The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-25
Michigan Senator Quickly Suc-
cumb5 TO Heart Disease
M'KINLEYS WAR SECRET ETARY
Secretary Taft Announces the Death to
Army-Flags at Half Mast-Sen-
ate Pays Respect-lnterview
Regarding Resignation.

Washington, January 24,-United States
Senator Russell A. Alger of Michigan died
suddenly at his home in this city at SIS
o'clock this morning. There were practi-
cally no premonitory symptoms that the
end was near. At $50 clock the senator
F., had pleasant chat with Mrs. Alger. A
few minutes later the senator suffered a
recurrence of the heart trouble from
which he had suffered for a long time
and death came quickly.
The senator had not been feeling well
for several days. Tuesday night he had
expected to attend a dinner at the home
of Representative William Alden SMITH,
but at the last moment word came from
him that he would not be able to come.
He went to the Senate chamber Tues
day afternoon, where he stayed through
out most of the entire session listening
to the discussion of the Brownsville af-
fair About 4 o'clock he retired to the
cloak room. where he sat with Colonel
Ransdell sergeant-at-arms Of the Senate,
and Senator Warner of Missouri, telling
war stories.
The news of the death was at once
communicated to President Roosevelt and
Vice President Fairbanks, the latter be-
ing the first to call at the Alger resi-
denee to express his sympathy. He was
shortly afterward followed by Senator
elect William Alden Smith and by Mr..
Truman Newberry, assistant secretary Of
the navy, and his life long friend.
Funeral Saturday,
The funeral services will be held at .
o'clock Saturday afternoon at the fanli-
ly residence in this city. The body will
be taken to Detroit for burial.
Senator Alger is survived by his widow
and fiYe children, as follows; Mis-.
Charles B. Pike of Chicago, Mrs. b. b.
Sheldon of Detroit Mrs William f. Bal
ley of Harrisburg, Pa, Russell A. Alger
of Detroit. who Is now in Florida, and
Capt. f. NJ. Alger.
DR. William G.. Morgan, who was Sena-
tor Alger's family physician and who was
present when the senator died, made the
following statement to the Associated
| Press:
General Alger had suffered for good
many years with chronic valvular disaese
of the heart, but of late he seemed to be
a good deal better. This morning he
awakened as usual at about o'clock,
| and about 8 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
minutes after he was stricken he was un-
conscious and did not regain conscious
ness. His death was quiet and appar-
| emily painless"
When the President was informed of
Senator Ayers death he addressed a note
of coincidence to Mrs. Alger and accom-
panied it with a floral offering.
Formal Announcement.
The formal announcement of Senator
| Ayers death was made to the army by
| Secretary Taft in the following orders
The Secretary of War announces with
| deep sorrow the death of the late Hon.
Russell Alexander Alger, which occurred
| on the 2ith inst. at his residence in this
/ city
General Alger was Secretary of War
| during the administration of President
Mckinley from March 5, 1897 to August 1,
1899, a period during which the adminls-
! tration of the department was
brought into great prominence through its
| activity in connection with the war with
Spain and the military operations In
! the Philippines that succeeded 1t.
General Alger was patriotic. earnest
| and most devoted to the interests of the
army, and especially considerate of the
welfare of enlisted men,. He was gentle,
| kindly man with great confidence in his
friends and associates, and was much be.
! loved by his subordnates. He 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. His record
as a soldier in the Civil war was long,
useful and highly honorable.
"As a mark of respect to his memory It
is ordered that the flags at all military
| posts be displayed at half staff on the day
| of the funeral"
Concerning Resignation.
| Milwaukee, Wis. January 2-The Mil
waukee Journal today prints long inter-
| view with Gen. Russell A. Alger which
was obtained in Detroit on March 4, 1900,
giving inside facts regarding his resigna-
tion from McKinley's cabinet and his cleo
| ton later to seat IN the United States
Senate. General Alger exacted a promise
| from the Journal at the time the inter
view was given that nothing would be
published with regard to 1t until after his
| death.
| General Alger told the Journal that on
| account of severe criticism against him
during the Spanish-American war he
! three times offered to resign from the
cabinet but that each time President
Mckinley would not listen to such plan,
| and that the President said he would quit
| the presidency before he would allow AL
ger to leave the cabinet. General Alger
said that the sequel showed how much
McKinleys words were worth in that
later his resignation was accepted be-
cause the president was embarrassed
and annoyed because OF Algers alleged
alliance with Governor Pingree in a plan
| to elect Alger to the United States SEN
ate over Mcmillan. after the latter had
promised to give way to General Algsr
| after his CMcMillan's) term was up. Gen.
eral AIger said that Mckinley lacked
backbone.
early in the spring of 1899. sometime
after the final arrangement of terms OF
peace had been made with Spain hap
pened to be in Detroit, and some infu-
| ential people of my home city came to me
and asked me to run for the United States
Senate and I told them that I would do
So" said General Alger.
| "Slx years before had been urged to
be candidate. but told James Nc
MILAN who at that time was seeking the
position, that I would not oppose him. 7
added, however. that six years later when
CONTINUED ON FACE I'd