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

Washington, July 19.-Secretary AL
ger today rendered to the president
his resignation of the war portfolio.
The resignation will become effective
August 1st though it was rendered "at
the pleasure Of the president"
Gossip has begun already as to his
successor, but it is entirely speculative,
for, notwithstanding the reports that
Mr.. Alger would not long continue at
the head of the war department, his
actual resignation came suddenly and
Unexpectedly. SO little was it expected
at this time that some of the cabinet
officers, when the news first became
public, were inclined to regard the an
nouncement as premature. Formal ac-
ceptance of the resignation had not
been made by the president up to late
hour tonight, but will be in letter
to be written within the next day or
two.
No official statement as to the cause
of the resignation was procurable eth
er from the president or from Secretary
Alger, neither of whom would talk on
the subject Nor was the letter of
resignation obtainable at this time. For
the present nothing will be made known
officially concerning the severance of
the official relations between the presl-
dent and his war minister, but later
on the correspondence closing the lat
ter's career as chief of the war depart
ment, doubtless, will be given to the
press.
The belief had prevailed in Wash
ington for some time that Secretary
Alger would resign from the cabinet
but the date generally set for it was
toward the close Of the year, after he
had submitted his annual report, In
which he intended to sum up what
had been accomplished during his brief
but eventful direction of the war de-
partment Its tender then had been re-
garded as almost a. fOregOne cOnclu-
sion in view of Mr.. Alger's announce
ment about month ago that he had
concluded to enter into competition for
the vacancy in the United States SEN
ate to succeed Senator Mcmillan, a
strong supporter of the administration,
and that he had enlisted in his active
support Governor Pingree, to whom had
been attributed free criticism OF the
policy that was supposed to be cher
ished by the president toward the Phil
ippinos.
CAUSE OF RESIGNATION.
There have been many explanations
and denials of the facts in the case, but
in the end the impression was conveyed
oh y;cit
of the secretary had been to change
the relations between the president and
himself to such a degree as to make a
restoration Of their former status i'm
possible and to render the connection
of the two as part of the same official
family undesirable. At one time since
then there was ground for the belief
that the rupture might be avoided but
this belief ceased to be held when the
news spread that Vice-President Ho-
bart and Secretary Alger were in con-
ference at Normanhurst. 1t was large
ly at least as result of this conference
that Secretary Alger decided to leave the
cabinet at this time. At this confer
ence there were present besides Sec
retary Alger, his military aide and
close personal and political friend and
advisor, Major Hopkins, and perhaps
some other persons or person who also
felt deep interest in the future of the
secretary.
HIS CALLS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
There has been no disclosure of what
passed by the seaside, but it is sig
nificant that the return of the secretary
to Washington was followed by prompt
action. He arrived in Washington
last night, too late to make any Off
cial calls. Almost before the executive
departments were opened for business
this morning he called at the White
house and, visiting the president in his
office, announced that he had concluded
to resign his office. What passed be-
tween himself and the president is a
matter of surmise for neither have any
thing to cay on that point. Some
routine business pertaining to the war
department was disposed of between
the president and the secretary and
then Mr.. Alger went over to his Office
and spent some time with General VIII
son, chief of engineers, and Major Hop
k1ns, looking into the merits OF con-
troversy which had arisen over the
construction of a draw bridge over a
navlgabie stream in Michigan. Major
Hopkins had just returned from per-
sonad inspection of the locality and had
prepared a report on the subject Sew
eral times they were interrupted by
Adjutant Genral Corbin, who had some
matters Of pressing current business
requiring the personal action of the Sec
retary to bring to his attention. This
attended to Secretary Alger wrote out