The times., 1899-01-19
GENERAL POLITICAL
NOTES AND GOSSIP.
,ur. ,Iger Intends to stick.-secre

Mr. iIger Intends to Stick.-Secre-
tary Alger il is now said, has reconsidered
his decision to resign from the Cabinet.
He prefers. it is stated. to be asked to go
There is no accounting for tastes, and Of
course, this is a free country. When Mr..
Alger makes known his decision TO the
President the latter will probably take ac-
tiGn. Unless all signs fail Mr.. Ayers
days as member of Mr.. Mckinleys Off
cial household are numbered. If he does
not choose 10 avail himself of the oppor-
tunity that has been extended to him to
retire gracefully it will be his own fault
He cannot consistently blame the Presi-
dent or any member of his Administration
for bis predcament. The subsequent con-
sequences will be on his own head 1t is
understood that Mr.. Alger has decided to
take chances and stake his future on one
card. In word he proposes to compel
the President to make the first move in
the matter of his retirement from the
Cabinet Mr.. Alger is banking on Mr. Nc
klnley's good nature TO save him. Mr.
Mckinley is known to be a long suffering
individual, but there is a limit even to his
forbearance. Mr. Alger. it is believed. has
reached il. Ii he insist upon remaining
in the Cabinet in spite Of all the circum-
stances there is very little doubt but that
ne will be in the near future politely but
firmly invited to get out.
MIR. Alger." said enc of his close friends
last night, lis entitled to sympathy. He
is more sinned against than SHINING He
has been little more than figurehead
since he has been in charge of the War
Department. His physical condition has
been such that it has been impossible to
transact any business with him. Alger
never was great man. He has been, how
ever. friend of every man who has been
IN trouble that has appealed to him for as
sistance. He has in a number of instances
given a practical demonstration of his
friendship and cooperation This is mat
| ter OF record. ! am satisfied that Alger
has kindly heart. | do not believe that
he would Intentionally harm any man.
However, he has had trying position for
the past SIX months one that he did not
anticipate when he became member of
Mr. Mckinley's Cabinet. Mr. Ayers
health has not been good, and it is sur
prlslng 10 me that he has been able to keep
up at all. Several years ago / made a trim
out West. Al one of the places of interest
that l visited l observed this sign on the
wall: Do not shoot the pianist He is
doing his best ] think that this state
ment fits Mr.. Ayers case. | am satisfied
that he has been doing his best"
Romance of James y. HiII.-Presj
dent James J. Hill. of the Great Northern
Railroad, is classed as one of the chief
railway magnates of the country. He has
made his way up from humble emp'oye
to his present position Mr.. Hill was in
Washington the other day. and one of his
friends, in speaking of his remarkably
successful career, said:
James j. Hill today is perhaps the big
sest railroad man in the United States.
HIS check is good for a million or SO
whenever he wishes to draw it, But tn re
was time when Hill was not regarded as
Of much Importance. Years ago Mr.. Hill
teii IN love with young lady in st. Paul
He called on her mother to make a re-
quest for her hand, and was received cod
iy. She said to him that he was not of
their class and ought not to aspire to the
hand of her daughter. She offered to in
troduce him TO a servant in her employ as
a compromise The introduction took
place, and the servant subsequently be-
came Mrs. Hill
Years afterwaid Mr.. Fill was sitting
In his office when a young man was admit
ted, presenting a note from the yoing
woman whom he had wished to make his
wife She had married in her 'c'ass' and
scored failure Her husband had de-
9'iLeu HSI anu SHt was lett TO her
resources to make living. 1t was her
son who applied TO Mr.. Hill for a position.
Mr.. Hill says that this was the proudest
moment OF his life. He gave the young
man employment. and he is now his con-
hdential secretary, all of which goes TO
show that truth is stranger than fiction. :"
Excise Law in New York.-"J 500
that my friend. Senator John Raines. s."
said former Senator Lispenard Stewart OF
New York, is at worl; on bill to prohib-
it the sale of liquor on Sunday even with
meals at hotels and restaurants. Mr.
Raines is making nuisance of himself
Such law could never be enforced in New
York If ii should be passed. The only eff
iect of the Raines proposition will be to
hurt the Republican party. Mr.. Raines
and his excise schemes ought to b. sup
pressed. If Raines is permitted to have
his way New York viii certainly 90 back