The times., 1899-07-07
ON A MISSION FOR MIR. ALeER
Major Hopkins Ordered on "A Strange
Expedition Up the Kalamazoo.

Expedition Up the Kalamazoo.
Among the special orders issued by the
War Department yesterday was the fo.-
lowing which has caused much comment
among Army officials and politicians:
By direction OF the Secretary of War, Major
George n. Hopkins Assistant Adjutant General,
L. s Volunteers, win proceed TO Grand Rapids
Mich. and such points on the Kalamazoo hlvef,
Michigan, may be necessary TO enable nun
to carry out the special instructions he may
receive from the Secretary OF war, ana upon
the completion of the duty will return TO his
proper s:ati-n. The travel euioined is necessary
for the public service.
According to statements made by Off
cials who are acquainted with the regions
round about the Kalamazoo River In Mich
igan, the order smacks OF the opening OF
campaign against the enemies OF Secre-
tary Alger who are liable to make fight
against his acquiring a Senatorial toga and
it is claimed that Major Hopkins is well
acquainted with both the candidate and
the Kalamazoo section. prominent Off
cial of the War Department. in answer to
queries as to why such an order should
have been issued and as to what manner
of duties an Army officer might be called
upon to perform in Michigan. stated last
night that there was nothing strange in
| such an assignment.
the election of the Secretary of War 10
the Senate is of more Importance to the
| Administration than even the subjugat!ol
| of Aguinaldo. II the assignment were not
| necessary for the public service you may
rest assured that it would not have been
made, and Major Hopkins will distinguish
! himself in this Kalamazoo River expedi-
| tion. II is useless to conjecture what the
| special instructions of the Secretary OF
War may be, but If they result in p'ac-
| ing Alger in the Senate, the thanks of the
4 whole Army will be due Major Hopkins,
and he will rank with the gallant Funston
and will immortalize the Kalamazoo
River There are few things Major Hop
| kins would not dare, even such task as
! booming Secretary Alger in hostile sec-
ton. The major has been good friend to
Mr. Alger for many years and he will not
shirk his duty at the present crisis.
1T may be that a recruiting station for
volunteer voters will be established at
some point on the Kalamazoo River and
believe a call will be issued in the near
future. The Secretary of War is in need
CT troops in Michigan at present, and it
is of the utmost importance that they be
| obtained"
The same official stated that the ap-
pointment of Capt. Cornelius Gardner OF
the Nineteenth Infantry, to be colonel OF
| the Thirtieth Volunteer Regiment. result
ed from the Alger- -Pingree alliance.
| Captain Gardner was for many years
stationed at Fort Wayne. Detroit" said he
''and while there he became interested in
the Pingree potato patch scheme and vol
unteered his services as manager of the
| scheme. He marked out the plats of land
and assigned the occupants and shortly
became an expert potato patch manager
In this way he worked himself into the
good graces of Governor Pingree, and tht
! latter has ever been his sturdy friend.
don't know why Captain Gardner was not
assigned to the Commissary Department
instead of to the lines but it is probable
that he viii be instructed 10 lay out potato
patches when he reaches the Philippines
and will be the means of introducing thS
great American tuber to barren country
| Then he will be of service TO the Com
missary Department, being an authority
on dry rot and other vegetable diseases
Altogether it is a good appointment, and
we are all perfectly satisfied