The Washington times., 1907-01-24
Sketch Of MI. Ayers Career.

the Senator az $50, al which time hc
seemed 70 be very cheerful
Sketch OF Mr.. Ayers Career.
Russell Alexander Aiger was one or
those Americans whose lives present a
definition Of opportunity as il has been
known during the generations Of the
hrst tremendous development Of this
continent.
Poor boy. lawyer, soldier. rising from
captain 10 major general. genius II or
ganizaton and industry. multi-million-
aire. politician. governor. Secretary OF
War. and Senator of the United States,
is the epiJ0me Of his career. Beyond
that he was one Of the group Of many
Americans who have been so near the
Presidency that il seemed almost with
IN their grasp.
Senator Alger was born in Ohio-in
Medina county. in lS86. lie was or
phaned al eleven years OF age, and as
a poor boy worked on a farm. attended
country school and the Richlaud Ohio.
academy until he was equipped 70 teach.
when he took up that calling and pur-
sued IL 10 gain means 10 prosecute the
study Of law Al tWeuIy-UhFee he was
admitted 10 practice in Ohio. and q few
months later removed 10 Michigan.
which was his home throughout the rest
Of his life.
Before ne had fairly established him.
self in his new home The war broke out.
and IN September 1861, the young man,
Who was already. a. he afterWard re-
manned 10 the end. an ardent Repub-
ilcan. enlisted IN the Union army He
became captain Of Company G, Second
Michigan Cavalry. ana served through
out the war His service was shown by
the department records 10 have been
especially merit0Fious. He rose through
the successive grades 10 be jor.
lieutenant colonel, ana colonel, occupy
ing the latter rank as commander of
the Fifth Michigan Cavalry For a
year he was AT the head OF the regi-
meuL For gallauJry al the battle or
TheVillOn Station ne was brevetted a
brigadier g+ueral. and at the close or
the war ht was bTevetted major gen
eral- He truE part In siXty-six engage
menJs.
Enters LAUNDERING Business.
After ne war General Alger returned
to Michigan and was soon attracted
from the practice OF his profession into
business- The great forests Of Michigan
were then developing into the worlds
greatest source OF lumber supply. He
plunged into this business Just al the
country, following the war. assured
success &c men with the grasp OF great
things and The purpose 10 carry them
through. General Alger was one OF
these, ami he became perhaps the fore
most luInbeFman 10 Michigan. His in
terests later extended into Wisconsin
and Minnesota, and he developed q for
tune Of several millions of dollars
lu 1881 Gen raj Algrr was nominated by
the Republicans of Michigan for the
gOVernOrship. and was elected declining
TWO years later 10 stand for FenOmina-
ton.
IL was in 1855 that in the memorable
Chicago convention, which nominated
Benjamin Harrison as the Republican
Presidential standard bearer, General
Alger made his contest. along with
other faVOrite sons. for the Presidential
nomination. IN that convention were
presented the names of many OF the
leading public men of the time-HOar Of
Massachusetts Sherman OF Ohio. ALI
son OF Iowa. harrison OF Indiana Cul-
lom Of Illinois. AlseT OF Michigan De-
pew or New York, ana others. The
contest was long and determined. AlgeF
was supported by the vote OF Michigan
throughout the contest, and IN addition
had a strong following Of delegates
from the Southern States. ais strength
reached It's climax on the NTH ballot
when he received l43 votes There was
some opposition 10 him because so large
a proportion OF his strength was from
Southern States. where there was no
possibility OF getting electoral votes. In
the end Harrison was nominated.
Member Of MeKinley's Cabinet.
When the Mckinley CABINET was an
nounced in 1897 Alger was named for
Seer etary of War. That post brought
him into great and not entirely desir-
able prom inence during the Spanish
American war. and controversy has
ever since ~aged around the question OF
las deserved the criticism that
mas laYished upon his conduct OF his
once. After the 81 ar and MS retirement
IrO-u The Office he wrote a book on the
rom the o4sce he wrote 81 book on the
war which he reEarded as his defense
of himself against tie hostile comments
on his administration
in ls4- be was appointed Senator from
-4ichigan 90 III vacancy. and a month
later was chosen by tine legislature. He
has continued IN Jhe Senate since
Senator Ayers term WOULD have
ended March next, and several months
ago ne announced that On account OF
poor health he would not BE a candidate
Tor reelection.