Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-09-23
DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
ALDRIOHS WEALTH.

Where did you get il? is the question
that is going to be put up to United States
Senator Nelson W. Aldrich in the COMING
campaign.
Starting in public life with very mod
crate fortune he is now credited with being
multi-millionaire, while his yearly ex-
penses are estimated at S150000. That's
why many voters have had their curiosity
aroused.
Ex-Gov. James H. Higgins has repeat
eddy challenged Senator Aldrich to explain
his wealth. The ground for this demand
has been that public servant is account
able for the acquisition of money BY means
that appear abnormal If his millions were
gained legitimately, Mr.. Aldrich, according
to this view, can have no good reason for
not setting himself right by frank state
ment
Many in his own party think that, con-
sidering all the talk his wealth has made,
he ought to justify himself if he can. and
that failure to do so will create a pre-
sumption that it was not obtained leeiti-
mately AS all the Democrats are strongly
oil the same opinion, Ex-Governor Higgins
has general approval of his demands for
an accounting. He will press the demand
strongly in the coming campaign. Speak
ing of the matter he said:
The public career of Nelson W. Aldrich
is. in my opinion, one of the most unfor-
tunate influences in present public life. His
ability to secure political success by the
methods he has always used has put a
premium on jobbery and has made selfish
ness frequently appear more essential than
service.
"Aldrich has been a member of the
United States Senate for 30 years. Pre-
Vlous to that time. he was for several wears
member of the House of Representatives.
lie las neyci Beer md. by his constitu
uonai mat ul, could a0 he q widn-guaee,
pnhlic-spirited Statesman n the order for
meriy considered t ac the deal of the
United States Senate he mas been con-
spcuous in no great public reform or law
which d. NOS tend directly to enrich and
foster the gIeedy and unsc- pulous in
terests.
There is another phase of Aldrich's
career which we in Rhode Island would
like to have him explain. In our opinion.
IT is most important and the most inter
esting of his whole career.
"A few weeks ago it appeared that AL
drich owned in stock of the Intercontinental
Rubber Company $3.O25,O 900 and that his
son, Edward B. Aldrich, owns $500 900 of
stock in the same company. making the
Senator'S practical individual ownership
IN that concern alone S3,645,OOO.
with his other private properties AL
drich is reputed to be worth between
$lO.OOO,000 and $15,0OO,OOO. When he
entered the Senate in 1884, and for some
years thereafter, the people of Rhode Is
land believed him comparatively Door
man. worth probably less than 100000.
Aldrichs millions, therefore, have been
made during the period that he has been in
public life.
"As a member and chairman of the
Finance Committee of the Senate he has
occupied position which enabled him.
were he corrupt to take advantage of his
knowledge and use it for his own personal
enrichment.
His salary during the SO years of his
Senatorial and Congressional life has been
most of the time $4,000 year. His liv-
ing expenses alone have unquestionably
been many times that annual salary"