The Caucasian., 1909-06-29


debate. But he shows to best advan
tage when marshaling his votes OF
roll call.
Roughly stated, these constitute th,
secrets Of Senator Aldrich's power
length Of service, specializing on tariff
and finance, being the alleged spokes
man Of certain powerful business
groups and mastery Of Legislative
methods. l hope / have stated the
case fairly I have tried to keep ou
my own personal bias, but we arr
seemingly powerless anyway, and i
does no good to call names.
A year ago it was said that Mr.. Al
drich would retire at the end Of his
present term, which closes on Marcel
4, 1911. The ostensible reason giver
was his age which will then be sew
enty. The real reason was said to be
that he saw growing revolt against
his leadership and would retire be-
fore overthrown. Throughout the ex
ly in evidence, but not strongly
enough materially to affect results
But with the headway that 1t has
gained in his own party there is nc
predicting what size it may assume in
the elections two years hence. The
significant remark in Secretary Mac
Veagh's Chicago speech to the effect
that the president as leader of his
party might find it necessary to
change its majority and control was
generally understood to refer to Al
drich and others Of his kidney, so that
if he does step aside it will only be
out of the path of the storm. But all
of that will be too late to affect this
tariff bill. On that it is now fairly
certain that the Rhode Island senator
will have his way. Nor is it probable
that the president will veto it, how
ever deeply he may feel on the sub
ject. The general view is that he will
get the best he can and let it go at
that, believing that to prolong the
agitation at this time would but dis
turb business. That will by no means
end the matter, however The wounds
left in this fight will be long in heal
ing, and that talk of changing the
majority and control'' may prove no
idle threat.
Sturdy Band Of Fighters.
We can all thank Senator Aldrich
for one thing His course has brought
into being one Of the sturdiest little
bands of fighters that ever raised the
banner Of revolt in what they believed
a righteous cause Whatever may be
itself there can be nothing but ad
mfration for that dozen of young Re
publicans, including La Toilette, Cum
minis, Dolliver, Beveridge, Burkett.
Brown, Bristow, Clapp. Nelson, Berah
and others, who have risked their po-
litical all i'll a battle to keep faith as
they saw 1t. The country may find 1t
worth looking at these two pictures
on the one hand Aldrich, intrenched
by years wealth and votes, and on
the other these young men daring to
make losing fight for -principle-a
losing fight now. but is it not written
that In the end it will win?
That will be after the days of Al
drich, when he is safe In his cyclone
cellar of retirement He has the pres
ent fight einshed, and that is enough.
After him the deluge The future can
take care Of itself
Very Simple Liver.
What manner of man is he? One of
the smooth, diplomatic and secret sort
There is little to tell Of his life. less
Of his habits. He does not drink. or
smoke, lives in the simplest manner.
Is white Of mustache and gray of hair,
ruddy of face. muscular of medium
height, and his most notable feature
IS pair of piercing eyes. He L2gall
life as a grocery clerk. got i.lto the
Providence council, next il. t,.p as
'embly. then into congress and i.na,ly
nto the senate. That is the wilele G.
he story, so far as the public knows.
,hough there are whispers of .alGri Z
having controlled the public uti,itie.
If Rhode Island. from which he mao |
Henry Beech Needha:n tell
| story in this connection of hoT
Marsden j. Perry, Aldrichs partne
n the traction bGsi.:es<. - Q c3t !;
option on a let OF horse car lie; +
'roVidence ard pe,sdied it aroai.
New York, but without sue css. The,
le bethought himself that Senate |
Aldrich's name might prove an "opa,
esame' to certain gentlemen inter
sted in sugar
In twenty-four hours the matter
vas closed, and III forty eight hours
We had four millions to chec,,
gainst," said the Iaconic Perry.
1t has often been said that sIr. Al
rich has no sense of humor. Yet l
ave found two fairly good stories
redited to him. Here is one of. them.
When abroad several years ago he
isited a typical London music hall
! one act melodrama, called 1.-THE
'ritish Heart of Oak was played by
even men and a young woman. The
me of the melodrama was laid In the
arly years Of the last century. and
our Of the players represented Ameri-