The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-22
CALLS M'KINLEY COWARD
Pingree Scores the President for
Firing Alger.
A MISERABLE CONSPIRACY
The Governor Says That Mckinley Is
Responsible for All the Scandals
Which Have Made Alger
Notorious.

Detroit, Mich, July Ex-Governor
| Pingree to-day handed to the associa ted
| press prepared, signed interview Civ
| ing what the governor asserts to lie
facts which are absolutely reliable
bearing upon the relations between
| Secretary Alger and President McKin-
| ley with which the public is not famiI-
| lar.
| AT the outset the governor says:
Il have no hesitation in saying that
| the counse pursued by the president in
| this matter is little less than cowardIy
1t is to say the least. very unmanly."
Governor Pingree said his informa-
| ton did not come from General Alger
but from 'one whose knowledge of the
| facts cannot be disputed"
Proceeding, he says that repeatedly
| since the eastern newspapers began
| their attack upon Secretary Alger the
| secretary informed the president that
| If these press comments embarrassed
| the administration in the slightest de-
| gree he would resign at once. but the
| president as often protested emphatic
| ally that he had the utmost confidence
! in Secretary Alger and his conduct of
| the war department, and that the cOun-
| try could not afford to lose his services
| The governor says shat at the time his
| alleged alliance with General Alger
| was announced. and before his dis
| avoWal of interviews cIiticising the
| president had reached Washington,
General Alger told the president chat
| upon the presidents slightest intima-
| ton he would resign and that the presi-
| dent refused to entertain the idea for a
moment. As to the alleged alliance
hai in lsl.f
| Alger's resignation Governor Pingrea
| says:
Long before my announcement that
| would support General Alger for the
| senate, Secretary of state Hay on June
| 2 last requested Vice President Hobart
| to intimate to General Alger that his
resignation would he acceptable to the
| president and would relieve him from
| the embarrassing attacks of the press
| upon the conduct Of the war Mr. Ho-
| bart properly declined to be a party 10
| such an unmanly. not to say cowardly,
proceeding, and expressed his opinion
! in terms decided v'gorous
After thai C,enttal AIgef entirely
| ignorant of this misera BILE conspiracy,
| several 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.
| General Alger finally did hand his res
| ignation to the president to take effect
| Jan. .
THE president dared not face the
| general in a manly way and ask him
| to retire and give his reasons for maxi
| ing the request. He finally accom-
| plished by indrection what he dared
| not to do in an open manner him
| self"
| Governor PinGree states that Mr..
Hobart was finally prevailed upon by.
| Attorney General Griggs to convey to
| the secretary that his resignation was
desired land gave my alleged alliance
with the secretary as a preteXt.
Commenting upon the whole matter.
the governor SAYS that General Alger's
sacrifice was compelled by demands of
the New York politicians, backed by the
inscriptions and heartless press" He
predicts that it will be learned that
the president himself has been respOn-
sible for whatever mistakes have been
made in conducting the war"
He adds: Il am told on the very best
authority that General Alger made very
few appointments of officers during the
war and that the commissions were is
sued almost entirely upon the orders of
the president"
The governor alleges that the more
recent attacks upon Alger in the East
were caused by his frank declaration
of opposition to the trusts, and he
adds:
There is a decided odor of trusts
| around the present administration. W tn
Mark Hanna as the acknowledged king
| maker"
In conclusion the governor calls upon
Michigan people and newspapers to
protest against the injustice done the
states foremost representative in pub
lie life It is Coniectured here that
Brigadier General Henry Nj. Dutield
gave some of the foregoing informa-
ton. but the general declines to be in
terviewed
Charles f. Osborne, state railroad
commissioner who is reputed to be
General Alger's representative in pre-
pairing for the senatorial campaign,
spent several hours last night at the
governors residence. supposedly assist
ing in the preparation of the governors
statement.