The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-03
THE. SUCCESS OF ALGER
TEE MICHIGAN MACHINE RE
 CEIVES HARD BLOW.
William Alden Smith Will Probably Oppose Burrows--Rumors of Strained Relations Between
 Roosevelt and Shaw.

Washington. Oct. 2.-(Special. )-The an- | nouncement of the success of General R. | A. Alger in the Michigan Senatorial con- test has been received with much interest here. where Alger is we'll known in con- sequence of his residence in Washing ton during the time he served as Secretary of War in the cabinet of President Mo Kinley. That he has been rendered. and has accepted. the position made vacant by the death of Senator James McMillan, is all the more surprising in view of the fact that when the race commenced none of the political wiseacres gave Alger credit for having the ghost of a show. The public has been prepared for the ultimate result for several days past. of course. but for a long time after Alger entered cd the race such a result was generally thought to be extremely improbable.
 The selection of Alger means that the old Republican machine in Michigan has suffered defeat for the first time in years. The late Senator McMillan and Alger were bitter political enemies and when NcMillan died and Alger announced that he wanted to be Senator. the friends of the dead man bent all their energies to- ward the crushing of the ex-Secretary of War.
 For some time it was thought that W. c. McMillan a son of the dead Senator. would succeed his father. and it is said now that had he stayed in the race he would have won. But he did not care to make an active contest for the place and as a result the McMillan following became somewhat divided. From that time on AIger commenced to gradually gain in strength.
 When the candidacy of D. M. Ferry the wealthy seed merchant. was an- nounced, the Alger forces became some- what demor aliZed, but they did not give LID the fight and in the end they won. They were opposed throughout by the Ferry-McMillan forces and 1t is only natural that the successful candidate now has no particularly kindly feeling toward the men who fought him.
 Those who have been keeping up closely with the situation say that Senator J. c. Burrows will be one of the men on whom Alger will seek to vent his ill feeling. Burrows was aligned with the anti-Alger forces from start to finish in the Sena- torial contest which has just closed and. aside from that. he was warm friend of Senator McMillan during the latter's life time. One of Alger's most ardent supporters has been William Alden smith, one of the several Smiths who represent Michigan in the House of Representa- lives. This particular Smith has long had Senatorial aspirations and 1t Is thought that his chance has now come and that he will oppose Burrows, whose term ex- hires in 1904. when the latter comes up Sor reelection. He will have the active assistance of Alger. of course. and as the Alger star is now in the ascendancy many think Burrows will be defeated. A rreat many things may happen in two Saarg. however, and 1t Is by no means safa to attempt to make predictions along sh,a line. The term to which Alger has iust been appointed does not expire until 1907.
 The monthly crop of cabinet resignation stores Is being harvested just now Sec yetary of War Root has just denied that he is to resign in the near future. and Secretary of the Treasury Shaw had an opportunity to do the same thing only few days ago.
 The statement that Root will soon leave the Cabinet is made by a local