The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-27
OLD REGIME IN
SENATE CHANGES
Younger Blood Being Sent to
Upper House and Won
derS Result.
REPRESENT A NEW IDEA.
NEW MEN LOOK TOWARD THE
DAY WHEN "SHACkuES" OF
FoRMALlTY THAT BIND BODY.
WILL BE REMOVED FOREVER.

Washington, Sept. 26.-The old re-
gime in the Senate OF the United
States is fast passing away. New
blood has been injected rapidly dur
ing the past ten years. The conserva-
tism for which that body has been not.
ed is yielding before the absorption
Of newer and younger forces that show
little respect for the traditions of the
body that for more than half GEN.
fury have operated as it's unwritten
law absolutely controlling the methods
Of transacting the public business and
dominating the party organization.
Public men have witnessed the pass
ing of-this old order of things with
varying emotions. Does it presage
good or evil for the people, is the ques-
ton that can only be answered in the
light of an experience that is yet to
come In the American Congress The
"progressives" as Governor Cummins,
of Iowa, and those who think as he
does, call themselves, look forward to
the day when the Senate shall be re-
lieved of the ''shackles" that now bind
1t to ancient forms and customs, as
the dawning of new era in the coun-
try. Those public men who still cling
to the methods of the past quarter of
century and who contend that the
conservatism of the Senate, acting as a
deterrent to the aggressiveness of the
House of Representatives is essential
to the salvation of the government and
the only guarantor of safe and sane
legislation, are alarmed at the way in
which they are being pushed aside
from the important seats in the coun-
ellis of the nations.
Old Men, Drop Out.
This substitution of younger men
for the veterans in the upper House"
has been going on rapidly. The death
of Senator Allison, of Iowa, the faith
er of the Senate" probably marks the
final disintegration of the old regime.
The senior Senator from Iowa, with
more than 35 years of continuous SER
vice behind him, had reached such a
commanding position that mere sug-
gestion from him operated as an i'm
perative law even to those who, fresh
from the people, believed their mis-
sion in the Senate was to reform that
which men like Allison, Horton, Conk-
ling, Blaine and Harrison had built up.
Allison was the leading figure in that
great political trinity, consisting of
himself, Hale, of Maine, and Aldrich
Of Rhode Island, whose dictum was
the final word and from whose opin-
ions few dared, and none ever sue.
cessfully. appealed. The leadership
of the Senate now passes nominally to
Hale, who entered that body March 4,
1881, eleven days earlier than his col
league, William P. Fry, but the tacti-
cal leader of the body, the man who
even while Allison lived, was the real
controlling factor of the Senate, is
Nelson w. Aldrich, OF Rhode Island.
So long as these two are members OF
the Senate they will probably be able
to overcome the efforts of the radi.
Gals on all proposition of vital i'm.
portance. But both these men are ap.
preaching the end of their days OF
energy and usefulness in public life
Mr.. Hale is now 72 years Of age and
although as active mentally as ever
vigorous in handling public questions
and aggressive in his ability to beat
down opposition to him in his own
party, he no longer is physically able
to make the fights in which he has
gloried in the past. His term OF
service expires in March, 1911. Much
may happen within those two years
AIdrich Retires.
Aldrich, a younger man, and in bet
| ter physical trim, being but 81, grow
| ing tired of the political battle he has
waged so successfully for many
years, has announced that he will re
tire at the END of his present term
two years hence Aldrich entered the
Senate the same year with the two
Senators from Maine, but in the fol
lowing october. He is the authority
among the republicans on all questions
of finance and tariff. AS chairman Of
the committee dealing with these sub
jects he has forced his personal views
upon every piece of legislation in the
past twenty years. He is a high pro
/ tectionist from state prominent II
manufactures and his business rela
lions are interviewer with some of the
greatest industries in the country. i
| may happen that he will be persuad
ed to accept one more term. although
| if the Republicans revise the tariff II
the Sixty-first Congress, which will bt
i the last two years of Mr.. Aldrich'.
term of office, he may be able to con
troll that task so satisfactorily to him
self that there will be no need fol
him longer to assume the burdens o
craftsmanship.
| Radicaiism Grows.
| Messrs Hale and Aldrich, however
are apt to find it very difficult tasl
when the Sixty-first Congress con
venes to compel such obedience to the
wishes of the remaining small guard
of conservatives as they have beer
accustomed to in the past Radical
| ism is growing with remarkable rapid