The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-03
ATTACKS THE
NEWSPAPERS.
Gov. Pingree Uses Severe Lam
guage Toward the Press
In an Effort to Regain His For
mer Standing.
FORCED TO COME OUT
And Swear Allegiance to the
Administration
FORCED TO COME OUl
In a Letter to the Public
Through Gen. AIger.

Detroit, Mich, July Ex-Governor Pin
gree last night dispatched a letter to Sec
rotary Alger, brought out by criticisms OF
the secretary and the numerous comments
recently published concerning the agree
ment made by the governor to support
Secretary Alger in his campaign for the
United States senatorship. The letter is
as follows
My Dear GeneraI:-I subscribe to a clip
ping bureau, and I have within the past
few days been receiving large numbers of
clippings from newspapers published in
every part of the country containing what
purpOrts to be an interview with me in
which criticisms Of the present admins
tration are put in my mouth l am as
tonished at the circulation and credence
Whch TINS alleged lnterVleW mas received.
would not take cognizance OF II We're II
not for the fact that it seer IS to have been
so widely circulated, ana also IOr Ihe ted-
son that there are many persons who nave
yet to learn that what is termed political
news ana opinion are as unfellaple. mac
curate and prejudiced as the newspaper
mans ingenuity and cunning can make
It did not seem to me necessary to deny
the interview. I would not now give 1t
any thought Whatever We're II not Tor the
fact that it is made the basis of a petty
q 49, 49, t,3IllSI II,rCtii,,c+ f
small CALDER intelIects.
The interview to which have referred
is a pure fabrication. There is not a single
sentence in it which was spoken by me.
or may not have been acting upon instruc
lions from his chief.
opinion of the necessity for the war IN the
HhhlIpPi99es. - haye IN common with is
approved of it, and have had no hesitation
in giving my views whenever have been
asked for them. I voted for Mr.. McKin-
ley and have had no cause. whatever to
regret it. II he IS candidate again,
VIII take pleasure IN giving him my sup
It has always seemed to me that the
criticism by New York newspa pers of the
management of the war department has
amounted a condemnation not only Of the
o :
well known that no important step is
taken without the concurrence, or at least
net I am well satisfied that the attack
upon the war department is nothing but
a cunningly conceived plot to create a va
cancy to be Tiled BY New York politi-
are discussing the distribution of the pa
tronage of the department. The other pa
what the New York newspapers have
said OF course it is not sIrprising that
tor Burrows have joineG in the contempti-
Bile scheme to discre1ft and defame the
alliance" with yea is concerned, 1 can
freely and frankly say that none has
AS you are already aware, I simply
pr0ffered yOU my support in your candi-
dacy for United states senator, and only
wanted 10 know whether you were in ia
of the tinted STATES peTnitfine tIe cleo
ton Of = I1fted states senators by direct
vlsed by y1u that you favored tbs restric-
ton Of trusts" but neither of these
I
port In common with thousands Of other
Michigan people, merely offered to as
sist you.
If anything. I profit by it politically.
because the American people detest cow
arLiIy methods of fighting. The language
which is attributed to me IN the false in
teIVieW, in which I am made to criticise
and abuse the administration, should have
condemned the interview as a fabrication
at once. But even more absurd is the
statement made by the press. that I am
an avOwed candidate for the Republican
nomination for president at the next ma
tiOnal convention; that you have made an
alliance with me, and that, therefore, you
have practically declared your opposition
to President Mckinley and should retire
from his cabinet.
to be entitled to serious attention. 1t is
sufficient to say to you that I have not,
and never did, entertain the remOteSt in
tention of becoming a candidate for the