The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-25

that he was worth about So a month
This mucn one good man concluded to
venture on young Ayers services,
cIinching his bargain with an offer of 81
for the second month. and S for each
of the four others in the contract. In
six months he had saved $27.5S
This was abundant capital, and, acting
upon his own impulse to learn something
and be somebody. he went to Richfield
Academy. working for his washing and
board as apprentice to the village black
smith.
Ayers early ambition was to be a
lawyer. He studied with Wolcott & Up
son, in Akron, Ohio, and in two years
the Supreme Court decided he knew
enough 10 be admitted. He began prac-
tice in Cleveland, but the conhning work
was in no way agreeable 10 him. His
health demanded a change, and IN con-
sequence. on the last day in 1850. Alger
went to Michigan. Grand Rapids was
selected as his home About this time,
however. he did one OF the most sensible
and graceful acts in his entire life
marrying Miss Annette Henry. a beautiful
and accomplished woman. who was al
ways the chief adviser of the general
AIEer In the Civil War.
Then Alger, the young lawyer. wanted
to go TO war, and so in August. 1851, he
went with the Second Michigan Cavalry
and was soon made captain, though he
had never had any military training. He
got TO be a major of the regiment, and
on October 16, 1862. was made lieutenant
colonel of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry
Subsequently he was transferred to the
Fifth Michigan Cavalry ana became its
colonel.
About the beginning of September. when
great events and great battles were i'm
minent in the Shenandoah Valley, where
the Fifth Michigan was stationed, Col.
Alger applied for ten days leave. His
application, in the face OF the enemy,
was disapproved and he left his regiment
and went TO Washington. There he pro-
cured a detail for court-martial duty IN
that city,
Gen. Wesley Merritt reported that fact
to Gen. phil Sheridan. who was seek
ing no details from the front in those days
Of grave peril, and he In turn reported ii
TO the War Department. with recon-
mendation that Alger be dishonOrably
discharged from the service. Col. Alger
was discharged from the service on Sep
TENDER 20 1854. but the record does not
read "dishonOTably discharged. The
punishment was sOftened. against the
wish Of Gen Sheridan. That ended Alger
us a warrior.
He knew the lumber business from A 70
L. He could pick out a neck of woods
where numbering would be most profitable.
He selected the choicest forests for him
self and was the pioneer of steam lum-
bering. Many a railroad grew where his
logging trails first carved the way. All
Of a sudden Michigan realized that Alger
was the richest man within It's borders.
He had Sl0,oO00O and was beginning 10
reach out into the politics OF the state.
He also organized match company, one
OF the first trusts in the United States.
He was reputed a short time ago to be
worth S2O00o,O00.
HE pays the market price for what
ever he buys, and he always stands by
his friends"
That was Ayers recommendation in
the convention Of 1852 in Michigan, when
the Republicans were casting about for a
candidate for governor. Alger was NOM
mated and elected
Next year the man had the Presidential
bee But he didn't get the nomination
in 1854 as he hoped. Neither did he IN
1855
John Sherman, the great Republican
statesman and Presidential candidate,
called Alger a political trickster. Senator
sherman, after a well-r0unded-Out life,
was a candidate for the Republican Pres
identiaI nomination in lSSS Many of the
Southern delegates were pledged TO him.
A deal was put through. The Southern
delegates TO the convention voted for Al
ger and put John Sherman out Of the
race
The whole deal was exposed by Senator
Sherman in his book. Nevertheless, Al
ger was a candidate at the 1892 Conven-
ton.
Appointment as Secretary OF War.
Nothing daunted, Alger was a Presi-
Dental candidate once more in 1896 and
he had quite A few votes pledged. But
Mark Hanna was ahead Of him, every
vote that could be influenced. save the
New York delegation and some OF the
New Englanders, was for Mckinley. Mr.
Hanna had attended to that. Alger was
nowhere.
But his campaign was run on the the
ory-"better half a loaf than no bread.
In that convention Of 1896 was sprung the
deal that made Alger Secretary of War
This deal was a simple one. He was
10 throw his votes TO Mckinley and in re-
turn was to get something good. He
kept his word and Hanna and Mckinley
/ kept theirs. He was made Secretary OF
War
On March 4. 1897, Russell A. Alger took
his place as Secretary Of War in Presi-
dent McKinIey's Cabinet
Within a year, too, war with Spair
was imminent. Within fourteen months
it had been declared. On the shoulders
Of Russell A AIger fell the burden OF
that war To him fell the choosing of al
the officers for the 275.000 troops in the
feld-Iine officers, medical officers, COM
missaries, quaTtermasters. general Off
GERS, and all the heads of the staff de
partments.
There was much criticism of Secretary
Ayers administration, followed by the
famous enbalmed beef charges and in
vestigation.
In 1900 Alger announced his ambition &c
become United States Senator from Mich.
Iean against Senator Mcmillan, candidate
for another term. Alger induced Gov
Pfngree. an NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Republi-
can, to promise his support, and Pingree
came out for AIger for Senator, but
against Mckinley for President Algel
was elected and his term was to have ex-
pired this year.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
A Michigan Friend Pays Tribute ia