The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-22
POTATO
PINGREE'S
PLANT.
The Erratie Governor Of Michigan
Has to do Something to
Keep Himself Alive.
He NOW DEFARES PRESIDENT
For Secretary Ayers Resigna.
tion.-The "oueer" Spot in
Pingree's Alleged Brain.

EAuBESS AlISSSu DAaA'
DETROIT, Mich, July 2i.-GoyernoI
Plngree to-day handed the Associated
Press a prepared. signed interview. Eiv'
ing what the governor asserts to b'
facts which are at ,Jlutely reliable
bearing upon the relations between
General Alger and President Mckinley
with which the public are not famil'
lar"
At the outset. the governor says: ''l
have no hesitation in saying that the
course pursued by the President, in this
matter. is little less than cowardly. II
is, to say the least, very unmanly."
Governor Pingree said his informa-
tion did mot come from General Alger
but from zone whose knowledge Of the
facts cannot be disputed"
Proceeding. he said that repeatedly
since the eastern newspapers began
their attack upon Secretary Alger, the
secretary informed the President that
IL these press comments embarrassed
the administration In the slightest de-
gree. he would resign at once, but the
President as often protested emphatic
ally that he had utmost confidence in
Secretary Alger and his conduct Of the
war department and that the country
could not afford to lose his services.
The governor says that at the time
his alleged alliance" with General AL
ger was announced. and before his dis
avowal Of interviews critIclzIng the
President had reached Washington.
General Alger told the President that,
upon the Presidents slightest lntlma-
tion he would resign, but the President
refused to entertain the idea for a mo-
ment.
"A scrccd OF Gall.
AS to the 'alleged alliance" being any
reason for asking for General AlgeFs
resignation, Governor PIngree says:
Long before my announcement that I
would support General Alger for the
senate, Secretary Of State Hay. on June
2 last, requested Vice President Hobart
to intimate to General Alger that his
resignation would be acceptable to the
President, and would relieve him from
the embarrassing attacks of the press
upon the conduct OF the war. Mr.. Ho-
bart very properly declined to be par
ty to such an unmanly, not to say cow
ardly proceeding and expressed his
opinion in terms decidedly vigorous.
After that General Alger, entirely
Ignorant Of this miserable conspiracy,
several times offered to end the attacks
by submitting his resignation, but still
the President did not have the courage
to express himself to his secretary.
General Alger finally did hand his
resIEnation to the President to take eff
feet January 2.
'The President dared not face the
general In a manly way and ask him
to retire and. give his reasons for max
ing the request. He finally accomplish
ed by indlrection what he dared not do
in m open and frank manner himself" :"
Governor Pingree states that Mr.. Ho-
bart was finally prevailed upon by At
torney General Griggs to convey to the
secretary that his resignation was de-
sired, and gave my alleged alliance
with the secretary as a pretext."
Commenting upon the whole matter,
the governor says that General Alger's
sacrifice was compelled by New York
politicians, backed by the "unscrupu.
lous and heartless press" He predicts
that IT will be learned that the Presi-
dent hlmself has been responsible for
whatever mistakes have been made in
conducting the war"
"Iam Told"
He adds: ''I am told on the very best
authority that General Alger made
very few appointments of officers dur
ing the war and that the commissions
were issued almost entirely upon the
orders of the President"
The governor alleges that the more
recent attacks upon Alger in the east
were caused by his frank declaration
of opposition to trusts and he adds that
there Is a decided odOr of trusts
around the present administration. with
Mark Hanna as the acknowledged
'King.maker'
In conclusion the governor calls upon
Michigan people and newspapers to
protest against the injustice done the
states foremost representative in pub
lie life.
ut Is eonjeetured here that
Brlgadler General Henry II. Dutleld
gave some Of the foregoing lnforma-
tion, but the general declines to be In
tervlewed.
Chase 8. Osborn. state railroad COM
missioner who is reputed to be General
AlEer's representative in preparing for
the senatorial campaign, spent several