The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-09
WHAT CITIZENS SAY.

Last night and this morning number
OF prominent citizens were interviewed by
a News representative on the speech OF
Senator Aldrich and all united in the
opinion that the sepator was making a
great mistake I'm upholdng the tariff on
coal as against the best interests or
Rhode Island and New England. and In
defiance of the express and unanimous
vote OF the general assembly requesting
the states representatives In congress 10
do all I'm their power TO have coal put on
the free list.
Governor Garvin said that Senator Al
drich's position was in direct variance
with that which every New England SEN
ator and congressman must take on tho
coal question The general assembly ot
Rhode Island had unanimously declared
i'm favor of free coal EVERYBODY hhew
that the anthracite feature OF the tarin
had been smuggled into the Dlhsley on
and that Senator Aldrich's argument 70
| the contrary was entirely fallacious. *
tho senator desired TO commit poitichi
harikari he had but TO keep on speaking
| ius. az he did today.
| congressman Granger declared
| himself in favor OF free coal and was sure
| that the people OF Rhode Island. irrespsee
| tive Of party lines, were opposed to Sem
| ator Aldrich's coal tarin views
| senator Frank ". Jackson OF this city.
| who introduced the Tree coai resoiu..on ~
| tho senate. said that II Nelson
! W.-Aldrich persisted In tho atu-
| t,ide he had taken today he would as
! s,tredlv cause the defeat OF Nelson w. Al
drich in 1904. IT seemed TO him thar Bph-
| RAIN was welded 10 his gods or course
n cou.d easily be seen what was the mat
Ter with Senator Aldrich. He dreaded to
1 see coal placed on the free list, Tor tnat
| would be break I'm the tar!n policy OF
the Republican party. 1t would be foilow
| od by a demand for free lumber, free wooi
| and free cattle-tust what aH ne" Eng
| land very much need.
! Uo declared that he had heard pron1'-
| mont Rcpublicans assert today that Sena-
| tor Aldrich was sure to be defeated TX ne
| adhered TO his present position with re-
| gard to free coal. This is not ume 10
| ouibble over the tariff. People are suffer-
! inc for the want Of fuel. II is condition.
| moi a theory which confronts them.
| senator Jackson said II was significant
| that I'm the local papers were pubnsneo
| side bv side tonight Senator Aldricn
| speech In favor OF the retention or ths
coal tariff and the sad story or the deatn
I of two women. members OF the same fam
Nv I'm this city. who had succumbed 10
pneumonia contracted I'm house IN
which there was no fuel and for which no
coal could he obtained.
| colonel Samuel ". Honey. formerly
lieutenant governor. greatly deplored
senator Aldrich's shortsightedness anu
aeried whether the senator had heard
Of tho action of the general assembly OF
/ this state. every member OF which hau ue-
clared hlmself in favor OF free coal
4 number of prominent hepuonCans.
were Interviewed hut none OF thcm cared
! "a exurcss themselves on the subject.
other than that senator Aldrich was max
ing a bad mess ~ IT,
george r Brown said. today. that Sen
ator Aldrch doubtless was correct In MS
! o,tniou that tho proposed legislation was
/ uncons;itutional: but lot him put in bill
that is constitutional. ono that will AFFORD
immediate relief This Is not timo 10
ouibble over technicalitics. a great emer-
rpncv has arisen and the senior senator
of Rhode Island ought to he able 90 meet
/ ,be serious situation at least halfway.
he knows that his constituents are SUI
! ferinr for want OF coal md that his
state has officially asked him TO relieve
its people