The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-17
.MAsTEROF SENATE
WILL QUIT OFFICE
Nelson w. Aldrich to Retire at
End OF Present
Term.
-------.
I'LL HEALTH GIVEN AS CAUSE
----------------.
Tariff Fight and Work OIL Mono
tary Reform Have Been
Too Great Burden.

las not been enjoying his usual good
lealth this winter. and 1t is under
stood that his physician has at last
advised him that unless he gives UP
his senatorial labors by next spring
at the latest he will have very
old age"
Senator Aldrich is at his Rhode Isl
md home just now and so nothing au-
from him can be obtained
here on the matter He Is not eX
occted back in Washington until next
week.
1t is known that the Senator has
been feeling the strain of his con-
rressional work for some time. In
fact. he was feeling 1t before the
special session of last summer, at
which the tariff law was enacted 1t
was about election time, In 1908, when
he first announcement came from
Providence of his intention to retire
from the Senate next March Even
then 1t was said as n reason for this
decision on his part that he was grow
ing tired OF the great burden his po-
sition In the senate had laid upon him.
As he had put 1t to some OF his
friends. he was tired OF being pack
horse
This is fair description of the
position Senator Aldrich has occupied
for the last few years. His domination
of the Senate has been so absolute and
unquest,Naed that he has been held
responsible for all sorts OF legislation,
whether he was personally Interested
in It or not
The tariff session gave him tre-
mendous amount of worx 1t was, of
course, his special object that was
under consideration. 1t fell naturally
TO him to control almost absolutely
the final character of the tarig bill,
which, although 1t bears the name Of
Chairman Payne. of the House Com
mittee on Ways and Means. Is really
more the work of Senator AIdrich. not
only as far as rates of duties are con-
cerned but more especially In the
maximum and minimum features OF
the administrative provisions.
The lsng and hard fight in tho
Senate over the tariff law was under
the direct supervision of Senator AID
rich. He made tho combinations Of
Senators which enabled him to nut the
bl!l through and defeat the efforts of
Tie Insurgent Republicans. He la
bored necessarily. day and night There
We're lnnumerable conferences In
which he took part, at his committee
rooms. at the White House and else.
where. He was always on duty. and
the strain was tremendous It was
quite evident some time before the
close of the special session that the
senator was being worn out bv thu
work >"
Undertakes Speaking CAMPAIGN
Then followed tho trim ahrnad vt,
the Monetary Commission, which
while 1t was IA change from the yex.
atous tariff business. was still far
rom being rest. Since his return
from Europe he has continued hte
work on the Monetary Commission
and has for tho first time in his 1ife
made a speaking campaign in tho ef-
fort TO educate tho people Of tho
country up to clear COMPREHENSION ~
the problems with which the commits
sion has TO deal
nero was some talk during tho
nsh' over the tariff bill that Senator
A , zen meant to make that law tho
iasa great work of his congressional
t t,a hnt his interest in the ques-
pon or monetary reform was so I,eon
ana the work he had put on It so Great
that the opinion finally came ia be
pretty we'll established hero thar he
would remain in the Senate Ion.
enough to see his ideas on tho subject
submitted to Congress Cor action. Th.
iuihlment of his present Intention
means that nc must abandon that work.
| before 1t is completed and leave the
direction of the legislative efforts r.
some ono else
All this Will be vastly interesting
ana eNcltins to the Republican Insur
gents, not only those In tho Senate
ana House. but all over the country
where Senator Aldrtch has been linked
with Speaker Cannon as one of IN,
great issues. The very night of tn.
overthrow of Speaker Cannon and hi.
Iremoval from the House Committee OF
Rules. the Insurgents set up tho crv a
| 'on 70 Aldrich." Throughout the In
sursent country Senator Aldrich is hclt
TO be as much of stumbling block II
| the way OF real progress of the coun
try as ever the Speaker was, although
there is by no means the personal bit
terness toward him that Is felt toward
Mr. Cannon.
rrospcctiyc Retirement Discussed.
| The news that Senator .Aldrich ha,
definitely decided to adhere to his de
termination to retire from the Senat,
next March aroused great interes
among those of his associates witt
| whom the information was discussed
this evening Two Years ago an au
lthoritative statement was published
! from Providence to the effect that Mr.
Aldrich had made up his mind not I,
stand for reelection. but since tina
| time the impression had become wide
! spread that in order to carry out hi
| ambition to revise the countrys mon
etarS system he had changed his plan
and would retain his scat for at lcas
icnough OF another term to allow o
the disposal by Congress of his mon
| etary rlanH