New-York tribune., 1899-07-20
A SURPRISE TO WASHINGTON.
CABINET MEMBERS UNWILLING TO DIS
CUSS THE RESIGNATION-TALK OF
A SUCCESSOR MERELY
SPECULATION.

SPECULATION.
Washington. July 19.-The news Of Secretary
Alger's resignation caused buzz Of comment
this evening In all public places. but at the
White House there was evidence that any
unusual event had occurred. The President
went for a drive with his niece Miss Duncan.
late In the afternoon, handling the reins him
self. There were callers OF importance in
the early part of the evening but about
O'Clock Secretary Hay. accompanied by Senator
Fairbanks of Indiana. who has Just returned
from Alaska, came over for a talk on the boun-
dairy question Secretary Hitchcock and Con-
troller Dawes called socially for few minutes.
There was no evidence of Cabinet conference.
and no suggestion of anything in that line.
There was nothing to give out for publication,
1t was said. The Cabinet officers still in town
showed the same unwillingness to talk Of the
resignation. Some of them said that they had
felt that the resignation was likely to come at
any time, but that they so surprised at
the published announcement that it was actual
ly in hand that they were at first inclined to
regard 1t as premature.
REGRETTED BY GENERAL CORBIN.
Ad5utant- General Corbin was seen In the
evening and while not wishing TO discuss any
OF the facts connected with the resignation ex-
pressed 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 he has 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
soldiers, their comfort and their welfare. Time
and again he has said to us that everything
must yield before the requirements Of the men
in the field. and If the funds were lacking he
would pay for 1t himself. He will leave the De-
partment with the respect and esteem OF every
one in it."
At his home In the evening the Secretary posi-
lively declined to assign any reason for the
action he had taken. He had called in the af-
ternoon upon Secretary Hay at the State De-
partment, and with him at home were Major
Hopkins and Mr.. Mason but beyond many
newspaper men, few Of whom secured access to
him, the Secretary saw no one.
No official statement to the cause of the
resignation was procurabe either from the
President, was the letter of resignation OBJ
tainabe at this time. For the. present nothing
will be made known officially concerning the
severance of the official relations between the
President and his War Minister. but later on
the official correspondence closing the latters
career as chief of the War Department doubt
less will be given to the press.
Secretary Alger arrived in Washington last
night too late to make any official calls. AL
most before 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 decided to re-
sign his office What passed on that point be-
tween himself and the President is only mat
ter of surmise, for neither has anything to say
on this point. Some routine business pertain
ing to the War Department was disposed Of be-
tween the President and the Secretary and then
Mr.. Alger went over to his office and spent some
time with General Wilson, Chief of Engineers.
and Major Hopkins. looking into the merits of "a
controversy which had arisen over the construc-
tiOn of drawbridge over a navigable stream in
Michigan. Major Hopkins had just returned
from personal inspection OF the locality, and
had prepared a report on the subject.
Several times they were interrupted by AdJu-
tant General Corbn. who had some matters of
pressing current business requiring the personal
action Of the Secretary to bring to his attention
This attended to. Secretary Alger wrote his
formal letter Of resignation and personally car
ried 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 many callers who were
in waiting, and had long conference with Ad-
| jutant General Corbn. 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 Vic
tor Mason his private secretary, by his author
ity, as they said, made the announcement that
Secretary Alger had submitted his resignation
to the President, to take effect at the pleasure
of the President.
Secretary Alger is much wearied by the weight
Of responsibility he has borne for nearly two
years and half he has aged many years In the
| opinion Of his personal friends, and Is In need
| of rest He proposes to go to the Northwest and
spend some time in the lumber camps belonging
| to him and then to pay visits to his children.
| These will occupy his time until we'll along into
next fall. About political matters the Secretary
does not speak now. but it may be surmised that
| he then will be ready, in view Of his already an
nounced decision, to take such part In the Mich
gan Senatorial contest as conditions at the time
| shall warrant.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE SUCCESSION.
Members Of the Cabinet we're not inclined to
| talk about the succession, although one did re-
mark that the President had made no mention
| of a name to him. and he believed that no de-
| cision had yet been reached. He also conveyed
| the impression that no appointment would be
| made Immediately but that Mr.. Meiklejohn
would be allowed to direct affairs for some time
| 10 come Among the names which have been
mentioned when talk Of Secretary Agers forth
coming resignation has been rife have been
those of General Horace Porter OF New-fork'
| now Ambassador to France; Governor Roose-
! velt of New-York; General Harrison Grey Otis
| and Assistant Secretary MeikleJohn. The name
of General Corbin has been mentioned In con-
nection with an ad interim appointment PEND
ing the selection Of permanent occupant or the
! office This gossip also included questions OF
locality and the opinion was expressed In some
we'll nosted quarters that the selection would
be made from the West. All this. however is
mere speculation.
AS 10 the report that General Corbin would
be Secretary ad interim, an officer close 10 the
| General said there no basis for the re-
| mort that the President had never contem-
| plated naming General Corbin. and that II such
an annontment were rendered IL would not be
accented. There was also some talk that Cen
eral Corbin might have the portfolio perma-
nently although this was regarded as improp-
able even among General Corbns friends
There would be precedent for such course,
| L-,.o,,ar ae In the case of General SchOfeldS