The Washington times., 1909-05-03
SENATE At DOOR
OF MANY CHANGES
Who Will or Can Succeed
Aldrich as Leader, the
Question.
By JOHN sNURE.

The Senate is on the eve OF most i'm
portant changes. It begins to look as If
the day were about passed when the
upper house would be as completely in
the power Of ona man as it now is and
has been for some years in the grip of
Senator Aldrich.
Aldrich has been able 70 control the
Senate. of course, through the support
of powerful aides and Heutenants. Now,
the old lieutenants on whom he has long
relied for backing are passing, and It IS
not easy 10 replace them.
senator William Boyd Allison Of Iowa.
long one of the foremost OF the Senate
leaders and with whom Senator Aldrich
worked In harmony, is gone Senator
Hale of Maine, right hand man of the
Rhode Islander. is nearly seventy-three,
and word comes from his state that ne
VIII have strong opposition toT Ie-eiSSs-
ton. his term expiring March ), 1911.
His friends are organizing 10 preNent
his defeat, but It is not at all certain
that they viii succeed.
That Senator Aldrfch himself win re-
tire at the end of his present team, also
March B. 1911, is generally expected
and has been repeatedly stated, Even St III II
luctant TO give up the power he mas
so long held. he win have TO rely Tor
backing on new set OF hsutenant0s
Moreover there are plenty OF signs OF
ever-increasing opposition to the Aid
ricb-IIaIo regime. as the strength of
the Insurgents grows and progressive
Republicans from the West become
more and more aggressive
Who Will Be Leader?
When Aldrich abdicates. or is dis
lodged, the question viii arise. who is
going to be the Senate leader? That
is, who viii be the leader of the Senate
Republicans? for there appears little
f,a T2nr,,hffOane Toca
control for many years.
II one goes over the list of the men
who have served longest in the Senate.
next to Hale, Frye, and Aldrich, he viii
see that a new Senate leader cannot be
picked from them. Senator Cullom of
Illinois has long been a large factor
in the affairs, and will be while he
retains his seat But he Is nearing the
age of eighty. Senator Lodge will al
ways be prominent, but never a leader
in the sense as Aldrich is. The same
may be said Of various other elder
Senators.
Many Of the admirers of Elihu Root
expect him to rise to the position Of
leader. It cannot be denied that he
promises to become a strong figure. He
will be. however, in some measure
handicapped by the fact he is entering
the Senate at the age OF sixty-four BY
reason Of Senate usages IL viii be some
time before he viii be able to come TO
the front as an overshadowing factor.
On the other hand. Mr.. Root, by sheer
force OF ability and intellect, is certain
TO have an important part in legisla-
ton He is naturally constructive, and
In. the important iawTnaking that the
Senate has before IL with reference to
corporations. railroads, and the like, he
cannot be restrained
Burton a Big Figure.
Theodore Burton Of Ohio had a pew
erful following in the House He there
showed himself to be a natural leader
and it is not at all improbable that he
will become as commanding a force in
the Senate as he was IN the House.
Some Of the other new Senator's may be
expected to be prominent. their import
ance increasing with the length of their
stay. Borah Of Idaho is looming up.
and the same is true Of Cummins Of
iowa. Beveridge of Indiana has already
become a Senate force. and has many
qualities Of leadership. Crane OF Mas
saChusetts, as well shines forth.
On the whole, however, indicat atiOns
are that with the passing OF the Aldrich
regime, there will no longer be the same
kind Of a Senate chief. Groups Of lead
ers will exist. each group a force but
the probabilities are that the day Of the
single boss has about passed.