The evening times., 1899-02-23
ALGER's DAYS NUMBERED.


New York, Feb 23-The Herald" prints
the following from its Washington CORES
pondent:
THE days of Algerism in the War De-
partment are numbered. The resignation
of Secretary Russell A. Alger, voluntary or
by request of the President, will occur
within fortnight.
President Mckinley has practically
made up his mind as to Secretary Alger's
successor.
These positive statements were made to
me today by gentleman usually we'll in
formed, and were subsequently admitted
as a probability by a member of the Cab
met, who has talked with the President
confdentially on the subject.
Secretary Alger is in Detroit. 1t is be-
lieved he is making plans for returning
there and resuming his old business en-
gagements. He is expected to return here
on Friday and it is not unlikely that his
resignation and the appointment OF his
successor may be formally announced by
that time.
Secretary Ayers contemplated junket
This is one of the reasons for believing
his resignation is to occur Immediately.
am told by one of his close personal
friends that he had made up his mind
some days ago to make an extensive in
spection tour OF Cuba and Porto Rico, TO
submit a report to the President and then
to resign from the Cabinet on the ground
of ill health. His idea was that he could
then retire without suspicion that ne
was forced to do so under fire.
This same gentleman informed me last
night that the Secretary had practically
determined to abandon his inspection
trip, for what reason he did not seem to
know, or rather was unwilling to admit
| The invitations issued to the members Of
the military committees and their fami-
lies still holds good, but if the Secretary
does not go himself 1t is probable the trip
will be abandoned entirely.
In spite of statements TO the contrary,
it can be positively asserted that the re!a-
tions between the President and Secretary
Alger are decidedly strained.
President Mckinley has felt for long
time the serious embarrassment to the
success of his Administration caused by
| Alger's mismanagement of the War De-
| partment. and his close political friends
have advised him more than once to find
| some way of getting a new Secretary o.
| War.
Finding that the public comment on the
report of the War Commission empha :
| sized the demand for the relief of Sscre-
tary Alger, the President has found a way
of impressing upon that official the desira-
| bilty of his early retirement.
While the report of the War Commis-
sion in only one instance plainly pointed
| out the inefficiency of the head of the War
| Department, | have reliable information
that several members of the Commission
! talking with the President privately and
! individually, made the case against Sec
| retary Alger much stronger than reported
in the formal findings of the Board
The President made a mental note OF
! these observations and indicated TO at least
one member OF the Board that he appre-
| ciated the full significance of their private
| statements, and that in the near future
! they would not go unheeded.
| BY many OF those who are interested in
the enactment of an army reorganization
bill at this session it is earnestly hoped
/ the formal announcement of Secretary Al
! gers retirement from the Cabinet will be
| made before the end of the week 1t is
! fully appreciated that the opposition 10 the
! pending bill is as much due 10 disgust at
! Algerism as TO politics. With certainty
! that there is to be a new Secretary of War,
capable of carrying out the will of Con-
! gress for a proper reorganization OF the
| army, there is little doubt that much of the
| opposition TO the pending measure will
| subside.
1T is believed that the President is not
uninfuenced by the trend of the testimo-
| ny al present being given by officers of the
army before the Court of Enquiry inves-
tigating the charges made by Major Cen
eral Miles as to the bad quality of beef
| supplied to the army.
Secretary Alger did everything possible
to discredit General Miles and defend the
beef, and now that an official enquiry is be-
! ing made into the matter witness after
| witness comes forward and tells of the
nauseating and unwholesome character of
| the canned roast beef.
| When the Court of Enquiry was ordered
the issue in the popular mind was between
| the War Department and General Miles
| There is no doubt that 1t was the deter
mination of the department to find ground
| if possible. for the removal of General
Miles. Instead of this, the General will
| apparently be sustained in every charge
made. and the popular sense of justice
can be satisfied only by the dismissal Of
Secretary Alger."
EATAT ETDE TIT rr-1.-1