Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-01-25
RUSSELL ALGER DEAD
.Ex-sec'e|aPy Of War Expired Sud-
denly In His Washington Home.
His DEATH RECALLS WAR SCANDAL
Requested to Resign On Accoun. of
"EmbaImed Beef" Supplied DURING
spanish-American War-His Career
as Soldier and Civilian.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. Jan. 81
Senator Russell A. Alger of Michi.
gan, formerly Secretary of War, died
ut 3 O'Clock this morning at his home
In this city. 140l Sixteenth street.
The cause was heart trouble, from
which he had been suffering for
sometime. IL
William Alden, Smith. who only
lew days ago was elected to succeed
General Alger in the Senate next
March, was at the White House when
the news was brought to him of the
Senator's death.
u DO not wonder said Senator.
elect Smith. that his heart was the
iirst TO give out, for he was Iowa
Die, sympathetic. generous character.
and his heart was the biggest mart of
him"
Mr.. Smith said that Senator Hans
borough had just told him that he
lett the Senator at $50. ut which
time he seemed to DO very cheerful
The end came suddenly. Senator Al
ger had been in the Senate chamber
regularly and about the city attend
ing to his usual duties. He seemed
to he somewhat feeble, but no more
SO than he has been for months.
Russell Alexander Aleer was horn
IN Medina county. Ohio. February
~ 1886. During his boyhood years
he labored on n farm, attending the
Richfield Academy in wintery and
subsequently he taught country
schools. He later studied law at Ak
ron, Ohio. and was admitted TO the
bar by the Supreme Court Of that
suhte al 1858. III that year he re-
moved to Grand Rapids, Mich. He
had been extensively engaged In lum-
bcr business and other industries
since 1896. He served through the
civil war with great gallantry and
distinction. progressing from the rank
OF captain to colonel, and receiving
the Erevet rank of major general for
MS merltorious services. He partici-
pated in siyty-six battles and Skin.
mishes. He was elected commander
In chief Of the Grand Army of the
Republic In 1889.
In politics General Alger was al.
ways Republican. He was elected
Governor of Michigan in 1884. dcclin-
Ing denomination in 1856 At the
Chicago convention, held in 1888, he
received l43 votes for President Oh
the fifth ballot. the State of Michi-
gan voting solidly for him on every
ballot.
In March. 1897, he was appointed
Secretary OF War by President Nc
kinlet, resigning August l 1899. IN
1902 he was appointed United States
Senator by the Governor of Mich-
gan, to fill the vacancy caused by
the death OF James Mcmillan, and
was elected b. the Legislature of
Michigan In January, 1903. His
term would have expired March 18th
EmbaImed Beef Incident.
General Ayers resignation as Sec.
rotary of War in 1899 was the out
growth of the embaled beef and 9TH
or scandals of the Spanish-American
war, Nothing was brought out in tue
investigation by the Dodge Commits
sion rejecting in any way personally
upon General Alger, but great pop
ular clamor had been raised. It was
charged that, even though the Secre.
tary OF War was not involved in the
scandals directly, he was RESPONSE
bic In his official capacity. 1t was
evident that there had been gross
mismanagement in the administration
of some of the divisions of the War
Department. 1t was proved that rot
ten beef had been supplied to the
army In Cuba; that many of the sol
diers had died of wounds or disease
who might have been saved Wit,
proper medical attention and efficient
sanitary arrangements in the various
camps, both in Cuba and the United
States. g
These things reflected upon the
Secretary of War, and SO persistent
became the demand for his remova.
that President Mckinley was finally
persuaded to ask for General Ayers
resignation. In the opinion Of many
he was made scapegoat for the Of
lenses CT others