The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-20


is expected to return to Washington TO
assume charge of the war department
until such time as the president Snai
name a permanent secretary RfopaoIy
that will be by the end OF the present
month, and by the 1st Of August Sec
rotary Alger viii be at liberty TO lay
down his task. He is much Weafleo py
the weight of responsibility ne mas
borne for nearly two years and a half;
he has aged many years In the OPINION
of his personal friends and IS IN need
of rest. He proposes to depart and then
to pay visits to his children These
will occupy his time until well along
into next fall.
About political matters the secretary
does not speak now, but it may be fair
~ SurmiSed that he viii then be ready
in view of his already announced de-
cision, to take such part in the Mlch1-
gan senatorial contest as conditions at
the time will warrant.
The closest inquiry fails to elicit any
information as to the intentions Of the
president respecting the appointment OF
a successor to Mr.. Alger as secretary
of war. Names are mentioned, but they
are only those which have already been
suggested with more. or less of plausi-
bility in the press without securing
either confirmation or denial from any
well informed persons.
The members of the cabinet were all
disinclined TO talk about the success
sion, though one did say the president
had made no mention of a name to him
and ne believed no decision had yet
been reached. He also conveyed the
impression that no appointment would
be made Immediately, but that Mr.
Meiklejohn would be allowed to direct
affairs for some time to come.
Among the names which have been
mentioned from time to time in this
discussion, when talk of Secretary AL
gers forthcoming resignation has been
rife, have been those of General Horace
Porter of New York, now ambassador
to France; Governor Roosevelt of New
York, General Harrison Gray Otis and
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn-
The name of General COrbin has
been mentioned in connection with an
ad interim appointment, pending the
selection of a permanent occupant of
the Office. This gossip also included
questions of locality and the opinion
was expressed in some well posted
quarters that the selection would be
made from the west. All this, how
ever, is mere speculation, and it seems
probable that the president has not yet
| had time to canvass the situation and
make a selection.
AS to the reports that General Corbin
would be secretary ad interim, Of
fcer close to the general said there was
no basis for the report; that the presi-
dent had never contemplated naming
General Corbin, ad interim, and that if
such an appointment were rendered it
would not be accepted. There was some
talk also that General COrbin might be
given the portfolio permanently, al
though this was regarded as imprOb-
friends. There would be precedent for
such a course, however, as in the case
! of General Schofield's cabinet service.
The news OF the resignation caused a
| buzz of comment in all public places,
1 but at the White House there was no
1 evidence throughout the evening that
anv usual event had occurred. The
! president went for a drive with his
niece, Mrs. Duncan, late in the after
! noon, handling the reins himself. There
/ was no caller of importance during the
| early part Of the evening, but about 9
| o clock Secretary Hay, accompanied
/ by Senator Fairbanks of Indiana who
| is just back from an inspection of the
| Alaskan boundary seat of difficulty,
! came over for a talk on this subject.
! Secretary Hitchcock and Comptroller
Dawes called socially for a few minutes.
! There was no evidence of a cabinet con-
/ ference and no suggestion of anything
/ in that line. There was nothing to give
! out for publication, it was said.
| An evening round of the cabinet Of
! ficers. still in town, showed the same
! unwillingness to talk OF the resignation.
/ Some of them said that they had felt
/ the resignation was likely to come at
/ any time, but that they were so sur
! prised at the published announcement
/ that it was actually in hand that they
/ were at first inclined to regard it as
| premature.
| Adjutant General Corbin was seen
! during the evening and while not wish
| ing to discuss any of the facts con-
nected with the resigna ton expressed
1 his personal regret at the turn of af-
/ fairs. He said:
| Il feel great sympathy and great re-
/ spect for the secretary. History will
show that if he has erred it has been on
! the side of the soldier. on the side of
! those who were fighting the battles. No
man in that position has ever had more
! at heart in the interests of the soldier,
/ their comfort and their welfare. Time
and again he has said to US that every
thing must yield before the REQUIRE
! n a mo in Hnf fold n ? he
funds were lacking he would pay for it
himself. He will leave the department
with the respect and esteem of every
| Secretary Ayers departure from the
cabinet viii leave in it only three of
those members who entered it at the
beginning Of the Administered ton, name
~ MeSSrS. Gage, Long and Wilson. The
number of changes that have occurred
in the two and half years of it's life
has been very unusual Six cabinet
officers in all have resigned their port
fol1Os either to retire to private life or
to accept other positions of honor and
trust at the hands of the president
Those include Secretary of State Sher-
man who went out because of i'll
health and advanced age. and Day
| who accepted a United States judge
ship; Attorney General McKenna, who
accepted position on the supreme court
! bench of the United States; Postmas-
ter General Gary, who retired be-
cause of i'll health and Secretary Bliss
of the interior department who retired
to New York and resumed active con-
nection with business affairs.
The transfer of Attorney General
Griggs from the department of justice
to the war department has been sug-
gested by those who are figuring on
Secretary Ayers successor. 1t is urged
that the largely increased legal ques-
tons which are constantly coming be-
fore the war department as a conse-
quence of our new possessions makes it
desirable that the executive officer
should be a man of legal attachments
and experience. In this connection the
name of Elihu Root, the well known
Na14- York Ia WAR fG maintained