The age-herald., 1899-03-31
URGING M'KTNLEY aI
 TO DROP ALGER

Washington, March 2S.-With the return
 of the president from his vacation in Geor4 gia stories of the retirement of Secretary Alger are renewed. It is again alleged that the Ohio republicans are urgent in theiu demands that a new secretary of war shall be appointed before the campaign in that state begins. This is only a repetition of the old report which gave Senator Hanna and General Grosvenor as authorities for such advice to the president
 There is no denial of the fact that the Ohio managers are concerned over the sit- uation and believe that the unjustlfiable charges of furnishing rotten beef to the soldiers during the war with Spain have cast such reflection upon the adminis- tration that it is necessary to unload A1gep that public clamor may be stilled. It is stated that these representatives followed the president to Thomasyille in various ways, but what impression they have made on the executive mind is not known Be- lore he went south those near the presi. dent understood that he believed the ate tacks upon Alger would be transferred on. ly to himself, should he ask for the sec. retaryS resignation He would not admit that there was any Justification for the outcry against the secretary but he did not iaH 10 recognize that there was a decided- " unfavorable feeling in the country to- ward the head of the war department
 The investigations, civil and military. which the president ordered into the char. acter of the beef supplied to the army nave, according to high authority. failed to snow any corrupt collision between the COmm1SSarY deDa nd tba ors. and while the canned beef has been criticised as an army ration there is no testimony of any purpose to palm off de- cayed or chemically preserved meats for iresh goods. On the contrary, all the meat furnished was good when delivered to the war department officers, but some of ir spoiled in handling during vicissbudes of a campaign unusual in it's demands for nasty and rough transportation, and con- ducted of necessity in a climate inducing rapid deterioration from rain and intense heat
 The testimony of Colonel Roosevelt that he was hungry enough to eat his hat if it had been cooked with potatoes and onions In the manner prescribed for canned beef, has called attention to the fact that there was as great loss from the rotting of vegetables in the war as there was from the decay of meat, but no investigation was pursued in that line. Strange to say, no one has charged that the war depart ment supplied rotten vegetables to the army.
 The attitude of the administration has been steady defense of Secretary Alger, who, it is held, figures simply as the head Of the department responsible for abuses which the president maintains were beyond human power to avert. He feels, 1t is said, that if Aiger is removed, the responsibility for what happened, and which he has never tried to shirk, will come directly home to the White House. without dim,nution and with increasing malevolence to affect the next presidential campaign.
 The political pressure against Alger is not wholly from Ohio but from political leaders in the north and west, who insist that Alger must go. General Niles parti- sans have been the most active, and at tention is called to the fact teegraphed from Springfield, Mass, to the Press oday that Miles will accept a presidential noml- nation from any party. The secretary, be- fore leaving here for Cuba, was calmly SOAtilucHl HI liiS SiiSuSli u Hlo pOo.IiOn as part of the administration under fire. Since his arrival at Havana interviews with Alger snow that he is studying the situation on the island to get a better knowledge of affairs there, that he may the more intelligently conduct army opera tions during the remainder of his term. He has no idea of resigning
 Yet it is difficult to see how there can be an avoidance of removing the secretary of war for political reasons, if none other ex- ists. The secretarys friends are not nu- merous in politics. outside of his own state. If it were left to vote of the republican ma jority in control of the organization it is believed he would be sacrificed without hes itation in the hope of strengthening the party by removing the most prominent ob- ject of criticism.
 The situation is interesting, and 1t re- mains to be seen whether the argument of political expediency will be sufficient to overcome the presidents reluctance. It is recalled that when Secretary Alger was ap- pointed to the cabinet strong representa- tions were made against the advisability of his selection. It was shown to the presi- dent that Alger's army record had been the subject of criticism, and however strong his defense might be, still Alger would have to be defended from the start, thus putting the administration at a dis should any foreseen circum- stances arise to bring his official conduct into question.
 What was predicted has come to pass. but the president appointed Alger in spite of advice to the contrary, and he may feel himself compelled to stand by him in justi- fcation of his course, honestly believing that the secretary of war has performed his whole duty to the best of his ability. and that to ask his resignation now would be to justify the claim which Alger and his supporters will make-that he is heinz made scapegoat.