The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-21


his formal letter of resignation and per-
sonally carried it over to the White
house. His call on this occasion was
brief, and when he returned to the war
de.artment he closed the door of his
office to most of the many callers who
were in waiting and had a long con-
ference with Adjutant General Corbin.
NOTHING FOR THE NEWSPAPERS.
To the newspaper men who sought
to secure some expression from him
the secretary was courteous but firm.
On the one side, General Corbin, and
on the other Mr.. Victor Mason, his pri-
vate secretary, by his authority as they
said, made the announcement that Sec
retary Alger had submitted his resig-
nation to the president, to take effect at
the pleasure of the president.
At his residence in the evening, the
secretary was equally unconmunica-
| tive and positively declined to assign
any reason for the action he had taken.
He had called during the afternoon
upon Secretary Hay at the state depart
ment and with him at home were Major
Hopkins and Mr.. Mason. The secretary
saw no one but a few of the many
newspaper men who called.
MIR. MEIKLEJOHN TO TAKE
/ CHARGE.
His plans for the future have already
been defined. Mr.. Meiklejohn, the as
sistant secretary Of war is at present,
! supposed to be in Wisconsin, whittier
he went two weeks ago to make per-
sonal inspection of the Fox river i'm
| ioh hoo
given the engineering bureau endless
| trouble and which now requires some
positive recommendation at the hands
| of the secretary to congress at the next
session. He has been notified of what
| has happened and is expected to return
| to Washington to assume charge of the
war department. until such time as the
president shall name a permanent secre-'
tary. Probably that will be by the end
| of the present month.
| Secrtary Alger is much wearied by
the weight Of responsibility he has borne
J for nearly two years and a half and
has aged many years, in the opinion
of his personal friends and is in need
of rest. He proposes to depart for the
northwest and spend some time in the
lumber camps belonging to him and
then to pay visits to his children. This
will occupy his time until we'll along in
| to next fall.
NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT POLITICS
| About political matters the secretary
| does not speak now, but it may be fair
| ly surmised that he will be ready in
view of his already announced decision,
to take such part in the Michigan SEN
atOrial contest as conditions at that
time will warrant.
NO INTIMATION AS TO HIS Sue
CESSOR.
The closest inquiry fails to elicit any
information as to the intentions of the
president respecting the appointment
of a successor to MIR. Alger as secretary
Of war. Names are metiOned, but they
are only those which have already been
suggested with more or less Of plausi-
bility in the press without securing
either confirmation or denial from any
we'll informed persons. The members
of the cabinet were all disinclined to
talk about the succession, though one
did remark that the president had made
no mention of name to him, and he
believed that no decision had yet been
reached. He also conveyed the impress
sion that no appointmnt would be made
Immediately, but that Mr.. MeiklejOhn
would be allowed to direct affairs for
some time to come
| NAMES MENTIONED
Among the names which have been
mentioned from time to time in this dis
cusion when talked of Secretary Algers
forthcoming resignation has been rife
have been those Of General Horace
Porter, of New York, now ambassador
to France; Governor Roosevelt, of New
York, General Harrison Gray Otis, and
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn. The
name of General Corbin has been men
toned in connection with an ad interim
appointment, pending the selection of a
permanent occupant of the office. This
| gossip also included questions Of local
ity, and the opinion was expressed in
some we'll posted quarters that the Sc
lection would be made from the west
All this, however, is mere speculation
and it seems probable from the fact
that the resignation was submitted only
today that the president has not yet
time to canvass the situation and make
a selection.
There was some talk that General
Corbin might be given the portfolio
permanently, although this was regard.
ed as improbable even among Genera
iCorbin's friends. There would be pre-
cedent for such a course, however, a:
in the case of General Scbofield's cab
met service.
The transfer of Attorney Genera
Griggs from the department Of justict
to the war department has been suggest