The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-07-20

ALGER HAS
RESIGNED
Sudden and Unexpected Sey-
erance Of His Cabinet
Relation.
NO REASON IS GIVEN
But Rupture With the President
Believed 10 Be the PROF.
able Cause.
WHO WILL SUCCEED HIN
Many Names Mentioned. Among Them
Governor Roosevelt Of
New YORK.
WHO WILL SUCCEED HIN

WASHINGTON, July is,--secre,ary Al.
scr today rendered TO the preslden, his
resignation OF the war portfolio. The
resignation win become effective Angus,
/. though It was rendered ''at the pleas.
urc OF thu president"
Gossip has already begun as to his sue
oessor. but II Is entirely speculative, for
Notwithstanding n. reports thaS Alger
would no, long continue a, the head OF
tho war department. his actual resigna.
lion cane suidsaiy and Unexpectedly.
That 1t would come by the end OF the
year was generally believed but so little
was It expected al this time tina, cabinet
officers when the news tirs, became pub.
lio, were inclined to regard the announces
menI as premature. The announcement,
that 1t was ac;aally In hand coming to
them in the nature OF a surprise.
No formal acceptance OF the resignation
had been made by the president up to a
late hour tonight. but viii be In letter
within the next day or two. No Official
statement as to- the cause OF the resgna-
ton was procurable either trom the
president or from Secretary Alger.
neither OF whom would talk on the sub.
iect Nor was the letter of resignation
o6,alnable al this time,
For the present nothing will be made
known officially concerning the severance
OF the official relations between the pres
ident and his war minister, but later on
the official correspondence closing the
latter's earSsr as chies Of the war de.
par,mem doubtless will be given to the
press.
Tue bshef had prevailed In Washington
for some time that Secretary Alger would
resign from the cabinet, but the date
gcnerany set for II was towards the close
OF the year. after he had submitted his
annual report which he Intended to sum
up what had been accomplished during
his brief but eveatful direction OF the
war department, Its tender then had
been regarded as almost foregone epn-
clusion. In view OF Ayers announcement
about a month ago that he had concluded
to enter the composition for the vacancy
In the United States senate to be caused
by tho expiration OF the term Of Senator
Mcmillan, and that he had enlisted In
his active support Governor Pingree. to
whom had been attributed certain free
criticisms OF the policy that was sup
posed TO be cherished by the president to.
ward the Fslipinos,
There have been many explanations and
denlals OF the facts in the case, but in
the end the impression was conveyed
that the result OF the Michigan visit of
the secretary had been to change the
relations between the president and him.
self to such degree as to make the res
toratlon OF their former status impossible
and to render the connection OF the two
as "a part Of the same official family un-
desirable
At one time since then there was
ground for the belief that the rupture
nigh. be avoided, but this belief ceased
to be held when the news spread that |
Vice.Presldent Hobart and Secretary AL.
ger were In conference at Normanhurst
It was largely at least as result OF
this conference that Secretary Alger de-
cided to leave the cabinet at this time,
There has been no disclosure OF what
passed, but 1t is significant that the re-
turn OF the secretary to Washington was
followed by his prompt action.
He arrived in Washington last night,
too late to make any Oficial calls. Al.
most before the executive departments