The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-23
PINGREE ON M'ISINLEY.

In the interview with Governor Pingree
of Michigan published in yesterdays Post,
we can begin to see why His Exceliency
William Mckinley hesitated so long in
throwing the Jonah of his cabinet over
board. The notorious secretary of war
knew some things himself about the con-
duct of the war that Mr. Mckinley did not
desire to see in the public prints.
If Alger wants to stand back on his dig
nifty and a sense of propriety and refuse
to tell tales out of school, which yet he
would like to see told he has picked out
the ideal wicked partner" What Pin
gree won't tell won't be worth printing
yesterdays paper constitute only n kind
of preliminary skirmlsh attack. Governor
Pingree may be depended on to bring up
the main line little later on.
In the interview just published. how
ever, there is much that is significant and
that shows the president up in most
unenviable, not to say contemplate, light.
The republican governor of Michigan tells
us that from the beginning OF the news
paper attacks on Alger the latter offered
to resign. but that Mckinley refused to
accept the resignation and expressed full
approval of the acts of the secretary of
war, Again and again. says Governor Pin
gree. General Alger intimated to the presl-
dent that his resignation was ready when
ever II was wanted. but Mckinley still
Endorsed Ayers administration of the war
department and declined to hear OF his
resignation These statements by the gov
ernor of Michigan are fully corroborated
in what may be characterized, above all
other papers IN tho country, the admin
tstration organ" the mouthpiece of the
White House and of the heads of the de-
partments-the Washington Post. In
recent account OF the circumstances sur
rounding Ayers retirement the Post says.
Secretary Alger, from the moment tho sys-
tematic attack WAS begun upon him by news
paperg OF the country, has been ready to to y
der his resignation whenever II was the pleas
ure OF the president TO receive II. But Mr..
Mckinley earnestly and repeatedly expressed
his entire confidence In the secretary, MS vol
rs his approval of his conduct OF the war de-
rartment and would not listen to any sugges-
ton of his retirement These facts are we'll
known IN Washington. After tho secretary
hno been rNonerated OF published charges By
two cominissions--one civil aud the other mill
tary-and tho president had given his approval
TO the flndings the attacks upon the secretary
were suspended for time; only 10 be renewed
candidacy for the United States senate, The
meeting between General Alger and Governor
lowed by tho report that they had entered into
combination to defent Senator Mcmillan,
brought politics into the situation, and was
the signal for. herco attack by the secretary's
enemies all along tho line.
Here, then. we have the key to the en-
tire situation. The plumbers In the war
department, the scandals In Its bureaus
the incompetency of the secretary and his
assistants. the sickness. want. suffering
and deaths OF our brave soldiers In home
ane foreign cnmps-the president accept
ed full responsibility for by refusing to
supreme confidence in his war secretary!
Humanity and the protests OF the Nation
could not move Mr. Mckinley Rather
than incur Ayers hostility he was ready
heartlessy to continue conditions that had
aroused the sympathy on the one hand
and the indignation on the other OF the
American people.
BUT presto!--h cnanSe. anger announcer
his candidacy for the senate against one
OF McKinley's props in the congress and It
was understood that the secretary OF war
was in league with one OF the presidents
boldest critlcs-Pingree. Then came the |
'cowardly conspiracy" as Pingree calls
It, to get another offer OF resignation from |
Alger, which was obtained and accepted
The sufferings OF thousands of soldiers,
the Indignation of the people. the loss of
life. were as nothing to our "Christlan
president"-the moment tho situation took
a political turn, possibly hurtful to him
self, this great and good man" forced
Alger out OF the cabinet,
This Is another illustration OF pot house
politics like that by which poor old sher-
man was buncoed out OF the senate TO
make way for Hxnna. Alger deserves no
praise nor sympathy. but today he shows
up ~ more Of man than the scheming,
selnsh. though weak. politician who hap Il