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

Washington viii pay its last respects to
Senator Russell a. Alger, who died sud
denly at his residence yesterday, at the
funeral services to be held here to-mor-
row afternoon.
Following the services at the late Sena-
tors residence, I431 Sixteenth street, the
remains will be escorted to the railroad
station with full military honOTs. and
placed on a special train for Detroit,
where the final rites and interment will
take place Monday afternoon.
The news of the death of the junior
Senator from Michigan was officially
communicated to the Senate by Senator
Burrows, the late Senator's colleague.
yesterday noon, after which Senator Bur
rows explained that the family Of the
deceased had decided against holding
public funeral services in the Senate
chamber. Resolutions were introduced
and adopted, appointing a committee Of
twelve to attend the funeral services at
the residence. The session was then ad-
journed as an additional mark of respect.
1t is understood the Senate will attend
the services practically in body.
In the House Of Representatives sim
liar action was taken, twelve Congress
men being selected to attend the services.
Escort of Soldiers.
The funeral services Will be held at 2
o'clock a body of United States cav
airy and light artillery viii escort the
body 10 the depot The services In De
troit viii be private, and the burial will
be conducted without special ceremony.
Col. Frank Hecker. an intimate friend
and business associate Of the late Sena-
tor, will have charge there.
The sudden death OF Senator Alger
brought from the War Department, from
which he retired after the Spanish-Amer-
lean war the official declaration that he
was in no wise responsible for the scan
dals of that war.
In a general order issued yesterday
afternoon, recounting Gen. Ayers SPLEEN
did service in the civil war, Secretary
Taft orders that as a mark of respect to
the memory of the former Secretary Of
War. flags at all military posts be dis
played al half-staff on the day Of the
funeral
tarv of War under President Mckinley,
Secretary Taft says among other things:
Gen. Alger was patriotic, earnest, and
most devoted TO the interest OF the army.
and especially considerate Of the welfare
Of the enlisted men. lie was gentle,
kindly man, with great confidence in his
friends and associates, and was much be
loved by his subordtpates. He was the
subject of unjust criticism, because OF the
country's lack Of preparedness fer war
when war came. although for this he was
in no wise responsible.
Heart Was Weak.
The death of Senator Alger, while sud
den, was not unexpected. For many
years he had been suffering from chronic
vaIvular disease Of the heart. Although
he had lately appeared in better health,
his physicians had told him that he
could expect 10 live but a year at the
most
An hour before his death he rose from
bed as usual but was seized soon after
ward with an acute attack OF Oedema Of
the lungs He returned to bed, soon be
came unconscious. and died within an
hour. Dr. William @. Morgan, the fam
lily physician, who arrived at the bed
side before the Senator expired, expressed
his opinion that death had been practlc-
ally painless At the bedside Of the Sen
at0r when death came were his wife,
Mrs. Alger, his son, Capt. Fred Alger,
and the latter's wife.
The Senator attended the session of the
Senate Tuesday, and voted on all the roll
calls during the consideration of the For
akar resolution On the Brownsville af-
frav. He seemed TO take the keenest in
tercst in the proceedings, and crossed
over to the Democratic side and jOkingly
asked Senator CulbeTsOn, of Texas, to
conclude his speech In time 10 permit him
10 attend a dinner TO be given by the
Michigan delegation that night in honor
of the new SenatOr-elect, William Alden
Smith.
Senator Alger made preparations TO go
to the dinner. but just before leaving his
home he had an attack Of heart failure,
and after much persuasion decided TO stay
at home.
Attended to Business.
Wednesday he seemed so much inn
proved that he went TO the War Depart
ment and transacted some official bust
ness. In the evening he took a walk with
his son, Capt. Alger. and enjoyed the ex-
ercise so much that he prolonged the
walk until the son was fatigued from
oVeTeXeTtion.
Vice President Fairbanks announced
yesterday afternoon the following com
mittee of Senators to attend the funeral;
Nessrs. Burrows. Frye, Daniel. Nelson,
Warren. Sp0Oner. Scott Dillingham;, Eos
ter. Dick, and Crane. The Speaker of the
House announced the following funeral
committee: Representatives William Alden
Smith, Samuel Smith, Bishop. Townsend
DENLY. and Gardner, of Michigan Bur
ton. of Delaware; Smyser, of Ohio; De
Almond. of Missouri; Goulden, of New
York, and Small, Of North Carolina.
Hard Lines for Orphan Boy.
A penniless orphan at thirteen, a plow-
boy at twenty, a country pedagogue, a
lumbermau. "a soldier, a governor, and at
his death many times a millionaire, are
the seven stages in the life of Russell
a. Alger- The story of Mr. Ayers life
although reading ike the tale of Alad-
dins lamp, shows wildly the possibilities
of this country's citizenship.
The generals parents. lowly New Eng
landers, yoked up the old oxen and
started for the woods Of Ohio te cut out