The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-20

Washington, July 19.-Secretary Alger
to-day rendered to the president his
resignation of the war portfolio. The
resignation will become effective Aug.
l, though it was rendered "at the pleas
ure of the president
Gossip has already begun as to his
successor, but it 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 it would come by
the end of the year was generally be-
lieved, but little was it expected at
this time that the cabinet officers when
the news first become public were in
clined to regard the announcement as
premature, the announcement that it
was actually in hand coming to them in
the nature of a surprise. Formal ac-
ceptance of the resignation had not
been made by the president up TO
late houi tonight, but will be in let
ter to be written within the next day or
two.
No official statement as to the cause
from the president or from Secretary
Alger, neither of whom would talk on
the subject. Nor was the letter of res
ignation obtainable at this time For.
the present nothing will be made Off
cially known concerning the severance
of the official relations between the
president and his war minister, but
later on the official correspondence clos
ing the latter's career as chief of the
war department doubtless will be given
to the press.
1t Was a Surprise.
The belief had prevailed in Washing
ton for some time that Secretary Alger
would resign from the cabinet, but the
date generally set for it was towards
the close of the year after he had sub
mitted his annual report, in which ne
intended to sum up what had been ac-
complished during his brief but event
full direction of the war department. It's
tender then had been regarded as al
most foregone conclusion, in view of
Mr.. Alger's announcement about
month ago that he had concluded to
enter competition for the vacancy in
the United States senate to be caused
by the expiration of the term of Senator
Mcmillan, and that he had enlisted in
his active support Governor Pingree, to
whom had been attributed free criti-
cisms of the policy that was supposed
to be cherished by the president toward
the Filipinos.
Strained Relations.
There have been many explanations
and denials of the facts in that case
but in the end the impression was con-
veyed that the result of the Michigan
visit of the secretary had been to
change the relations between the presi-
dent and himself to such degree as to
make a restoration of their former
status impossible and to render the
connection of the two as part of the
same official family undesirable Since
then there was ground for the belief
that rupture might be avoided, but
this belief ceased to be held when the
news spread that Vice President Hobart
and Secretary Alger We're in conference
at Normanhurst. 1t was largely, at
least as result of this conference
that Secretary Alger decided to leave
the cabinet at this time. At this con-
ference there were present. besides Sec
retary Alger. his military aide and close
personal and political friend and ad-
wiser, Major Hopkins, and perhaps some
other person or persons who felt also
deep interest in the future of the sec
retary
There has been no disclosure of what
passed, but it is significant that the
return of the secretary to Washington
was followed by prompt action. He ar
rived in Washington last night too late
TO make any official calls. Almost be-
fore the executive departments were
opened for business this morning he
called at the white house and, visiting
the president in his office. announced
that he had concluded to resign his of
nee. What passed between himself and
the president is only a matter of sur
mise, for neither has anything to say
on this point.
He Personally Carries the Letter.
Later Secretary A1ger wrote out his
formal letter of resignation and per
sonally carried it over TO the white
house. His call on this occasion was
brief, and when he returned to the war
department he closed the door of his
office to most of the callers who were
in waiting and had a long conference
with Adjutant General Corbin
To the newspaper men who sought
to secure some expression from him
the secretary was courteous but firm.
On the one side General Corbin and On
the other Victor Mason, his pri-