The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-07-21
ALGER HAS
RESIGNED
To Leave the Cabinet by the
First Of August.
May Be Succeeded by EIIhu Root
the New York Lawyer-GeneraIs
Greene, Wilson and Fitz-Hueh
Lee are Also in the Field.


Washington, July 21.-Secretary Al
gers relegation to private life has been
formally announced in correspondence
between the president and secretary of
war. The secretary's letter of Yesigna-
ton says:
II beg to tender you by resignation of
the office of secretary of war to take ef-
feet at such time in the near future as
you may decide the affairs of this depart.
ment will permit.
in terminating my official connection
with your administration wish for your
continuous health and the highest meas
nre of success in carrying oht the great
work intrusted to you. have the honor
to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant
The president replied:
your resignation Of the Office Of secpe-
tnry of war under date of July 10 is ac-
cepted, to take effect the LIST Of August.
In thus severing the official relation
which has continued for more than two
years ! desire to thank you for the faith
full service you have rendered the country
at a most exacting period and to wish
you long and happy life"
While these brief notes are friendly in
tone, the conspicuous absence of any ex-
preston Of regret on either side is an Off
cial indication of the causes which re-
suited in General Alger's resignation.
The president is maintaining Q dignifed
silence in regard to General Agers re-
| tirement. Nor has General Alger any
thing to say for the present. He is to be
heard from later. He is preparing
statement, which he will make public in
the form of an interview on Aug. 2, when
he will be a private citizen and able to
speak freely.
! 1t is not to be understood from this
that he contemplates an attack upon the
| president. The statement is to be in the
nature of a defense of his conduct in con-
nection with the war. Possibly something
may be said that will warrant inference
as to how he feels about the treatment he
has received from the president.
General Alger's close personal friends
! say he has no desire to embarrass the
| Mckinley administration and that he
meant all he said in his letter of resigna-
| ton when he stated that he wished the
president the highest measure Of sue
cess" in carrying on the great work In
| trusted to hims But matters are likely to
be very difficult when. the Michigan cam
| paign opens. General Alger evidently
| intends to- continue. his alliance with
| Governor Pingree and this, in tie opin-
ion of those familiar with the political
situation in Michigan. is bound to result
il considerable mud throwing. Since the
administration officials insist that the on
ly grievance the president has against
| General Alger is his alliance with Pin
gree General Alaer naturally becomes
the political enemy OF The administration,
and it is predicted that before long he
win be attacking the president just as
bitterly as Governor PingIee.
Meikiejohn Returns Monday.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn will re-
turn to Washington on Monday, and aft
er the secretary of war has talked with
him respecting various important Ques-
tions pending, he viii formally take leave
Of the Office. His pl6ns after leaving are
to go to Grand Mere, Canada.
The president has spoken Of Elihu
Root.to several friends in way that in
| dicates that he is being more strongly
considered in connection with the war
department portfolio at the present time
| than any other man. At the same time
| the president has declared that he will
not fully make up his mind for several
days. He has assumed q listening atti-
tude. He wants to hear what the coun-
try has TO say about the men who may
be suggested as available and to consult
party leaders before reaching a decision.
1t has been reported that Governor
Roosevelt and Senator Platt have indi-
Gated General p. " Greene of New York
as their soldier candidate and Mr.. Root
as their first choice among the New York
lawyers. Nevertheless, as the president
has declared the matter still open, there
is still an earnest wish among public
men that the president will recognize the
necessity OF having a man of vigorous
action at the head Of the war depart
fnent and VIII meet the country's de-
mand for the appointment of Governor
Roosevelt. They fear, however, that he
is welded 30 the idea of having a lawyer
instead of a soldier as his war secretary.
In explanation Of his desire to have a
lawyer secretary, President Mckinley
stated that the war department would
for the next two or three years be the
most important legal branch of the gov
ernment Questions of policy in regard
to new civil governments FOR the colonies
will have to be considered and plans out
lined for congressional legislation. There
are also many important legals questions
| in connection with river and harbor i'm
| provements,
Talk of Lee 20 Succeed Alger.
| Richmond Julv d If ia renortpd here