
us tender then mad been regarded as
almost IL ioreSone conclusion III view of
MI Aiscr announcement about
monih ago that ne mad concluded to en-
Yer in'p competition Tor the vacancy
a. me oriteu states Senate to succeed
senator McAiiiiah, 4 strong supporter
enIstad in NJ, nc .,i,'' nr',. .,',. ne nau
Pingrce. to whom had been attrjhutad
free criticisms of the policv TN, was
supposed TO he cherished Nv tho prosi
dent toward the Filipinos.
4 pIrt,TI-pr
"c,c nave Deeh many explanations
a,ia uei,idiS 81 'he lacts III the case,
nut ~ ne eiiu the IMPRESSION was con
Iii, 80, :, va 'ie ~ 'VhtSan
SIa'l VI .nc SECRETARY had been to
S''a"se ,he rela,IoitS between the Fresi-
ueiit oil" hilnsell 10 such degree as to
.'. . :. icslo ,,' OF their former
s.".u' III poss'p'e an" 10 render the con-
official family mnd" &C. pn, VI 'ne Same
time since then there was ground ror
the belief that Il rupture might be
avoided. but this belief ceased tn be
held when the news spread that Vice
President Hobsrt and Secretary Alger
were in conference at Normanhurst. Ii
was largely, at least. as a result of
this conference that Secretary Alger
decided to leave The Cabinet mt this
time. AT this conference there were
present, beside Secretary Alger, his
military aide and close personal and
political friend and adviser, Major Hop
kins, and perhaps some other persons
or person who also felt deep interest
in the future Of the Secretary.
WHAT OCCURRED AT SEAS1Dr
There. bos ,,o,, 80 ,.r-,
poe.od h,e ~, ne.,i ~ disclosure OF what
f,oant ,ho, ~. ne. seasue' put Is signi-
On W. shir,t .,e ,'aa sn,, pi .ne secretary
action ne o., go i 49, by prompt
niebt too iata 80 ~ Casiidn'e Ton rast
Almost before tha Txa .ny U,''o -. GUS.
ments We're opened for business This
morning he called af tho \Vhi.a IJo,..