Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-11

ter. neither did many other Republi-
cans in the Senate. But it was and
is an administration measure and a
Republican platform measure. Legis-
flatively it occupied a strategic posi-
ton, where its passage would speak
Vociferously as to the capacity and
|status of the Republican party at the
present juncture. Some way certain
ly could be found to make it accepti-
bile to all Republicans. Why not 4?
Senator Crane believed there was a
way and he found it.
Senator Hale has been keeping
hands off Old Postal Savings. 1t was
enough for him to take care of 81, 0OO,-
100000 worth of appropriations at the
Senate end of the Capitol for this ses-
sion. That alone is a pretty big job
for one man to handle-only some
thing like $10,00O,000 day for several
months as legislative days go. Let
Senator Aldrich look after these other
matters" said Senator Hale. His
big committee on Finance has little to
do this year"
aWeary of the brickbats and clubs.
." uiiS III IFS tSliOu lTOIIl IIidIlV
parts of the country. He was friendly
but not overenthusiastic about taking
off his coat and laboring with his col
leagues. He remembered the acerbi-
ties and the epithets OF the tariff bill
campaign, which ended in fractional
troubles, And very quietly he shifted
the burdens to the quiet little man
from Massachusetts. who has never
made a speech since he came to the
Senate. No one saw that ma jestic
Aldrich figure fitting from desk to
desk and from Senator to Senator,
"hypnOtiZing the lawmakers" as the
phrase used to go around the Senate.
He visited the White House and parti-
cipated in the big powwows. giving
advice and council. But the Rhode
Islander was nevertheless absent much
Of the time, fitting away to New York
or to Providence for a portion of every
week. The lookers-on said he was
showing indifference.
All the while. however, the slender
little man, who moves around in an
ungainly manner, CHEEKY and sociable
with the advocate of every bill and
amendment which ever shows it's head
inside the Senate, was ION the wing.
HE is restless as a humming bird and
almost as rapid. He fitted to the
White House of morning and of an
evening. He kept in touch with every
phase of Senate sentiment He knew
when the situation vas critcal-when
there was really danger of the Repub
lican majority in the Senate being
split wide through and through so that
the country could see the daylight in
the breach He never lost his temper:
he never became excited. Sometimes
he shook his head dolefully over the
prospects but he kept at work.
And just when nearly everybody else
thought Old Postal Savings Bank bill
was about to SILVER and groan upon
the protruding reefs, the little. quiet
man from Massachusetts steered her
around into a clear, wide channel of
deep water. For the present there is
fine sailing ahead
The Republicans of the Senate have
not felt as amiable or as solidly mill
tant before this session, as now. After
so many factional disturbances. after
all the tariff wrangling and the con-
sequent wounds. there is a feeling of
citation when all are touching elbows
once again. 1t makes the Senate Re-
publicans feel better to see the ranks
closed up in the face of the enemy. 1t
affords-a very wholesome example to
the House, where, for the moment at
least, Republican factionalism appears
to be subsding 1t cheers the Pres-
dent, who has been toiling through the
winter to keep the ship of state on an
even keel and nerves him for the ex-
acting cruise which remains between
now and the close OF the Congressional
session.
So the postal savings bank bill,
which threatened to be rock Of d.
saster for the party and for the Con-
gress and consequently for the adj
ministration. gives promise of being
the rallying point for harmony and an
aggressive onward movement, whence
the Republicans may be projected into
the campaign as a political unit. That
is the way the leaders are viewing it