The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-22
1T WAS. ,rOWARDLY,
SAYS GOV, P|NGREE
McKin|ey's Method of Rid
ding Himself of A'ger.
UNABLE TO FACE AlGER
HE CALLED IORAItT'S AID 10
THROW HEM OVER.
ALGtR HAD OFTEN OFFERED TO RESIGN
But Mckinley had rot the Courage to Declare
10 him that The Attacks Upon the Sec
retary were Embarrassing
the Administ alton,

Detroit, Mich, July 21.-Governor
Press Il prepared signed interview. Civ
ing what the Governor asserts to he
''facts which are absolutely reliable.
hearing upon the relations between
General Alecr and President Mckinley
with which the public are not familiar.
At the outset the Governor said:
Il have no hesitation in saying that
the course pursued by the President. in
this matter, is little less than cowardly,
it is to say the least very unmanly.'
Governor pingrec 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 attacks upon Secretary Alger, the
Secretary Informed the President that
If these press comments embarrassed the
Administration in the slightest degree.
he would resign at once, but the Presl-
dent as often protested emphatlcaiiy
that he had the utmost confidence III
Secretary Alger and his conduct OF the
War Department. and that the country
could not afford to lose his services.
The Governor says ut the time OF his
.alieged alliance" with General Aiger
was announced. and before his disavowal
of interviews criticising the President
had reached Washington. General Algef
told the President that upon the Fresl-
dents slightest animation, he would
resign. but the President refused to en-
tertain the idea for Il moment
As to the alleged alliance" being any
reason for asking for General Alger ;
resignation, Governor Pinsfee says
long before My announcement that L
world support General Alger for the
Senate. Secretary of State Hay. on June
ond last. requested Vice President Ho-
hart to intimate to General Alger that
his, resignation would be acceptable to
the President. and would relieve him
from the embarrassing attacks of the
press upon the conduct of the war. MI.
Hobart very properly declined to be
party TO such unmanly. not to say cow
ar,ly, proceeding. and expressed MS
opinion in terms decidedly vigorous
After that General Alser, entirely
ignorant of this miserable conspiracy,
several times offered to end the attacks
by submitting his resignation, but sun
the President did not have the courage
TO express himself to his Secretary
General Alger finally did hand his rcsig-
nation to the President to take effect
January 2nd.s
.'The President dared not face the
General in Il manly way and ask HIM
to retire. and give his reasons for max
ING the request. He finally accomplished
hy ipdrcction what he dared not do
in an open and frank manner himself
Governor pingree states that Mr.. Ho-
bart was finally prevailed upon by At
torpey General Griggs to convey to
the Secretary that his resignation was
desired. and gave my alleged alliance
with the Secretary as a preteXt
Commenting on the whole matter, the
Governor says that General Alger,s sac
rifcc was compelled by demands of
New York politicians. backed by the
.unscrupulous and heartless press
He predicts that it will be learned
that the President himself will be re-
sponsible for whatever mistakes have
lecn made in conducting the war
He adds:
i
that General .Algcr made very lew ap~
continents of officers during the war.
and that the commissions were issued
almost entirely upon the order of the
President
The Governor asserts tnat the most
recent attacks upon General Alger were
caused by his frank declaration of OPP
position to trusts and he adds that
A. -. al
the present Administration, with Mark
Hanna as the acknowledged King
Maker
In conclusion the Governor calls upon
the Michigan people and newspapers to
protest against the injustice done the
States foremost representative in public
life.
1t is conjectured here that Brisadler
General Henry NJ. Duffield gave some
of the foregoing information. but the
General declines to be interviewed.