The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-06
THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
: OF SENATOR ALDRICH.

Il
The adoption of the cotton schedule
bt the Senate amounted to a vote Of
confidence in Senator Aldrich. After
the leaders arguments had been de-
molished and his facts disproved bv
Senators La Toilette and Dolliver. the
hlgh-duty phaIanx, as Senator Till
man called it, voted its confidence in
the. Aldrich program. We cannot be-
Aeye that it voted confidence in the
statements with which Mr.. Aldrich had
t'htertaken to sustain his position. That
was hardly possible 1t simply voted
TO take no chances by wrenching con
tTof from the man who made the bill
and on whom the extreme projections
ISIS have relied for leadership in fore
ing it into the statutes.
II is large responsibility which
these Senators have assumed, in giving
Endorsement TO so sadly diseredited a
proceeding As this increase of the tex
tile schedules. They will have to
answer for it at home. Their partv
will have to defend their course before
the country.
But 1t Is still a larger responsibility
winch has been imposed on Senator
yA1drich- He looms larger today than
ever before as the legislative leader of
his party in the only body still com
32etent to deliberate over legislation
Hhe House, of course. has no IepisIa
tive leadership, for it doesn't legisIate:
It simply ratifes. The Senate. DESPITE
some tendency to blindfold itself as a
preliminary. none the less is still the
only legislative intelligence in the Gov
Eminent. Mr.. Aldrich Is its leader as
he never was before; he has been vest
ed with such extraordinary powers that
even when he is demonstrated to he
utterly wrong, and to have attempted
+. mislead, his followers still cling TO
him.
In this exalted capacity. then, there
ate two dangers which viii confront
the Senator from Rhode Island. He
must not if he would stand in history
as a successful leader, force upon his
dociie following a program which viii
bring disaster to him. to them. TO the
party or to the country.
There Is small danger OF disaster To
Mr. Aldrieh politically. There is danger
70 some of those who so implicitly fol /
low him, and he is bound to consider
shem. Such unthinking devotion a.
has been displayed is worthy Of con |
sideration.
But the political fortunes of men
are unimPortant compared TO the pos
Eibility Of disaster to the party they
represent. AIr. Aldrich has been made
trustee for the interest of the Republi- /
can party He must not treat lightly I
can party. If his legislation shall so /
far arouse the antagonism of the coun- /
Try as TO bring defeat to the Republi-
eau party IN next years Congressional
elections, It viii be a reputation to
his leadership and an assurance that
the tariff issue viii be continued As
fhe burning issue of the times.
: And that would be a great misfor
tune 10 the country. The revision
which Is made now ought to. be re-.
vision which could stand for period
of years. It should be made with an
eve to the future There is too much
Of looking to the past in doing these
things. The law passed today will be
Judged by the conditions Of the next
decade not Of the past. A long period
OF continued tariff agitation will be
an unmiXed misfortune to the nation.
In present commercial and financial
circumstances it would be peculiarly
unfortunate to have revision made
which should not settle the question
59s.s long time TO come.
Mr. Alarieh must, with the absolute
power which has been voted to him.
make a bill which will not only pass
thf Senate, but one which viii pass the
House which viii sustain his party in
the country's confidence, and which
yill vindicate itself in operation. We
do not think the Aldrich bill as 1t
stand today can do these things. The
Y0ulitrF does rot think it can. From
end to end of the land IL Is viewed
--n1tn suspicion and distrust,
Having won the Endorsement of such
q magnificent vote Of confidence. will
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