The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-20
THOUGHT 1T WAS PREMATURE.
officials Not Prepared for the News
of the Resignation.

of the Resignation.
Washington, July 19.-Secretary A.ger
to-day rendered the President his resig-
nation of the war portfolio. The resig-
nation will become effective Aug. l, though
It was rendered "at the pleasure of the
President"
Gossip has begun already as to his sue
cessor, but it is entirely speculative, for
notwithstanding the reports that Gen.
Alger would not long continue at the head
of the war department, his actual resig-
nation came suddenly and unexpectedly.
So little was it expected at this time that
some of the cabinet officers, when the
news first became public, were inclined to
regard the announcement as premature.
Forma. acceptance of the resignation had
not been made by the President up to a
late hour tonight. but VIII be in letter
to be written in the next day or two
No Statement of Cause.
No official statement as to the cause of
the resignation was procurable, either
from the President or from Secretary Al
ger. neither of whom would talk on the
subject Nor was the letter of resigna-
ton obtainable. For the present nothing
will be made known officially concerning
the severance of the official relations be-
tween the President and his war minister
but later on the correspondence c.osing
the latter's career as chief of the war de-
partment doubtless win be given to the
press.
The belief had prevailed in Washington
for some time that Secretary Alger would
resign from the cabinet, but the date gen
orally set for 1t was toward the close OF
the year after he had submitted his an
ii1 uybi iab he int IoI To
up what had been accomplished during
his brief but eventful direction of the
war department Its tender then had been
regarded as almost a forcssone conclusion
in view of Gen. Alger's announcement
about a month ago that he had concluded
20 enter into competition for The vacancy
in the United States Senate TO succeed
Senator Mcmillan a strong supporter of
the administration, and that he had en-
listed in his active support Gov. Pingrec
to whom had been attributed free crit
cisms of the policy that was supposed TO
be cherished by the President toward the
Filipinos.
There have been many explanations and
denials of the facts in the case. but in
the end the impression was conveyed thar
the result of the Michigan visit of the
secretary had been to change the relations
between the President and himself to
such a degree as to make a restoration
of their former status impossible and TO
render the connection of the two
as part of the same official family
undesirable.
Was Done Mt the Seaside.
At one time since then there
was ground for the belief that a rupture
might be avoided, but this belief ceased
when the news spread that Vice President
Hobart and Secretary Alger were in CON
ference at Normanhurst 1t was largely as
a result of this conference that Secretary
Alger decided TO leave the cabinet. At this
conference there were present, beside Sec
retary, Aiger, his military aide and close
personal and political friend and adviser
Mai Hopkins, and perhaps some other
persons or person who also fe.t deep in
terest in the future OF the secretary.
There has been no disclosure Of what
passed by the seaside, but It is signih-
cant that the return Of the secretary to
Washington was followed by prompt ac-
Continued on Filth PAGE.