The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-22
Alger Is Out.

Alger as Secretary Of War The resig'
nation was not voluntary. Had 1t not
be IN rendered. it would have been re-
quested
The climax in the career Of Gen
eral Alger rs head Of the War Depart
ment occurred at the White House
shortly after noon today. when the
President declined to longer carry the
heavy load which the Secretary had
become The Secretary suggested a
means by which he could be induced
TO remain in the Cabinet This sug'
gestion was nothing more or less than
that the President should publicly an
nounce his satisfaction with General
Ayers conduct " the War Depart
ment.
PLAINLY approaching the feeling Of
the country and believing there should
be at the head of the War Department
a man Of nerve judgment and tact
capable Of handling the Philippines
situation and the various delicate
questions which the future will bring.
the President, it is said, was compelled
10 show Secretary Alger he could not
do as he desired TheTeupOn Alger in
formed the President that his resigna-
tion was at his disposal and produced
formal letter Of resignation, which he
had prepared in anticipation of the
Presidents declination to comply with
his wishes. such resignation to take eff
feet at the pleasure Of the President.
ALGER AND PRESIDENT RETlCENT.
This dramatic scene will probably
never be accurately described Secre-
tary Alger, after announcing that his
resignation had been given to Mr. Me
Kinley, declined to speak Of what tran.
spired between him and the President.
At the White House there was equal ret
icence II can be stated authOratatively =,
however. that the President made 1t
clear today that the chief cause OF his
desire for the severance Of the Official
relations existing between them was
the alliance General Alger had formed
with Governor Pingree, Of Michigan.
The formal exchange Of letters which
will terminate Secretary Ayers con.
nection with the War Department will
be concluded with the President accept
ance Of the Secretary's resignation
These letters, like those which passed
| between the President and former
Secretary Of State Sherman, will be
friendly in tone and will give no indi-
cation Of General Ayers reasons for
resigning and the President reason
for accepting the resignation.
The official utterauces of mem
bers If the cabinent who have seen
the President since Secretary Alger
rendered his resignation are all to the
effect that the President Will support
Secretary Ayers conduct Of the war i.
and that the only reason Mr.. Mckinley
had for desiring to part with his Sec
rotary Of War was the alliance the
latter had made with Governor Pingree.
This is the official view Privately
they do not deny that the President
was unable to longer resist the demand
that had come from every quarter for
the retirement Of General Alger be-
cause he has been such an utter failure
as Secretary Of War.
ITO his personal friends the Secre-
tAry expresses bitter regret at the
treatment he has received
WILL RETIRE Of AUGUST !.
Secretary Alger's resignation will be-
come effective on August /, although
rendered at the pleasure Of the Presi-
dent, " The Secretary's resignation
had been regarded as almost foregone
conclusion in view Of the announce
ment about a month ago that he had
concluded to enter into competition for
the vacancy in the United States Sen
ate to be caused by the expiration OF
the term OF Senator Mcmillan, Of
Michigan, a strong supporter OF the ad-
ministration, and that he enlisted in
his active support Gov. Pingree, to
whom had been attributed criticisms
Of the policy that was supposed to be
cherished by the President toward the
Fillpinos.
There have been many explanations
and denials Of the facts in that case,
bat in the end the impression was
conveyed that the result of the Michi'
gan visit Of the Secretary had been to
change the relations between the Pres
ident and himself to such a degree as
to make restoration of their former
status impossible and to render the
connection of the two as part Of the
same official family undesirable
The Secretary. Furthermore. felt the
intentional slight of being left out of
recent conference at the White House,
to which Governor Roosevelt was in
vited, for the purpose of considering
the method of making appointments in
volunteer regiments, and possibly felt
that the time had arrived when he
must retire to protect his own dignity
and self-respect if nothing else. In Sc
lecting the colonies for the 10 new
regiments not one of the officers recon-
mended by the Secretary was desig-
mated. and in every instance the APP
pointments were personal selections
of either Gen. Corbin or the President.
In other respects the Secretary had been |
compelled to realize that his position
was no longer bearable; that he had |
practically no authority or influence in
the War Department.
CONSULTED THE WAR DEPARTMENT. |
A. ona tirne einca then there was /