The Washington weekly post., 1899-07-25

into the merits Of a controversy which
had arisen over the construction Of
drawbridge ovsr a nayigable stream In
Michigan. MAJ Hopkins had just return
ed from a personal inspection Of the
locality and had prepared n report on
the subject. Several times they were
interrupted by Adjt- Gen. Corbin, who
hsd some matters % pressing current
business requiring the personal action
Of the Secretary 10 bring to his attention
Wrote Out Hi. gosienation.
This attended TO. Secretary Alser wrote
out hlg formal letter o. resignation and
personally carried It over to the White
House. His call on this occasion was
brief. and when he returned TO the War
Department he closed the door of his
Office 10 most OF the many callers who
were In waiting. and had long confer
cnce with Adjt. Gen. Corbin. To the
newspaper men who sought 10 secure
some expression from him the Secretary
was courteous but firm On the one side
Gen. Corbin and on the other Mr.. Victor
Mason. Gen. Algers Private Secretary,
BY his authority as they said. made the
submitted his resignation TO the President,
TO take effect at the pleasure OF the
President.
Secretary Alger's statement OF a few
days ago foreshadoWed his retirement to-
ward the close Of the year after he had
submitted his annual report, in which be
intended 10 sum UP what had been ac-
ccmplished during his brief but eventful
direction OF the War Department. Its
tender then mad been regarded as almost
a foregOne conclusion. But so little was
II expected al this time that some Of the
Cabinet officers. when the news first be
came public. were inclined 10 regard the
announcement as premature. The an
nouncement that il was actually in hand
came 10 them in the nature Of a surprise.
Formal acceptance OF the resignation had
not been made by the President up 10
late hour last night. but will be in letter
70 be written within the next day or two.
No official statement as to the cause Of
the resignation was procurable, nor was
the letter OF resignation itself obtainable
at this time. 1t is said 10 be very brief.
For the present nothing viii be made
known officially concerning the severance
Of the official relations between the Pres
ident and his War Minister, but later on
the official correspondence closing the
latter's career as chief Of the War De-
partment will doubtless be given TO the
press.
No Successor Immediately.
The closest inquiry fails 10 elicit any
information as TO the intentions Of the
President respecting the appointment OF
a successor to Gen. Alger as Secretary of
War. Names are mentioned, but they are
only those which have already been sug
gested with more or less plausibility in
the press without securing either con-
firmation or denial from any well-inform-
ed persons. The members Of the Cabinet
were all disnclined 10 talk about the
succession, though one did remark that
the President had made no mention Of a
name to him. and he believed that no
decision had yet been reached. He also
conveyed the impression that no appoint
ment would be made Immediately, but
that Mr.. MeiklejOhn would be allowed TO
direct affairs for some time TO come.
Among the names that have been men
toned from time to time in this discus
sion when talk of Secretary Alger's resig-
nation has been rife have been those
of Gen. Horace Porter, of New York,
now Ambassador to France; Gov Roose-
welt and Elihu Root of New York; Gen.
Harrison Gray Otis, and Assistant Secre-
tary Meiklejohn. The name Of Gen. Cor
bin has been mentioned in connection
with an ad interim appointment, pending
the selection of a permanent occupant of
the office. This gossip also included ques-
TONS OF locality, and the opinion was ex-
pressed in some well-informed quarters
that the selection would be made from the
west. Others were equally positive that
New York would get the portfolio. All
this, however, is mere speculation. and
II seems probable from the fact that the
resignation was submitted only yesterday
that the President has not yet had time
TO canvass the situation and make a Sc
lection.
As to the report that Gen. Corbin would
be Secretary ad interim, an officer close
TO the General said there was no basis
for the report; that the President had
never contemplated naming Gen. Corbin
ad interim, and that if such appointment
were rendered it would not be accepted
There was some talk also that Gen Cor
bin might be given the portfolio perman-
entity, although this was regarded as i'm
probable, even among Gen. COrbin's
friends. There would be precedent for
such a course, however, as in the case
VI btll ScilOllelu service.
officers still in town showed the same un-
Willingness TO talk of the resignation
Some of them said they had felt that
the resignation was likely to come at any
time, but they were so SURPRISED at
the published announcement that it was
actually in hand that they were at first
inclined 10 regard it as premature.
Tribute to the Secretary.
Adjt. Gen. Corbin was seen during the
evening, and, while not wishing TO discuss
any Of the facts connected with the resig-
nation, expressed his personal regret at
the turn of affairs. He said:
Il feel great sympathy and great re-
spect for the Secretary. History will show
that if he has erred, It has been on the
side of the soldier, on the side OF those
who were fighting the battles. No man
in that position has ever had more al
heart the interests of the soldiers, their
comfort, and their welfare. Time and
again ne has said to us that everything
must yield before the requirements of the
men in the field. and if the funds were
lacking, he would pay for 1t himself. He
will leave the department with the re-
spect and esteem of every one in it."
Secretary Ayers departure from the
Cabinet Will leave In it cn,y three of those
members VINO entered II at tne beginning
of the administration, namely, MeSsrs.
Gage. Long. and Wilson. The number of
changes that have occurred in the two
and a half years of its life has been very
unusual. Six Cabinet officers in all have
resigned their portfolios, either TO retire
( TO private life or 10 accept other posi-
/ ticns of honor and trust at the hands
/ OF the President. These include Secre-
tsries of State Sherman. who went out
/ because of ill-health and advanced age
and Day, who accepted a United States
| Judgeship: Attorney General McKenna.
| vho accepted a position on the Supreme
Court bench of the United States; Post
master General Gary. who retired be-
cause of ill-health. and Secretary Bliss,
! OF the Interior Department, who return
/ ed 10 New York and resumed active con-
nection with business affairs
On an Old battle-ground.
| Valley and farmland meet the West,
| Purple and gold and green.
| Orchards and vineyard song and rest
| Where their old world have been.