The Washington herald., 1909-06-09
Senator Aldhch's Leadership.

Senator Delivers plea for more mod
crate application Of the protective idea
in order that the system OF protection it.
self might be preserved shows some ap-
prehension as 10 the political effect OF
Aldrich leadership in tariff revision. No
such apprehension is felt by Mr. Aldrich
himself: for he declared on Tuesday that
the Senators supporting the protective
duties in dispute represented States that
can and have and viii elect Republican
Presidents" There is much truth in this
statement. although the Senator from
Rhode Island would hardly relish defec-
ton from the Republican column Of the
States now represented wholly or In part
by insurgent Senators. There are, how
ever. only three or four Republican States
represented wholly in the Senate by low
tariff men. the other insurgents coming
from States with a divided representation
as between insurgents and regulars. Mr..
Aldrich doubtless shrewdly guesses that
this division has its counterpart IN public
sentiment, and that there is a Republican
contingent in every State favorable 70 a
strong assertion Of the protective idea.
He appears willing to risk the issue with
the insurgents and TO accept The full re-
sronsibility for the effect Of his own acts
upon the party welfare.
Yet, II may well be inquired whether
the extraordinary ascendency displayed
by Mr.. Aldrich over legislative matters OF
the highest Importance, and, in fact, over
administration policy wherever it in
wolves legislation. was in the contempla-
ton OF the voters during the last Presi-
Dental campaign. II it had been known
in advance that the new tarifr bill would
be virtually an Aldrich bill; that the opin-
ions and desires Of the Republican can
didate for the Presidency. within two
months after his inauguration as Chief
Executive. would be replaced In party
authority and legislative influence by
those Of Mr.. AIdrich: that the Presi-
dents recommendations with respect to
taxation would be wholly ignored. and a
policy Of retrenchment entered upon at
the suggestion Of the Senator from Rhode
Island; that the original proponent Of
tariff revision would be reduced to silence
and relative impotence respecting the
tariff soon after taking once, leaving the
whole subject Of revision 70 the judgment
and sense Of justice and party expediency
Of the most conspicuous leader OF the
protected interests-if ali these things, we
say. had been known TO the American
suit have been different? Evidently Mr..
Aldrich thinks not.
At all events. his rehabilitation and sue
cessfuI self-assertion constitute une most
conspicuous event Of the new administra-
ton. His mastery Of the legislative stu
alton in the Senate is supreme, and Sena-
torial domination OF the House, as every
body knows, is the rule. He ventures tc
read out Of the party men who are but
re-echoing in the Senate chamber the pre-
election views Of their Presidential candi-
date, and endeavoring 20 have legislation
nodded in accord with those views
With jeers at the new Republicanisrn OF
which so much was hoped by the coun-
try. he refuses to recognize its creden-
tials as authentic or fits purposes as
meritorious.
Does this capture of the legislative stu
ation-we had almost said the administra-
ton itself = by Republican bourbonism
coincide precisely with the expectations
entertained last fall by those who FOL
lowed the advice OF Roosevelt7