The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-22
MR. ROOT NOT AT HOME.
ATTACKS THE PRESIDENT.
Gov. Pingree Says Mr.. AIger Was
ShabbiIy Treated.

DETROIT, Mich, July I.-GoV. Pingree
today gave out a prepared, signed inter-
view, giving what the governor asserts
to be facts which are absolutely reliable,
bearing upon the relations betw cen Gen.
Aleel and President Mckinley, with
which the public is not familiar"
AT the outset the governor says:
I 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."
Gov. Pingree said his information did
not come from Gen. Alger, but from lone
whose knowledge of the facts cannot be
disputed
Proceeding, he says that repeatedly
since the Eastern newspapers began their
attack upon Secretary Alger, the -secre-
tary informed the president that il these
press comments embarrassed the admin
istration in the slightest degree, he
would resign at once, but the president
as often protested emphatically that he
had the utmost confidence in Secretary
Alger, and his conduct of the war depart
ment, and that the country could not af-
ford to lose mis- services. The governor
says that was the time his alleged al
lance with Gen. Alger was announced
and before his disavowal of interviews
criticising the president had reached
Washington. Gen. Alger told the presi-
dent that upon the presidents slightest
intimation he would resign, but the presi-
dent refused to entertain the idea for a
moment.
AS to the alleged alliance being any
reason for asking for Gen. Ayers resig-
nation Gov Pingree says:
Long before my announcement that [
would support Gen. Alger for the senate,
Secretary of State Hay, on June 2, last,
requested Vice President Hobart to init
mate to Gen. 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. Mr.. Hobart very properly de-
clined to be a party to such an unman-
nerly, not to say cowardly proceeding,
and expressed his opinion in terms de-
cidedly vigorous
after that Gen. Alger, entirely ignor-
ant of this miserable conspiracy, several
times offered to end the attacks by sub
mitting his resignation, but still the pres
ident did not have the courage to express
himself to his secretary. Gen. Alger
finally did hand in his resignation to the
president to take effect Jan. 2.
THE president dared not face the gen
eral in a manly way and ask him to re-
tire and give his reasons for making the
request. He finally accomplished by in
direction what he dared not do in an open
and frank manner himself"
was finally prevailed upon by Attorney
General Griggs to convey to the secretary
that his resignation was desired, ''and
gave my alleged alliance with the secre-
tary as a pretext."
Commenting upon the whole matter
the governor said that Gen. Alger's sac
rifice" was compelled by demands OF New
York politicians, backed by the "un-
scrupulous and heartless press" He pre-
diets that it Will be learned that the
president himself has been responsible for
whatever mistakes have been made in
conducting the war" He adds:
4 am told on the very best authority
that Gen. Alger made very few appoint
ments of officers during the war and That
the commissions were issued almost en-
tirely upon the orders of the pre~-.dlent.''
The governor alleges that the more re-
cent attacks upon Gen. AIger in the East
were caused by his frank declaration of
opposition to trusts, and he ADDS, "there
is a decided odor of trusts around the
present administration, with Mark Hanna.
as the acknowledged king maker"