Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-07-20

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
severance of the Official relations be-
tween the president and his war min
lister, but later ON the official cores
pondence closing the latter's career as
chief of the war department doubtless
will be given to the press.
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 secre-
tary of war Names are mentioned,
but they are only those which have
already been suggested with more or
less of plausibility in the press dis
patches without securing either con-
firmation or denial from any well in
formed persons. The members of the
cabinet were all disinclined to talk
about the succession, though one did
remark that the president had made
no mention of a name to him, and he
believed that no decision had yet been
reached. He also conveyed the impress
sion that no appointment would be
made Immediately but that Mr.. Meikle-
john would be allowed to direct af-
fairs for some time to come. Among
the names which have been mention
ed from time to time in this discus
sion when talk of Secretary Ayers
forthcoming resignation has been rife
have been those of General Horac Pcr-
ter, 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 permanent occupant
of the Office, but an officer close to the
general said there was no basis for the
report. There was some talk also that
General Corbin might be given the
portfolio permanently, although this
was regarded as improbable, even
among General Corbin's friends. There
would be precedent for such a course,
however, as in the case of General
Schofield's cabinent service.
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 today. 1t
is urged that the largely increased
legal questions which are constantly
coming before the war department as
a consequence of our new possessions
make il desirable that its executive Of
ficer should be a man of legal at
tainments and experience In this same
connection the name of Hon. EIihu
Root, the well known New York law
yer, is mentioned. General James H
Wilson, of Delaware, now in the vol
unteer establishment and governor of
the province of Matanzas, Cuba. is also
spoken Of General Wilson was a well
known soldier in the civil war and
since has been prominently identified
with business enterprises.
Adjutant General Corbin was seen
during the evening, and while not
wishing to discuss any of the facts con-
nected with the resignation expressed
his personal regret at the turn of af-
fairs. He said
Il feel great sympathy and great
respect for the secretary. History will
show that if ne 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 the interests of the SOL
diers, their comfort and their welfare
Time and again he has said to us that
everything must yield before the re-
quirements of the men in the field, and
If the funds were lacking he would pay
for it himself. He will leave the de-
partment with the respect and esteem
of every one in it."