The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-20
Riots in
New York
As a result of the big street
car strike, which has now
extended into the city prop.
er from Brooklyn.
See page =,

~ 'fNiih hSiOOhiyHs
In the end the impression WAS conveyed
that the result OF the Michigan visit OF
secretary Niger had been to change the
relations between the president and him
self to such degree as to make a restora-
ton OF the former status impossible At
one time there was belief pdt q break
| might be avoided but this belief ceased
to be held when tho news spread that Vice
President Hobart and Secretary Algcr
were In conference at Normanhurst 1t
was largely, at least, as result of this
conference that Secretary Alger decided
to leave the cabinet at this time At this
conference there were present besides Sec
personal and political friend and advisor.
Major Hopkins. and perhaps some other
person or persons who also felt n deep in
terest in the future of the secretary.
There has been no disclosure OF what
passed by the seaside but it is significant
that the return OF the secretary to WASH
ington was followed by prompt action. He
arrived in Washington last night. too late
to make any official calls.
Almost before the executive departments
were opened for business this morning he
called at the white House and visiting
tho president in HIS office, announced that
he had concluded 70 resign his office.
What passed on that point between HIM
self and the president is only a matter
of surmise, for neither have anything to
say on this point. Some routine business
pertaining to the war department was dis
posed of between the president and the
secretary. and then Mr. Alger went over
to his office and spent some time with
General Wilson, chief OF engineers. and
ifyfp ba MA at
controversy which had arisen over tho
construction of a drawbridge over nav
igable stream In Michigan. Major Hop
kins had just returned from a personal
inspection of the locality and had pre-.
pared a report on the subject. Several
times they We're interrupted by Adjutant
General Corbin. who had some matters of
pressing current business requiring the
personal action of the secretary TO bring
to his attention. This attended to. Secre-
iary Alger wrote out his formal letter OF
resignation and presently carried 1t over
TO the White House. His call on this oc-
casion WAS brief and when he returned to
the war department he closed the door of
his Office to most of the many callers VINO
were in waiting and had a long confer
ence with Adiutant General Corhln.
To the newspaper men who sought to
secure some expression from hha. the sec.
rotary was courteous but firm. On the
side Mr.. Victor Mason, his private sccre-
tary. by his authority, as they said made
the announcement that Secretary Alger
had submitted his resignation to tho
president, to take effect at the pleasure
OF the president
At his residence this afternoon the sec
rotary was equally non communicative
and positively declined to assign any rea-
son for the action he had taken He had
called during the afternoon upon Secre-
tary Hay at the state department and with
him at home were Major Hopkins and Mr..
Mason. Beyond many newspaper men, few
OF whom secured access to himself, the
secretary saw no one. His plans for the
future have already been defined.
Mr.. Melklejohn, the assistant secretary
of war, Is supposed to be in Wisconsin
whittier he went two weeks ago 10 make
personal inspection OF the Fox river i'm
proyements, scheme which has given the
engineering bureau endless trouble and
which now requires some positive recon-
mendation at the hands OF the secretary
and congress at the next session. He has
been notified OF what has happened and is
expected 10 return TO Washington to as
sumo charge of the war department until
such time as the president shall name a
permanent secretary. Probably that Will
be by the end Of the present month and
by the first OF August Secretary Alger will
be at liberty to lay down his task, He Is
much wearied by the weight OF the re-
sponsibility he has borne for nearly two
years and half: he has aged many years
In the opinion of his personal friends and |
is In need of rest. He proposes to depart
for the Northwest and spend some time |
in the lumber camps belonging 10 him and |
10 pay visits to his children. These will |
occupy his time well along into next fall |
About political matters the secretary does |
not speak, but 1t may be fairly surmlsed |
a. Ian 10 in VIC faf liz.
already announced decision, to take such |
part In the Michigan senatorial contest
as conditions at that time will warrant.
The closest inquiry fails TO elicit any
information as TO the intentions OF the
president respecting the appointment OF
successor TO Mr.. Alger as secretary of war.
Names are mentioned but they are only
those which have already been suggested
with more or less plausibllty in the press,
without securing either confirmation or de-
NAL from any well informed person. The
members Of the cabinet were all disinclined
to talk about the succession, though one
did remark that the president had made
no mention of name to him and he be-
lieved no decision had yet been reached.
He also conveyed the impression that no
appointment would be made Immediately,
but that Mr.. Meiklejohn would be allowed
to direct affairs for some time to come
Among the names which have been men
toned from time to time in this discus
sion when talk of Secretary Ayers resig-
nation first became rife we're those OF Gen
eral Horace Porter OF New York. nov
ambassador to France: Governor Roosevelt
of New York, General Harrison Gray Gus
and Assistant Secretary Melkleiohn. The
name OF General Corbn has been men
toned in connection with an ad interim
appointment pending the selection of per-
manent occupant Of the Office This Cos.
sip also included questions Of locality and
the opinion was expressed In some wen
posted quarters that tho selection would
be made from the West All this, how
ever, is mere speculation and II seems
probable from the fact that the resigna-
tion was submitted only today that tne
president has not yet had time 10 canvass
the situation and make a selection
AS TO the report that General coroln
will be secretary ad interim. an ofhcer
basis for the report: that the president
had never contemplated naming General