The San Francisco call., 1907-01-25
Senator Russell A. Alger
Passes Away Suddenly
Death Comes After
Illness of Only
Half an Hour

WASHINGTON. Jan 24 - United
States senator Russell A. Alger Of
Michigan died suddenly at his residence
in this city al 6;45 O'Clock this morn
ing. following an acute attack OF
oedema Of the lungs. with which he
was stricken shortly after 8 o'clock.
Although he had not been in good
health for some time. his death was
most unexpected. The Senator was aD-
parentlv in his usual health last night
During the day DE had transacted con
sfderab BILE business and was Al the War
Department mp to a late hour yester-
DAY afternoon Al the bedside when
ne passed away were Mrs. Alger ard
their son. Captain j.. A. Alger and his
wife
The Senator had not been feeling
well for several days. Tuesday night
he had expected TO attend a dinner at
the home of C0ngressman William Al
Den Smith. the new Senator-elect, but
At the last moment word came from
him that he would not be able TO at
tend. His physician had advised him
against going out that night General
Alger had suffered for years from
chronic vslvular disease Of the heart
He was in the Senate chamber Tues
day afternoon. where he stayed
throughout the entire session. listen
ing TO the discussion Of tho Browns
willie affair About q o'clock he retired
TO the cloakroom, where he sat with
Colonel Ransdell. sergeant At arms Of
the Senate. and Senator Warner OF
Missouri. telling war stories.
The funeral services viii he held at
p. m Saturday at the family resi-
-dence in this city. The body viii be
taken TO Detroit for burial.
When the President was Informed Of
Senator Alger's death he addressed q
note OF coincidence TO Mrs. Alger and
d.
The formal announcement OF Senator
Alger's death was made TO the army
by Secretary Taft in an order in which.
after recOunting Senator Ayers ser
vices and paying tribute toy his char
acter n IS directed that the flags AZ
an military posts be displayed at half
STAFF on the day OF the funeral The
order says
THE record OF Senator Alger was
the subject OF unjust criticism because
OF the coUntry's lack OF preparedness
for war when war came. although for
this he was in no wise responsible"
Russell Alexander Alger was born IN
Lafayette. Medina County, Ohio. Feb
ruary u. S36. He was left an orphan
AZ the age OF II years. and from that
time until he was IS wears OF age he
worked on a farm in the summers and
attended school during the winters.
After teaching school Tor TWO years ne
studied law and was admitted to prac-
tice in 1859 and began his professional
work in Cleveland. Ohio. III health
caused him TO remove later 10 Grand
Rapids, Michigan. where he entered the
lumber business.
At the beginning OF the Civil War
Alger became captain OF the Second
Michigan Cavalry. At Bonneville. Mis-
sissippi July j. 1862, he was wounded
and taken. prisoper, but escaped the
same day. During the war he was
advanced IN rank for distinguishej j
service. and on June II. 1865. he was
given theibrevets Of brigadicr general
and major general volunteers. He
then resumed his lumber business at
Detroit. Michigan, and acquired a for
tune His great pine forest on Lake
Huron covered more than 100 square
miles and produced annually 75.000.00o
feet Of lumber He was elected Cover
nor OF Michigan in 1854. on the Re
publican ticket, and served in that
capacity until 1887.
Alger was chosen commander in chief
Of the Grand Army OF the Republic in
1888. In 1897 he became Secretary Of
War under President Mckinley, and
when the Spanish War broke out in
1895 ne endeavored to perform the i'm
portant duties that deVolved on his
!. office. but failed to please the people
of the nation. He was charged with
providing the army with improper food
with directly or indirectly being re-
snonsible for the Unsanitary condition
OF camps. with O~ercrowding unfit