The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-07-28
WAR SECRETARY RESIGNS
Gen. Alger, Worn Out by the Cares
OF Office, Seeks Needed Rest
in Private Life.
MS RESIGNATION QUITE A SURPRISE.
To Take Enect M the rin>urc Of she
prssidcnt->eith.r Party Win
Talk. but Speculation. uascd Up
on i>novn Facts. - Rif.-Ih- Sec
retary's Piaus for the Future.

Tall. hut Speculation. fsascd Up
on known Facts. - Rif--Th- Sec
retnrs's Piaus for the Future.
Washington, July eO.- Secretary Az
Ger yesterday rendered 10 the prcsi-
dent His resignation of the war port
folio. The resignation viii become et-
fccti,e August !. though il was ten
dered AT the pleasure Of the presi-
dent.
Came Surprise.
Gossip has begun as 10 his successor,
but is entirely speculative. for, not
withsianding the reports that Mr.. Al
ger would not long continue AT the
head OF the war department. bis actual
resignation came suddenly and uncx-
pcctcdly. That il would come by the
end Of the year was Generosity believed.
but SO little was il expected at this
time that some of the cabinet officers.
when the news first bcca me public,
were inclined 10 regard the announce
mcnt that il was actually in hand
coming to them in the nature of
surprise.
Not Formally Accepted.
Formal acceptance of the resigna-
ton had not been made by the presi-
dent up To late hour last night. but
will be in a letter To he written within
the next day or two.
No official statement as to the cause
of the resignation was procurable.
either from the president or from Sec
Rotary Alger. neither of whom would
talk on the subject For the present
nothing will be known officially cor
corning the severance OF the official
relations between tine president and
his war minister, but later on the Of
fetal correspondence closing the lat
ter's career as chief Of the war de-
partment doubtless viii be given To
the press.
Courteous hut Firm.
To the newspaper men who sought TO
secure some expression from him, the
secretary was courteous, but firm. ON
the one side Gen. Corbin. and on the
other, Mr.. Victor Mason. his private
secretary. by his ant hority. as they
said. made the announcement that Sec
rotary 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 mcommunica-
tive, and positively declined TO assign
any reason for the action be had taken.
He had called during the afternoon
upon Secretary Hay AT the seate de-
partment, and with him at home
were Maj. Hopkins and Mr.. Mason. bur
beyond many newspaper men. few Of
whom secured access TO himself. the
secretary saw no one.
His Plans for the Future.
Ills plans for the future have al
ready been defined. Mr. Meikleiohn.
the assistant secretary OF war, is at
present supposed TO be in Wisconsin.
whittier he went two months ago TO
make "A personal inspection Of the Fox
River Improvements. a scheme which
has given the engineering bureau end
less trouble. and which now requires
some positive recommendation at the
hands of the secretary TO congress ar
the next session. He has been noti-
fled of what has happened. aud is ex-
pectcd TO return To Washington to
assume charge of the war department
until such time as the president shall
name permanent secretary Prob
ably that will be by the end of the
present month. and by the first of Au-
gust. Secretary Alger Will he M lib
erty to lay down his task He is much
wcaried by the weight of responsible
~ he has borne for nearly two years
and a half: ne has aged many years.
in the opinion of his personal friends.
and is in need of rest. lie proposes 10
depart for the northwest and spend
some time i'm the lumber camps be-
longing 10 him. and then to pay visits
TO his children. These will occupy his
time until we'll along into next fall.
About political matters the secre-
tary does not speak now. but it may
b" fairly suriniSed that he will be
ready ina view Of his already an
nounced decision. to take such part in
The Michigan senatorial contest as
conditions al the time will warrant.
Cannot he Admitted Free.
Washington. July 20.In response
TO m inquiry from the management of
the Spokane (Nash) industrial expo
kition, which opens about September
3 next. Assistant Secretary SpauIding
has decided that in the absence Of Leg
isiation on the subject. he cannot au-
thorizc collectors Of customs on the
Canadian frontier to admit free cNhib-
its 10 be imported from Canada. Mr..
Spaulding, however. will instruct the
IL Il n