Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-25
GEN. ALeER's DlsAPPoINrMENTs
'oId In Interview Left to Be Published
After His DEATH.

Told In Interview Left to Be Published
After His Death.
Milwaukee,. Wis. Jan. 24.-The NIL
"&uKce journal today prints an inner
view with General Russell A. Alger oh-
t"iiled March 4, 1890, and not to be USED
untIl his death, IN which he said h..
'h.ee times offered to resign as score
tafy Of war in President STcKinIav..
ca1lnct because Of criticisms. but thar
res. NcI>lnley replied each time that
ne would quit the Presidency first. Cen
tial Alge1' said that the resignation was
i''eF accepted because the President
was einharrassed' and 'annoyed'' he
cause OF Ayers alleged alliance vii,
GOV. PlnSree III Il plan to elect Alger TO
me United States Senate, Mcmillan
having promised to give way to Gen
Alger. after his tMcMillan'sy term was
up. General Algc.' said that MCKINLEY
lacked backbone
After telling of the arrangement Wit,
GOV. Pingroe and other Michigan p,ii-
tlclahs, that he run for the Senate 70
succeed James Mcmillan. who agreed
10 WlthuriaW In Gen. Ayers favor at
'He ehd OF ms term, Gen. Aiger cor
'liluec that on his return 20 WaSbine-
Ton ne was Informed by newsnaDer
man that Pres. Mckinley was annoyed
because he Gen. Alger) had formed
with 2 lEan hostile to the Prasidcu-
SMoaninS Gov Pingree) an alliance
against firm supporter of the admin
iStration (Senator McMfllan).
zen. A!Ser placed no credencc in thc
report Later. however, when in New
YORK, he received Il telegram from
lee Pres. Hobart. asking MIN to run
down to West End, Long Branni,
mere ne Was informed by Mr.. Hobart
that the President was embarrassed
because Gen. Algcr had formed an ali-
ance with Pingree.
continuing. Cen. Algcr said:
Hobart and l said little or nothing
more about the matter, but when re-
turned - Washington I went to The
PRESIDENT ard asked him Why. mas
much as | had always dealt frankly
and directly with him, he had nor
spoken to me instead OF troubling poor
Hcbart about the matter. asked tho
president if l had really cmparrassrJ
him.
Yes he said, You have cmbarraxs-
cd me and am annoyed.
Il told him that | could readily 20
lleve his embarrassment by resignation,
from his cabinet
~ have not asked YOU to rasign
h" said. I shall never ask you to r..
sign
But | wrote out my resignation and
sent il to the President. In the rnc,n-
tine Mcmillan hal announced his can
didacy for reelection to the enate .
most dishonorablr thing 10 do. in via,v
Of his promise To me and MANY others
Before | had resigned as secretary of
war. even Leforc I had seen the Pros
ld"nt regarding Iiobart's message n
me ! had decided. in order to pre7-ont
ii3it anIonc tho Republicans of Mich
iSan "a fight / shcula have won. how
eVer) Withdraw rs Il candidate for trn
senate. Hut did not tell the Preside nj
so. The option he meant to give r,n
you See vas Ia abandon the frh-
against Mcmillan, in order TO save WV,
place in the cabinet. resigned IL
secretary Of war "nd in few DAVIS
received from the President his ,..;..an
acceptance q my resignation. Then
went to tho President and toId min III i
Wheh had accepted 4 place in his can
l.
ship"
Gen. Algcr sail lie told the Prcside,.
mat Mcmillan was strongly in flvo,
vi l''ea 10Y lreSIdcnt when Mckinney
was seeking the nominations
The journal correspontIcnt 3sI-oa ro,.
an estimate of Mckinlcy-s character.
cannot give it to you" Cen. Aleer
rfpHei. Then ne added: He has many
i"Faol" qualities but he lacks backbone
GU" H''lhihg can make UP for the lack
Of backbone"
me Journal in explanation OF how II
unnamed the Interview SAYS:
soon after Gen. Alger retired from
rIfs!d'n ut Mckinley's cabinet ic was an
Houhced that he was writing n history
~ ne spanish war. A statesman of ma
'io'Idl reputation. knowing that Gen. AL
ger was writing this history, asked the
journal 10 obtain and publish the genpr- |
7! version Of his management of the
war with Spain. Henry c. Campbell
dhen and now managing editor of tho
journal, was assigned the uuty of inter |
viewing Mir. Ager.
An appointment was made by teIe-
graph and March 4. 1900. in the generals
nome IN Detroit the former minister Of ,,
war gave his version of his retirement
- o'A Mchlnley's cabinet. After going
yer the details of the war from his |
l''iilt OF view. the correspondent asked |
'et.' Anger Just what had been the cause
u nus retirement from the cabinet
VIII tel YOU he said but you !
'i'''s FIt'1ls" m not to publish while I ,
m a;-Vr word Of what | say
This promise vas given and kept"