New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-20
THE SENATE LEADERSHIP.

The retirement Of Nelson W. Aldrich
from abe Senate Ola March 4 next viii
mark the end Of period Of individual
leadership unique in that body. II can
safely he said that not since the Senate
Was organized has any other man exer-
cised so large measure Of control over
IFS policies as Mr.. Aldrich has exercised
i'm the last decade. He and his chief
aid. Senator Hale. were the last active
survivors of a group If leaders whose
service dated back a generation; for
Mr.. FRYE. Mr. Hale's colleague, on &C
count Of declining health. ceased some
years ago 10 take a conspicuous part in
the labors Of party management. The
Rhode Island Senator's commanding
place was not thrust upon him. how
ever. hy meUe pressure OF seniority. He
was Junior IA Messrs. Hale, Frye and
Allison 81 2 time when his leadership
had become publicly recognized. and he
was Junior 10 dozen or fifteen Sen
ators Of high distinction when he began
welding an influence in the upper
house at least equal 10 that Of any Of
his Republican colleag CUES.
When the Mckinley tariff bill was
made over in the Senate in 1890 Mr.. Al
erich WAS outra liked on the Finance
Committee by Justin s Morrill, John
Sherman. John 7. Jones and William
r. Allison. But he bad more n Do with
the revision than any Of his senior as
secistes His power has grown steadily
as these associates have passed away
and as conditions Of service in the Sen
ate have changed with the admission Of
new states TO membership and the ma
terial enlargement Of the Republican
palty's majority With a fuller Repub-
lean representation the need Of party or
ganiZation has become more pressing,
and Senator Aldrich has built up. with
the consent Of a majority of his col
leagues, an authority formerly unknown
in the Senate resembling in some re-
spects that Entrusted, before the Speak
ership developed autocratic powers, 10
the chairman Of the WAYS and Means
Committee and titular floor leader in
the House of Representatives.
Twenty five or thirty years ago. when
the Senate WAS a more contra ted body.
such leadership was undreamed of.
/ There were then generally n dozen Sen
4 ators who considered themselves en-
/ titled 10 be ranked as leaders. In a
chamber in which Messrs Morrill,. Sher-
man. Edmunds. Allison. Hoar. Aldrich.
Jones. Of Nevada; Plat. Of Connecticut.
Hale. Frye, Ingalls,, Hawley. Evarts,
I Teller and SpOOner had seats nobody
thought Of claiming priority. Discipline
was little needed. because party ma
1 jorities were narrow end partisan spirit
was intense. The Republicans main.
tained their control OF the Senate with
difficulty. and when the silver dissen.
sioBs began lost II for several sessions.
/ When the reaction came after 1896 the
Republican majority mounted rapidly
and Democratic representation was cut
down 30 bare one third. This change
opened the way for a consolidation OF
power In The hands Of a majority Of
the majority able by the ordinary meth
DDS Of legislative pressure 20 control
enough other Republicans 10 constitute
a majority 81 the Senate.
Mr.. Aldrich's rule has been based on
his ability 10 get n majority FOR any
measure which he advocated. He DOS.
s'ssed the experience. industry and pa
uence b. master every situation and the
resources 10 meet any threatened oppo-
sition. He made no mistakes in calcu-
/ iation and knew how 10 avoid creating
1 petty jealousies ana enmities His crit.
.ics have always frankly admitted his
1 exceptional capacity Tor legislative lead