Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-22
STATED BY PINGRER.
That Mckinley Acted Like a Coward
Toward Alger.
MICHIGAN GOVERNOR ANGRY
Gives Ont Il Long Signed Statement
Regarding the Relations Be-
tween the President and
the Secretary of War.

Detroit July %. - Governor Pingree
has given out Il prepared, signed inter
view, giving what the governor asserts
to "be facts which are absolutely reli-
able, bearing upon the relation between
General Alger and President Mckinley
with which the public are not familiar.
At the outset the governor says: II
have no hesitation in saying that the
course pursued by the president in this
matter is little less than cowardly. 1t
is, to say the least, very unmanly."
Governor Pingree said his information
did not come from General Alger, but
from zone whose knowledge of the facts
cannot be disputed" Proceeding, he
says that repeatedly since the eastern
newspapers began their attack upon Sec
rotary Alger the secretary informed the
president that if these press comments
embarrassed the administration In the
slightest degree he would resign ut once,
hut the president as often protested en-
phatically that he had utmost confidence
in Secretary Alger and his conduct of
the war department and that the country
could not afford to lose his services.
Didn't Wish Resignation.
Inc governor says lHul dl thS tiiHC
this "alleged alliance" with General Al
ger was announced and before his dis
avowal Of interviews crticising the pres
idcnt had reached Washington General
.Alger told the president that upon the
presidents slightest intimation he would
resign, but the president refused to enter
tain the idea for moment
AS to the alleged alliance being any
reason for asking for General Alger' 8
resignation. Governor pingree says:
Long before my announcement that |
would support General Alger for the SEN
ate Secretary Of State Hay. on June
last, requested Vice President Hobart to
intimate to General Alger that his resig-
nation would be acceptable to the pres
ideut and would relieve him from the
embarrassing attacks Of the press upon
the conduct of the war. Mr.. Hobart very
properly declined to be party to such
an unmanly, not to say cowardly, pro-
ceedlng and expressed his opinion in
terms decidedly vigorous.
"After that General Alger, entirely ig-
norant Of this miserable conspiracy, sew
eral times offered to end the attacks by
submitting his resignation, but still the
president did not have the courage to
express himself to his secretary.
Action Mt Last.
General Alger finally did hand his
resignation to the president, to take
effect Jan. 2. The president dared not
face the general in a manly way and
ask him to retire and 81 We his reasons
for making the request. He finally ac-
complished by indirection what he dared
not do In an open and frank manner
himself"
Governor Pingree states that Mr.
Hobart was finally prevailed upon by
Attorney General Griggs to convey to
the secretary that his resignation was de-
sired, and "gave my alleged alliance
with the secretary as pretext.'
Commenting upon the whole matter,
the governor says that General Alger's
sacrifice" was compelled by demands Of
New York politicians, backed by the "uu-
scrupulous and heartless press" He
Predicts that it will be learned that the
president himself has been responsible
for whatever mistakes have been made
in conducting the war"
In conclusion the governor calls upon
Michigan people and newspapers to pro-
test against the in Justice done the states
foremost representative in public life. 1t
is conjectured here that Brigadier Cen
eral Henry NJ Duflield gave some of the
foregoing information, but the general
declines to be interviewed.