The Butler weekly times., 1910-04-28
Real Live Washington Gossip.

Real Live Washington Gossip.
By Tsvenner
Washington, April Ex-senator
Aldrich'S announcement that he will
not be a candidate for reelection is
being regarded with increasing Suspi-
cion here in Washington as a manifest
political trick.
1t is doubtful if a single one of the
genuine progressive republicans real
ly believes that the Rhode Island boss
intends to relinquish his control of
Legislation a moment sooner than he
has to. Even a few regulars" have
privately expressed the belief that
Aldrich might consent to re-elec-
ton, baSing this conclusion upon what
they characterized as the enormous
pressure" which will no doubt be
brought to bear upon Aldrich to cause
him to change his mind.
Because of his record of under
handedness and trickery in dealing
with the Senate and the public, ev-
erything Senator Aldrich does or says
should be carefully analyzed before
accepted on its face value.
Aldrich does not say anywhere that
he will not accept reelection, He
says he will not be a candidate. 1t
would be no surprise to Senators who
know Aldrich if the words 81 am not
a candidate for reelection" should
turn out after the fall congressional
elections to have been but another of
his famous "jokers," with which the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law is overload
ed.
The corporation interests served by
Aldrich can best maintain the exces-
sive tariff rates, which give them
monopolies on American markets and
make it possible for them to collect
enormous profits from consumers,
through a Republican administration
Therefore it is but natural that Aid
rich's primaryobject at this time is tc
keep the Republicans in power.
What more on Aldrich's part coulc
relieve the Republicans of so heavy
responsibility in the approaching Con
gressional elections as the announce
ment of his retirement? Realizing
that his long representation OF BIZ
Business has earned for him th'
enmity of the American people, ant
that his name is to be one OF the mail
! issues in the fall campaign, it is bu
giving due credit to Aldrich's re
sourcefulness to assume that he fig
ured it out he could not serve tn
special interests better at this tim
than to announce his retirement,
such announcement would help tn
Republican party over dangerou
shoals.
Aldrich is taking no chances in al
nouncing that he will not again be
candidate. He can change his min
easily, or he can have re-electio
"forced" upon him. Should the mex
) House be Democratic, however, AID
rich might not care to come back t
the Senate, for it would the be obvi
: Gus that he could put through none Q
his own peculiar style of legislation.
The ship subsidy bill is beaten so ia
as this session of Congress is concern
ed. 1t goes to destruction on tn
rocks of scandal. The Merchar
Marine League, the organization whic
is backing the bill providing for tn
annual payment of $4,000 600 of pull
,, lie funds to a few private shipowners
, is being exposed before special il
vestigating committee Of Congress
being backed by men who woul
, profit directly or indirectly throug
. the passage of the proposed legisls
ton. These men, most of whom al
millionaires, have contributed to tn
, funds of the league, and the fund
9 have been used in turn to attack an
terrify members of Congress oppose
to the subsidy grab. Although off
GERS of the league testify contribl
! tors to the league treasury were il
! terested in the passage of shipsul
!, sidy bill merely as American patrio
!, anxious to see the merchant marin
q built up, cross examination OF tn
L