The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-05-11
GENERAL MERRITT'S
CHANGE OF HEART.
His Detroit Speech Thought to
Indicate an Understand
ing with AIger.
ing with AIger.


m which he extolied Secretary Alger
has caused no little surprise il
Warrington, where for years past {
decided GOODNESS between the Gen
sral and Secretary of War has beer
Known to exist.
General Merritt and Secretary AL
ger never have been on friendly
Germs since the Civil War, when th'
General indorsed a statement de
nonncing Secretary Alger, then {
Colon 81 in the regular army, as {
coward. Alger had left his com
mand without leave and was recon-
msnded for dismissal by his supe
nor officers, including General Mer
rits.
When the United States obtained
possession Of the Philippines, G ener
nj Merritt was ordered to Manila as
commanding General of the army.
At that time he was in command of
shs Department of the East, with
Headquarters at Governors Island,
New York Some weeks before his
departure General Merritt requested
the New York newspapers to send
representatives to Governors Island
and to the gentlemen of the press
ne expressed hlnself very freely,
eriticizipg the policy of the admins
tratisn IN general, and the conduct
of Secretary Alger in particular. In
effect, General Merritt stated that
ne would not go to the Philippines
with 5000 men, as proposed by the
Secretary of War, and that unless
assured of a force of 10000 men, it
would be foolhardy for him to un-
dertake the mission to which he
had been assigned
This interview provided heated
controversy and General Merritt
was threatened with trial by court
martial He escaped because Of the
good nature of ths newspaper men
permitting his disavowal of an
authorized interview to pass unchal.
lenged, and subsequently he took
command of the army in the Philip
pines, obtaining such force as he
had contended for in his published
Just what has happened to change
General Merritt's estimate of Secre-
tsry Alger is matter of conjecture, |
button the face of the Detroit speech |
he has certainly experienced
shange of heart. In this connection
i is common talk in Washington
hat General Merritt and Secretary
Niger have reached an understand
ng.
According to the terms of agree
nent as discussed in army circles
here. the secretary of War has
himself to put forth his
pest efforts to remove General Miles
rom his position as Commanding
General of the army and to bring
about the appointment of General
Merritt as bis successor. General
Niles 1t IS expected, will shortly
have an interview with the Presi-
lent, at which his fate will be set
led 1t is said that the President
will approach General Miles in q
oatronizing spirit and offer to con-
lone his alleged offenses. The re-
'nlt of such policy would, it is be-
ieved, call forth a protest from
General Miles, equivalent to a decla-
ration that his resignation could be
had for the asking, and this way &C
sording to the gossip, General Miles
will be displaced.
No other construction can be
placed upon the conduct of General
Merritt and certain happenings re.
lating to the army beef investigation.
General Miles evidently has a rocky |
road before him. and as he is a man |
Of spirit, it is not unlikely that his |
resignation viii be placed at the dis |
posal OF the President should the
plan take the turn that has been in
dicated.
Rubber Goods Men Combi ne.
New York, May 1.-The final or