Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-20
S[C'Y ALG[R HAS RESIGNED.
Immediately Upon His Return From a
Conference With Vice-PreS Hobart,

THE WAR MINISTER CALLED UP
ON THE PRESIDENT, AND
PLACED HIS RESIGNATION AT
HIS DISPOSAL-PROBAB By
AUGUST / THE OFFICE WILL
HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED
ALGER AND MCKINLEY RE-
FUSE TO GIVE ANY STATE
MENT OF THE REASoNS-AL-
GERS CANDIDACY FOR THE
MICHIGAN SENAToRSHIP AND
HIS CLOSE RELATIONS WITH
PINGREE ARE PROBABLY RE-
SPoNSIBLE FOR THE MOVE.
WASHINGTON, July 19.-Secretary
Alger to-day rendered to the President
his resignation of the war portfolio.
The resignation will become effective
August l, though it was rendered at
the pleasure of the President"
Gossip has begun already as to his
successor, but is entirely speculative,
for Notwithstanding the reports that
Mr.. Alger would not long continue at
the head of the war department his
actual resignation came suddenly and
Unexpectedly That il would come by
the end of the year was generally be-
lieved, but so little was it expected
at this time that some of the cabinet
officers when the news first became
public were inclined to regard the an
nouncement as premature, the an
nouncement that it was actually in
hand coming TO them in the nature OF
a surprise.
Formal acceptance of the resigna-
ton had not been made by the Presi-
dent up to late hour tonight, but
will be in letter to be written with
in the next day or two.
No official statement as to the cause
of the resignation was procurable,
either from the President or from Sec
rotary Alger, neither of whom would
talk on the subject. Nor was the let
ter of resignation obtainable at this
time. For the present nothing will be
made known officially concerning the
tween the President and his war min
lister, but later on the official corre-
spondence closing the latters career
as chief of the war department doubt
less will be given to the press
The belief had prevailed in Washing
ton for some time that Secretary Alger
would resign from the cabinet, but the
date generally set for 1t was towards
the close OF the year after he had sub
mitted his annual report in which he
intended to sum up what had been ac-
complished during his brief but event.
full direction of the War Department
Its tender then had been regarded as
almost a foregone conclusion in view
of Mr.. Ayers announcement about a
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
Mcmillan, strong supporter of the
administration, and that he had enlisted
in his active support Governor Pingree,
to whom had been attributed free crit
icism Of the policy that was supposed
to be cherished by the President 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 result
of the Michigan visit OF the Secretary
had been TO change the relation between
the President and himself to such a de-
gree as to make restoration Of their
former status impossible and to render
the connection of the two az part Of the
same official family undesirable. AT one
time since then there was ground for
the belief that a rupture might be
avoided, but this belief ceased 10 be held
when the news spread that Vice Pres
ident Hobart and Secretary Alger were
in conference at Normanhurst Ii was
largely result of this conference that
Secretary Alger decided To leave the
cabinet at this time. There has been no
disclosure Of what passed by the sea-
side, but it is significant that the return
Of the Secretary TO Washington was
followed by prompt action. He arrived
in Washington last night, too late 70
make any official calls. Almost before
the executive departments were opened
for business this morning he called II
the White House and, visiting the Pres
ident In mis- Office. announced that he
had concluded to resign his office. What
passed on that point between himself
and the President is only matter OF
surmise, for neither has anything 10
say on this point.
Mr.. MeikIejohn, the assistant secrs-
tary of war, Is at present supposed 70
be in Wisconsin, whittier he went two
weeks ago to make personal inspec-
ton of the Fox river improvement
He has been notified Of what has hap
pened and IL expected TO return to
Washington to assume charge Of the
War Department until such time az
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