Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-06-26
PINGREE SPOILED ALL,
GENERAL Alser Wanted Secrecy as to
His Candidacy.
MUST LEAVE CABINET NOW,
was Anxious to Keep His Post Until
campaign Opened-Genernl Will
sOn Mentioned as His Successor
Position VIII BE Hard to FIJI.

Washington June 26.-Governor Pin.
gree announcement of his combination
with Secretary Alger seems not to have
been on the Alger programme. The Sec
retary's plan, so it is said by his friends,
was to say nothing about his candidacy |
beyond the mere announcement made
several weeks ago until some time next
summer. when he would have to begin
active work in his canvass This pro-
gramme, if it had been carried out. would
have permitted him to remain at the head
or the war department without addition
al embarrassment to the administration,
and it would have given an opportunity
also for quiet work in Michigan, which
Will not now be easy. Pingree's tongue
seems to have got the better of his judg-
mcnt Pingrcc having spoken, there was
nothing for Alger to do but to take his
medicine. When the president and Sec
rotary AlTcr meet, there doubtless will
be an understanding, and it looks now as
though the result of that understanding
would he the speedy withdrawal of Ager
from the cabinet.
Hard to Get Successor.
1t is not going to be an easy thing to
y
for the next two years will be extremely
trying. Whoever shall take it will be an
object of attack. and should he fail to
grapplc with the difficult questions which
are going to mark military administra-
ton from now on he will retire from Of
| fce sadly discrcdited. The president, in
choosing successor to Alger, will have
to consider many things-poitcs. expert
|
A great deal has been said about Gen
eral Horace Porter. the present embassa-
dor to France Porter labors under the
Disadvantage of having had his name
used by those who have been trying to
unseat Alger and who have been most
conspicuous in criticism of the admins
tration's conduct of the war. Indeed, a
direct offer WAS made to the president by
the proprietor of IL newspaper which has
been notably severe in its attacks upon
the war department that if Porter were
to he appointed Mckinley could have
this newspapers support for the rest OF
hi, administration. However we'll quail
fed Porter might be for the position this
sort of thing has not helped him. The
president likes him. but he does not fame!
some of the men who are his advocates.
Tvo Possibilities.
In selecting Il new secretary the presi
dent will have to hunt for n man who i
not only capable of administering the wa
department in military way, but VIII
is broad enough and strong enough t
deal with the exceedingly compllcate
questions which arise with the acquis
ton of Porto Rico and the Philippine
and with the administration of Cuba. l
short. he has got to look for man wit
genius for colonial affairs.
Men of this kind are not common, bu
, two names have been suggested. One c
these is that of General James III. Wllso
i Of Delaware. General Wilson has hig
! reputation as a soldier. as a business ma
and as military administrators He wo
. distinction and major generals con
q mission in the civil war, and he con
g manded more men in the civil war tina
:: any other officer now living. He has bee
q man of large business experience,
master of the problems of transportatl'
and was one of the major generals VINO
President Mckinley took from civil IL
when the volunteer army was put IN u
I field last year
, Wood Also Named.
He has been in Porto Rlco ana Cu
. for a year and he ranks with Genei
" Wood as one of the two men who ma
met with pre-emincnt success IN colon
!" administrations For many years ne n
nj been active in politics. He was one
!, President McKnley's earliest supporte
r and he is on familiar terms with pup
men in all parts of the United states.
short, he possesses every qua'lN' "'i
which the secretary of war ought TO nj.
and he is of broad enough gauge to aai
himself to any conditions, no matter III
strange or how difficult
The other name suggested is that
General Leonard Wood. The mlllt'
y" governor of Santiago possesses all
qualifications of Wilson. with the exc
tion of business experience and acquai
US ance with political affairs. He Is III,
Younger than Wilson, and 1t may pc u
u" he would be n little more up to date
rnsortinr to unfamiliar cXpodlellts
, emcrpcuries. He has never taken any i
III in nolitics. however, and this may be
- o,rded MS an objection to his selection