The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-02
ALDRICH YIELDS
ON ALCOHOL BILL
Senator'S Hostility Melts When
congressman Show Peril
to Party.
Ry w. w. Jermana.

Washington, May g.. Since Sunday
half dozen selected members of the
republican congressional committee
have had heart to heart conferences
with Chairman Aldrieh Of the senate
committee op finance, which has charge
of the free alcohol bill, and as the re-
suit Of those conferences it is said, that
the outlook for legislation has been i'm
proved.
Mr.. Aldrich did not yield to all of the
arguments presented, but he did modify
his original position quite materially,
according to statements made by gen
tlemen who were in conference. While
the precise things which he said can
not be ascertained, it is the opinion OF
the congressional committee that there
will be free alcohol legislation at this
session of congress.
The matter was first laid before Rep
resentative Sherman of New York,
chairman of the congressional commit
tee, by several of his associates, who
submitted abundance Of testimony to
show the interest of the country in the
free alcohol question. Mr.. Sherman
later on called the officers and execu-
tive committee together and then it was
decided that the matter was of suffi-
Gent Importance to Justify laying it
| before Mr.. Aldrich as a party issue of
the first Importance. u.
! Peril for the Party.
Then came the conference with AL
drich. Mr.. Aldrich was informed by
his visitors that the free alcohol ques-
ton while playing a minor role on the
surface. was in fact the most important
question now before congress. 1t was
declared that the bill outranked the tar.
if and railroad rates in it's hold upor
the individual citizen, and to adjourn
congress without action would be to i'm
peril republican ascendancy in the gov
eminent and give the democrats an is
sue such as they have not had for years
1t was pointed out that Mr.. Bailey
and the other democratic members OF
the senate finance committee, were pre-
pairing to force the question before the
committee and that it would not do, az
a matter of party expediency to have
the democrats solidly demanding some
thing which the republicans could no
find a satisfactory excuse for with
: holding. r.. =
Favor for Manufactures.
To what extent Mr.. AIdrich has yield
ed will become apparent as the cas-
proceeds before the, finance committee
He has already said that he would ia
vor free alcohol for ,ss,sfa cturers, bu
did not see by what Sphght the, farmer
} were demanding 1t f5f hight, fuel an
power purposes. The concession as t
} manufactures is probably as far as tn
Aldrich people will beNwilling to go, bu
the finance committee as a whole, ma
be strong enough to report substantiall
the, house bill. This would easily b
accomplished were the democrats Of tn
committee to join forces with the fire
\ alcohol republicans. ~
] Word that there had been confer
ence with Aldrich which had fairly we
satisfied the republican congressions
committee leaders spread over the ca1
! itol today, and had the effect of bright
e ening the prospect to some extent. A
a the same time nothing is being take
n for granted. The free alcohol peopl
Q realize that they have a fight ahead 9
t them, and they are. preparing for i
r They may win. and then they may los
a Just at present they do not know whic
it will be.