Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-25
O<1NlA OAA lALOAh OLLIU
Former secretary of War Passes Away at
His Home in Washington.
END COMES WITH LITTLE WARNING
While IndiSposed, 1t Was not Thought He
Was Seriously Ill.
SHORT SKETCH or HIS CAREER
Member Of Cabinet, Governor Of Michigan
and United States Senator.
PROMINENT IN BUSINESS AFFAIRS
He Won Title of Brevet Major GEN
eraI in Civil War and Was Com
mander-in-Chief of the
Grand Army.
Member Of Cabinet, Governor of Michigan
and United States Senator.
PROMINENT IN BUSINESS AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON. Jan. A.-United States
Senator Russell A. Alger of Michigan died
suddenly at his residence in this city at
$40 o'clock this morning following an acute
attack Of oedema Of the lungs. with which
he was stricken after o'clock. Although
Senator Alger had not been in good health
for some time, his death was most unex-
pected. The senator last night was appar-
entity in his usual health. During the day
he transacted considerable business and
was at the War department UP to late
hour yesterday afternoon.
At his bedside when he passed away
were Mrs Alger and their son. Captain F.
NJ Alger. and his wife. On Tuesday Sen
ator Alger while able to leave the house
70 attend a dinner given in honor of VIII
liam Alden Smith by the Michigan della
ton he suffered an attack of heart failure
and It was with difficulty that he was
persuaded by his doctor to remain at home.
Senator Alger attended the session of the
senate Tuesday afternoon and appeared
as well as usual.
Vice President Fairbanks was the first
70 cali at the Alger residence to express
his sympathy. He was followed by SEN
ator-elect William A. Smith and by Tru-
man Newberry. assistant secretary Of the
navy. an old friend.
The funeral services will be held at
O'Clock Saturday from the family residence
in this city. The body will be taken to
Detroit for burial.
Statement of Secretary.
Mr.. Morgan. his secretary. made the fol-
lowing statement to the Associated Press:
The senator had not been feeling well for
several days. Tuesday night he had ex-
Dected to attend a dinner at the home OF
Congressman william Alden Smith, the
new senator-elect, but at the last moment
word came from him that he would not
be able to come. His physician had advised
him against going out that night because
OF his not feeling very we'll. General Alger
had suffered for years from chronic valvu-
lar disease of the heart. The senator was
in the senate chamber Tuesday afternoon,
where he stayed throughout most OF the
entire session. listening TO the discussion
of the Brownsville affair About o'clock
he retired TO the cloak room, where he
sat with Colonel Ransdall. sergeant-at-
arms at the senate. and Senator Warner OF
Missouri, telling war stories.
Dr, Gerry Morgan, Senator AlgeTs physi-
clan, said: General Alger had suffered for
a good many years with chronic valvular
disease of the heart, but of late no
seemed to be a good deal better. This
morning no awakened, as usual, at about 7
O'Clock and about O'Clock got up and
went about the room for few minutes
Then he laid down and was at once stricken
with acute oedema OF the lungs. Ten min
utes after he was stricken he was uncon-
scious and did not regain consciousness,
His death was quiet and apparently pain
less"
DR.. Clayton was called in. but the senator
,yas breathing his last at that time.
When the president was informed OF Sen
ator Alger's death he addressed note OF
coincidence to Mrs Alger and accompanied
it with a floral Offering.
The formal announcement of Senator
Alger's death was made to the army by
Secretary of War Taft, who directed that
the flags at all military posts be displayed
at half-staff on the day Of the funeral
Action in Senate.
In the senate this morning DR. Rev
Everett Hale delivered a special prayer
after which the reading of the journal OF
yesterday was interrupted by Senator Bur
rows who presented resolutions expressing
the regret and sorrow OF the body at thc
sudden death and providing for a specia
committee of twelve senator's TO represent
the senate at the funeral in this city and
attend the body TO Detroit, to be com
posed of the following senator's: Burrows
Fry, Daniel, Nelson, Warren, Spooner
Scott, Dillingham;. Foster. Patterson, Dicl
and Crane.
The resolutions were agreed to and OF
motion OF Senator Burrows the senate i'm
mediateIy, at 1917 adjourned as a furthe
mark OF respect.
The house, upon receiving notification o.
the death OF Senator Alger adjourned ou
of respect to the memory OF the deceased.
ola IntSrview Published.
Journal today prints an interview will
General Rdssen A. Alger, obtained In De
troit March 4. 1900. giving inside facts re
garding his resignation from Mckinley
cabinet. General Alger exacted a promis
that the interview would not be publishe,
until after his death.
General Alger said that on account ofAth
severe criticism against him during tn
Standardization war he three times OF
fered 70 resign from the cabinet but tina
each time President Mckinley said h
would quit the presidency before he woul
allow IL. General Alger said that tn
sequel showed how much McKinley's word
were worth. in that later his resignation
was accepted because the president wa
embarrassed" and annoyed" because o
AIEers alleged alliance with Governor Pin
gree in a plan to elect Alger to the Unite
states senate over Mcmillan, after tn
latter had promised to give way to Alge
after his CAdcAIillan's) term was up. Gen
eral Alger said that Mckinley lacked back
cone.
He related how he had finally learne
through Vice President Hobart that Nc
Kinley claimed he had embarrassed hir
and how he went 70 the president an
asked II he had really embarrassed him
Yes he said. you have embarrasss
me and / am annoyed
.'I told him that 1 could readily reliev
his embarrassment by resigning from hi
cabinet
~ have not asked you TO resign, h
said Il shall never ask you to resign
"But I wrote out my resignation an
sent Il TO the president. l had decided, 1
order 10 prevent a fight among the reput