Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-28
SENATOR ALoRIcH's CAREER.
His Leadership Of Party In Senate Ear
iy Acknowledged.

iy Acknowledged.
1t was urged against the selection
Of Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich for
United States senator in 1881 that he
was entirely too young for the honor
or the duties of the Office. Neverthe-
less he was elected to it by fatter-
ing majority. His influence in the sem
ate was felt Immediately. 1t was that
of shrewd, level-headed man Of bus
iness, endowed with a love for mathe-
matics rare knowledge Of mankind,
/! great energy and talent for organiZa-
ton and leadership. Such traits soon
| put him to the fore In the upper
house.
Mr.. Aldrich was born in Foster, r.
l., on November 6, 1S41. At the public
school of his native town and at the
academy at East Greenwich, he be-
came known as the boy who wanted
to know "why" for everything his pro-
fessors taught him. Life began with
work as O clerk in a wholesale house
In Providence. Almost at once young
ing out the troubles other statesmen
brought upon the flrm, and he proved
so diplomatic in his dealings with
difficult customers that he rose rapid
ly.
1t was not long before these gifts
brought him into politics At first his
part was mostly that Of manager be-
hind the throne, but soon he began
himself to hold Office and to become
a more prominent figure in public af-
fairs. His aspirations in this direction
were aided by his military service, as
private in Company G, 10th Rhode Is
land infantry, in which he enlisted in
1862, serving nine months in front Of
Washington. Seven years later he was
| elected a councilman Of Providence
without effort. There 1t was remarked
that he was so deadly in earnest about
every matter that came before the
board that he had no sense of humor
and could neither make joke or take
one. The same trait was early noticed
in the United States senate, where Mr..
Aldrich's reputation is that Of a man
who, although suave and companion
able. Is serious in all things.
On matters having to do with eco
nomics Mr.. Aldrich has from the start
taken a prominent part in that body.
He made himself student Of the tar
iff, the laws OF trade, and the history
Of financial legislation. His natural
bent and abilities placed him high in
the councils Of Republican party lead
ers, Of which he has long been count
ed one Of the shrewdest and most
quietly forceful He, never hunts with
a brass band, and one can almost say
he never sleeps when there is anything
to be accomplished. Before going to
the senate he had experience In his
state legislature, where he served as
speaker in 1875, and as representative
In congress, to which he was elected
in 1879. His first political fight came
two years later, when he essayed to
defeat several strong men who coveted
the place Of the late Gen. Burnside. He
"On With cdSc tIdt was HivtC oPP<hAS She
than real. His leadership Of the party
in the senate was early acknowledged.
In fact 1t has been charged that he had
more power in that respect than the
president himself. But not all Of his
attention Is centered on politics He is
regarded a Woodworking legislator,
most attentive to his committee du-
ties, Of which he has heavy share.
He is not only chairman Of the COM
mittee on finance, but is also a. men,
ber of the committees of corporations
organized in the District Of Columbia,
Cuban relations, industrial exhibit
tons, Interstate commerce and rules,
the meetings of which he faithfully
attends.-New York Herald.