Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-07-20
ALGER RESIGNS.

Secretary Alger has at last concluded
to resign. This determination was
reached during his visit to Vice Pre:i
dent Hobart, and he carried it out yes.
terday by notifying the President of his
decision. The resignation of Secretary
Alger will take effect by the
end Of the month. He notified
the President yesterday that he
had changed bis mind about waiting to
resign until January !, and would re
lieve his embarrassment by voluntarily
handing in his resignation now. The
change in General Alger's plans came
about during his three days visit to
Vice President Hobart, and also be-
cause the Secretary is worn out and
sick on account of the attacks made
upon him. He will 60 away for rest
before he decides upon what he will do
about his senatorial plans. The resigDa
ion at this time caused surprise, for it
was understood that everything was ar
ranged for him to remain in the Cabinet
until he had completed his annual re-
port. The President, it is said,
wants a legal man as his sec
rotary of war-.one who will
be able to handle, as lawyer, the
great problems in connection with the
new territory. AS be is directing the
military part of the campaign himself,
be wants statesman to assist him in
bis work at the War Department.
The President goes to Lake Cham
plain next week for an indefinite stay,
and he may wait until that time before
be names General Alger's successor.
The stay OF the President at Lake
Champlain will be indefinite, Oh account
OF the health OF Mrs. Mckinley.
Formal acceptance of the resignation
had not been made by the President up
to late hour last night, but will be in
& letter to be written within the next
day or two.
The belief had prevailed in Washing
ton for some time that Secretary Alger
would resign from the Cabinet, but the
date generally set for it was towards
the close of the year, after he had sub
mitted his annual report. Its tender
then had been regarded as almost a
forgone conclusion, in view of Mr..
Alger's announcement about month
ago that he had concluded to enter
into competition for the vacancy in the
United States Senate to be caused by
the expiration OF the term OF Senator Nc
Millian, strong supporter of the ad-
ministration, and that he had enlisted
in his active support Governor Piugree,
to whom had been attributed free criti-
cisms of the policy that was supposed
to be cherished by the Presidant to-
wards the Filipinos. There have been
many explanations and denials of the
facts in that case, but in the end the
impression Was conveyed that the re-
suit OF the Michigan visit of the Secre-
tary had been to change the relations
between the President and himself to
such degree as to make restoration
of their former status impossible, and
to render the connection Of the two as
part OF the same official family undesir-
able.
Almost before the executive depart
ments were opened for business yester-
day morning he called at the White Honse
and, visiting the President in his office, an.
Donnced that he had concluded to resign his
Office. Whist passed on that point between
himself and the President is only matter OF
surmse, for neither have anything to say on
this point.