The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-12
MAKES HOT REPLY
ON TARIFF ISSUE
Aldrich Denounces Senator
Bristow and Defends His
Own Position.
WRITES LENGTHY LETTER
Declares Rubber Schedule Was
Raised it Was Not for His
Personal Benefit.
WRITES LENGTHY LETTER

WASHINGTON. u. C.. August IA
Senator Nelson w Alsrich. Of Rhode
Island. enunerat'ng the count under
which he was indicted by Senator Jos
erh w. Rristow. OF Kansas. in recent
campaign speeches dealing with the
tariff s. nd rubber. IN letter made
pubic last night. denies the charges
IN their entirety. incidentally ne paws
his respects in caustic language TO
Senator Pristow and what he terms
h little group OF men" which enter
tain opinions similar TO those Of the
kansan.
The letter is addressed to Hon.
William II. Mckinley, chairman of
the republican congressional commit
tee. and was sent to the headquarters
Of the committee in this city. The
explanation OF the rubber duties and
the denial of the charges made
against him by Senator Bristow are
based upon the fact that Senator Aid
rich was called upon by a republican
candidate for congress to furnish the
facts connected with the changes
INSIDE in the recent tariff act.
Referring to the charges made by
senator Rristow AZ AHbsurd misstate-
naents." Senator Aidrich said the per-
sistent retteration OF them impelied
him 70 make fun statement. At
the outset OF his long letter the SEN
ator divided the speeches by Mr.. Bris-
tow into Ave parts, each OF which
contained n specific charge. He then
dealt with them In order.
Reason for Change.
In the firAt place, the Senator de-
per cent. on 4 small number OF manu-
featured rubbers articles was for the
purpose OF making the tariff uniform
on kindred articles and facilitating
the iabors OF the customs officers In
that connection he made public n let
ter 70 him from General Thad S.
ShArretts. a member OF the New York
board OF general appraisers, assert
Ing that the change was advisable and
had been agreed to unanimously by
the Senate and House committees and
by tho conferees on tho tariff biil
at tho earnest solicitation OF the ta-
rim experts Of the treasury depart
ment.
Laying particular stress upon thi.
charge made by Mr.. BristoN, the
chairman OF the Senate fnanca com.
mfttec said that neither he nor any
member of his family has over had
any peeuniary interest as 10 whether
the rates on manufactures of rubber
4 we're 40, IS or 500 per cent, OF
whether crude rubber was on the free
or dutfable list
Dealing then with the charges that
the Intercontinental Ruoher Com
pAny, OF which he is director. is 1
trnst, that IL advanced the price o.
crude rubber and controlled tn,
worlds supply. and that the coInpar,
hAd paid enormous dividends, Mr.
A1drfrh treated each Separpteiy an(
~ great length Without raising AM
issue concerning the progressive >
4 campaign generally, Mr.. Aldrieh re-
ferred TO Mr.. Bristow and hts tmme'
diate associates as follows:
Who Are Progrcssives?
TN the tariff discussions of Other
days the advocates OF the protectiv.
policy have usually been called L
meet In debate men with conviction
on the suhtect--democrats OF charac
ter. whose theories OF government
differed completely from those hell
by republican protectionists--meI
who had some regard for the accu
rary Of their statements and SOM
knowledge of the subjects they dis
cussed.
Now, attacks upon a republica,
president and republican measure
ara Led by man Whose political exist
ence depends upon their capacity
and to this there seems to be no limi
for Misrepresentation and the ig
norauce OF their adherents, Strange
III enough, this little group of men
very small In number---has AFRO
gated TO itself the leadership OF tn
progressives. and its members pratt
about the treatment of the tariff a.
q moral question"