The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-07-21

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER..
WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 18th

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. July 18th.
Mr.. EDITORIALS though his announce
ment of his determination to remain in
the Cabinet until after the first of next
January were not humiliation enough for
Mr.. Mckinley, Secretary Alger has actu-
ally had the gall to demand of Mr. Nc
kinney that he make Il public statement
denying that he would like Ayers rcsig-
nation. This is what the bows call
rubbing it in on Mr. Mckinley, but
those who think that Mr.. Mckinley should
have fired Alger when the scandals of the
war with Spain first became public instead
of assisting in having him whtewashed
are not inclined to sympathiZe with his
embarrassment at the demand. And
there are quite number who ale glad the
demand has been made Mr.. Mckinley
has, through close personal friends. ii
lowed the public to suppose that he was
anxious to have Algcr resign, but wished
him to do SO voluntarily. Now, it is up
to him to say once for all whether he
wishes Alger to remain in his Cabinet.
The law very plainly says that in the
absence of both the Secretary and the
Assistant Secretary of War the General
commanding the army shall be Assistant
Secretary of War. Alger and his assis-
tant have both been away since Friday,
and the result was the absolute suspension
of all public business requiring the sigma
ture or action of the Secretary of War,
although Gen. Miles was in his office in
the State, War and Navy Department
building each day, prepared to perform
the duties of Secretary of War Adiutant
General Corbin said that Gen. Miles WIS
Acting Secretary of War, but, as Il matter
Of fact, from Friday until to day Gen
Miles did not 81 IN a single paper as Act
ing Secretary. although there must have
been hundreds relating to routine matters
| requiring the Secrctarvs signature 1t
was another added to the many unneces-
sary Sights put upon Gen. Miles by Secre-
tarv Algcr and the willing tools with
which he has surrounded himself in the
War Dcdartment. Although the law SAYS
that Gen. Miles should have been Acting
Secretary of War during those three DAYS,
Alger, assuming h mscIf greater than the
law, said that there should be no Secretary
| of War during that period, and his word
was obeyed, regardless of cost or incon-
| venience, and all business held up to await
! his return.
Representative Lcntz, of Ohio, is in
| Washington upon important legal bust
ness. He no longer regards himself as Il
| candidate for the democratic gubcrnatorial
| nomination, but frankly says that he
| would like to have the second place on
| the Bryan ticket, and adds that he has re-
| ceived Encouragement enough to cause
| him to believe that he may receive the
| nomination for Nice-Prcsident
Ex-senator Dubois SAYS that if the re
publican platform comes out squarely for
the single gold standard, rs now seems
likely, it will elect Bryan by republican
| votes: that he knows of thousands who
V ted the republican ticket in '9G, solely
because of the promise to bring about
wider use for silver, who will under no
circumstances vote a gold standard ticket
Mr.. Dubois says he regards it as certain
that the republican platform will contain
rs strong an anti trust plank as the demo
| cratic platform, but thinks the individual
voter should have no doubt as to which
party will really combat the trusts Mr.
| Dubois also says that he is certain the
tickets will be headed next year by Bryan
and Mckinley, as in 90
Gov. Roosevelt was reminded by the
turning down of several men whom he
had recommended personally to Mr. Nc
kinley for appointment to be officers in
the volunteers, that there are other poll
ticans in New York who have pull with
the administration. Not only were some
of Rooscvelt's men turned down, but there
were New Workers appointed whose
| names were not even referred to him by
| Mr.. Mckinley. The authority for this
statement is an official of the War De-
partment, who knows the endorsements
on the papers of every man who was APP
pointed. Perhaps Roosevelt would have
| had better luck if he had withheld his
declaration in favor of Mr.. Mckiney's
denomination Il little longer Publicly
committing himself probably weakened
| his pull