New-York tribune., 1899-07-20
SECRETARY ALGER'S RECORD.
HIS ADMINISTRATION OF THE WAR DE-
PARTMENT REVIEWED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


Washington, July 19.-In all the annals Of
American politics the attempt of Secretary Ager
to hold his post in the face of wellnigh uni
versal demand for his retirement is almost
unique. 1t may be said to have been so not
only in the persistence with which his retire
ment was demanded by those powerful in
fluences which have hitherto been uniformly
potent with party leaders. but also In his per-
sistent determination-as he expressed t-"not
to retire under fire"
But the most anomalous aspect of the episode
that the attacks Secretary Alger's ad-
ministraton of the War Department began with
the beginning Of the Spanish war, were perhaps
most furious at the very moment of its culnna-
tion in quick and overwhelming victory, and
without abatement In volume or bitterness con-
tinued to the present time The gratifying sue
cess Of a popular war seemingly had no In
fuence to buoy up the personal fortunes Of its
presumptive chief administrator. Indeed the
demand for Secretary Alger's resignation. or his
summary removal by the President, was more
earnest and widespread at this time than II was
while the Santiago army was oying from yellow
feve and starving cann ID roast beef"
These are facts which set certain leaders of the
Republican party to thinking.
RUMoRs MANY TIMES DENIED.
About year ago. on the first outbreak Of
these attacks, General Ager created sort OF
impossible situation. so to speak, by announcing
with every evidence of good faith that while
personally he cared nothing for the Office Of
Secretary of War he had never yet weakened
in the face Of a fight, and would not, as al
ready stated resign under fire." This plainly
placed him out on the firing line. and the hottest
kind Of fire thenceforward kept up with
out cessation. The fact that he would perma-
nently retain the War Office portfolio seemed
TO be definitely determined. unless the President
should ask for his resignation. General Alger
often repeated that assertion; he reiterated 1t
with great emphasis only the other day In an
swer to the specific statement OF a newspaper
which assumes to be the organ Of the Admins
tration that "Algers days are numbered; that
the President was dissatisfied with the Pingree
alliance and would insist upon the Secretary's
immediate retirement.
There was another remarkable feature about
this curious freak Of politics. Every little while
some new authority being deceived by this
AIger resignation fake" Although 1t seemed
certain from the statements made with vehe-
ment positiveness from time to time by Alger
himself as we'll as from the Presidents attitude
and reported givings out. that Alger was to re-
main, yet perlOOlCdlly SO1Ie newspaper III n hc"
quarter broke in upon the tired public with the
intelligence, set out with great circumstantfal-
fly Of detail that Alger was to go at once, fol-
lowed Just as inevitably by his categorical de-
NAL, with the reaffirmation that he was not to
he forced out of office under any circumstances.
Where did the inspiration for these endless
chain statements come from. and why were they
persisted in in the face of such constant and ear
nest denials2
People began asking themselves: us 1t at
last possible that he is going outT The fact
that in spite Of these constantly recurring at
tacks and retorts Alger remained In office for
more than two years was strong presumptive ev-
idence that he would remain TO the end Yet
each week-yes. and day-saw new crop or
the same news. In view of the accomplished
fact, was it the drop that followed the stone at
last?