The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-08-03
ALGER'S WELCOME HOME
Detroit's Enthusiastic Reception to
the Ex-SeCretary.
P1NGRBB AND THE NEWSPAPERS.

People I'm High Places Yielded TO the |
Assaults of Corporation owned |
Press-Revenge at the Ballot Box.
Detroit. Aug. Whatever may have
been the personal feelings of the late
secretary Of war, General Russell a.
Alger, concerning recent incidents OF
his official career, all sentiments save
those of genuine happiness were very
evidently banished yesterday after
noon and evening by the magnificent
welcome rendered him by the people
of his own city and state. From 4
o'clock when the welcoming commit
tee crowded into his private car upon
its arrival at Toledo. until 9 o'clock,
when the general seized grasping out
stretched hands. the scene was a con-
stant and spontaneous ovation Smiles
and tears repeatedly struggled for the
mastery over the secretary's bronzed
countenauce, as he gazed into the
eager faces of the multitudes who
loudly and convincingly insisted that
"Alger's all right" and no dissonant
voice was heard. Darkness fell dur
ing the speeches from the reviewing
stand in front of the city hall. giving
opportunity for throwing a searchlight
upon the features of General Alger
drawn in crayon on a canvas 16 feet
square hung from the city hall front
and surrounded by patriotic decora-
tions A great crush at the indoor re-
ception was the final feature.
The special train which met General
Alger and party at Toledo consisted
of eight coaches. It carried 400 mem
bers of the reception committee. Ban
gfrafrhaI a1nnu fhp afHpu nf fhn
cars stated that Michigan welcomes
her honored son, General Alger." When
| the Pennsylvania train arrived the
generals private car was besieged by
| his old friends. On the return trip
| General Alger was escorted through
the train and greeted by all.
| Headed by about 300 bicyclists, over
| 1000 marchers escorted General Alger
from the Michigan Central station by
a circuitous route leading past the
| generals home to the reviewing stand
! Militia and veterans of the civil war,
| including Fairbanks Post, G.. A. R., Of
which the general is a member, a
company of Spanish war veterans and
scores of members In secret society
uniform, filed past. Fairbanks Post
carried two great banners, stretching
half across the street, which declared
"There is only one Alger."
When General Alger appeared upon
the reviewing stand there was roar
of applause from the dense crowd
which blocked all traffic across the
Campus Maritus. The ex-secretary re-
viewed the parade and returned the
salutations of many marchers, especi-
ally those Of veteran Grand Army COM
rades.
Mayor Maybury, in calling the meet.
ing to order, said
General Alger, should despair, sir
OF being able to voice the heartiness
of this welcome were 1t not already
shown in this vast concourse through
whom you have passed. 1t will &c
forth to the world, sir, that where yor
are best known there you are best be
loved and best appreciated. l welcome
you home, sir, to a people who low
justice and fair play. This welcome Il
by your neighbors. They come from
all parts of this glorious state. Mel
will say that with an upright char
acter, so we'll established, there is NJ
power on earth that can detract from
the fame of a good neighbor and oiti
zen and honest man."
Governor Pingree, in his speech
Itdu III Dtndll VI lllt 6ldNt, Ildub bOIl
pointed reference to incidents leadinl
to Alger's home coming, and free
some characteristic shots at the news
papers, which, he asserted, were large
ly responsible. The governor said tha
Alger's best service for his countr!
was in his efficient management Of tn
war department. Said he:
without your energy, bushes
ability and experience, no one know
how long 1t might have lasted YoI
were handicapped by machinery Il
your department which was ancien
and obsolete. In spite of 1t you con
tributed more than any one else L
bring the conflict to an end with los
of life so small as to astonish tn
world The people of Michigan lool
upon the manner in which your with
drawal from the cabinet was force
I as an insult to the state They ar
here today to rebuke the cupidity O
politicians, high and low. They ar
here to show their contempt for tn
cowardly attacks of a venal press
The people of Michigan will remembe
the indignity to which the state ha
been subjected. In time they will com
u to know who is responsible for 1t.
), think they already see that polite
d makes towards of some men, in bot
"a high and low position. They will i
time despise the official, no matter ho'
e exalted his station, who to save him
L self bows and tTuckles to newspaper
IS or money or influence or power in an
form. They will turn away every oi
fetal representative of Michigan 6
VI Washington who has stood by will
5, out protest and permitted citizen {
the state to be as grossly abused an
= misrepresented as you have been, Tt
'' sense of justice and fair play Of OF
people will not support such method
They will be apparent when the PEE
pie of our state express themselves
lts the polls,
Sn "I have come to believe that the IL
stitution most dangerous to our for
of government is the newspaper.
boasted liberty is rather a license.
has no scruple and no cOnscienc
There are, of course, exceptions, but
. Ipeak of the press as a whole. Becau
you, General Alger, would not bow
them and conduct the war departme
in the interests of the combines, Il
army contractors and the commerce
nd interests which control the newsp
ay pers you became a marked man."
TX * General Alger, responding, said
is part:
MS 81 can command no language to e
ia, press my gratitude to you for II
the royal welcome to my home. / am 81
rist from the bottom of my heart to be l
lck leased from official care and to aga
zen enter the old home and live among