Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-17
NELSON v. ALDR|CH
DIES OF APOPLEXY
For Thirty Years Was U. S. Sen
ator From Rhode Island and
Leader in National Politics.
END COMES IN 74TH YEAR
Conspicuous in Efforts for Cur
rcncy Reform-Ncver Defend
ed Himself Against Attack.

NEW oliN, April i".--NciSon w.
.Iidrich. for thirty years United States
Senator from Rhode Island, and Re-
publican leader in national politics,
died OF an apoplcctic stroke at his
home on Fifth Avenue here o-day.
He had been i'll of indigestion since
Yesterday afternoon. Cntil then he
had been in excellent health
He was in his seventy fourth year.
burial will hc in Swan Point Cemetery,
Providence, u. L., on Sunday afternoon.
Dr. John s. Thatcher. MIR. hldrich's
family physician. had left him less
than half AN hour before he died. Then
MIR. .\ldrich appeared TO be recovering
from the slight attack of indigestion.
Soon after the physician left, Mir. Al
dricb suddenly became Unconscious.
and died within a few minutes. Mem
bers OF his Immediate family includ-
ing Mrs. Aldrich. Miss Aldrich and Mrs.
John y. Rockcfeller, Jr.. their daugh-
tcrs, and Winthrop .Aldrich, their son,
were At his bedside. John d. Rookie
feiier, Jr.. Mr.. Aldrich's son-in-law.
could not be reached in time.
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE
At ROCKEFEII.ER'S OFFICE
ibis announcement was made to-
dag at MIR. Rockefeller's Office:
Senator Aldrich died at his home.
aos Fifth Avenue. New York City.
about 10 o'clock this morning OF an
apoplectic stroke"
When Mr.. Aldrich became i'll ycster-
day. Dr. Thatcher was summoned, but
could not be reached. DIR. Allen NJ.
Thomas then was summoned. lie
liz.
slight attack of indigestion. and Mr.
Aldrich went 10 bed. Soon afterward
Or. Thatcher went to tho Aldrich home
This morning DR.. Thatcher again
called on Mr.. Aldrich. about $3.50
o'clock. The patient seemed in good
spirits. and suffering nothing more
serious than a slight attack of indi-
gcstion. After chatting with him
about ten minutes. DR.. Thatcher left
the house. Ten minutes later Mr.. Al
drich was stricken.
Mr.. .lldrich was born in Foster, H. l.,
November 6, 1871, and cntcred politics
AT the age of thirty-four. In 1879 he
was sent to Congress. and two years
later Was elected Senator. Tie repro
scntcd Ehode Island in the Senate
until 1911. when he retired
~ UNITED STATES SENATE
FROM 1881 TO 1911
Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich held "a scat
in The United states Senate continu-
ously from 1881 to 1911. Tho innu-
cncc eNcr,cd by him on governmental
affairs WAS best illustrated by the fact
that when he was satirically intro
duccd 10 an audience as the general
manager OF tho United States" that
apreIlaiion lived through tho admin
istrations of Mckinley, Roosevelt and
Taft.
Probably the creates, parliam.n
tartan that ever served in the Senate,
Mr. .Aldrich had no difficulty III main
tanning leadership of his party Al
though known among the veterans as
q Committee" Senator, lie was quite
as much at home on ,he floor. and nat
uraliy was more in evidence in the
larger arena. While he gave special
attention TO the tariff and financial
legislation in COMMITTEES, on the Senate
floor his car was open for all that was
said on-any subject Of general i'm
portance. He seldom failed 10 partici-
pate in the discussion of any measure
affecting governmental policies
Naturally. MIR. Aldrich's long con
his party and III directing legislation
caused him TO become the subject OF
much adverse criticism He was
charged with bossism and with being
the tool OF the interests" Whether
or not this was true in the main. il
can be said in fairness that some OF
these assertions gained and held cur
rency. because il was his policy never
to defend himself against published at
tacks. He rarely permitted himself to
be quoted by the press.
The fact that his daughter was mar
ried 10 II son Of John ID. Rockefeller
served 10 strengthen the popular i'm
preston that Senator .Aldrich was in
some way peculiarly friendly 10 the oil
magnate. and Considcrate Of the So
called "Rockcfcller interests" Yet
when Il friend Of the Senator once
asked him for letter TO MIR. Rookie
feller, Mr.. .Nldrich replied:
"As have met Air. Rockefeller ONLY
twice in my life. I fear the letter
would be of but little. If any, assist
anco TO YOU.
CHARGE OF SECTI0NALISM
NOT HORNE our ny FACTS
In legislation he was charged with
DelnS sectional lniS is hardly borne
out by the facts. and more than once
he gained his points by utilizing the
conflict OF interests between West and
South and East.
\ temporary opponent within his
own party. when suddenly deprived Of
the floor during q debate on proposed
currency reforms, eXpostulated in vain
As he took his seat, he said: The
Senate no longer is the great forum or
free speech. At least not when the
Senator from Rhode Island is here"
Studiously AVOIDING discussing or
reading attacks upon him. Mr.. .ildrich
practically invited adverse criticism.
4 wellknown writer OF Wall Street
tales devoted one whole winter TO 81
study OF Aldrich and then wrote n
long biography for n popular maya
zine. The article was profusely Illus
trated. and highly colored photo.
graph was used ON tho outside cover.
Naturally, the author desired TO know
what Aldrich thought of the article,
a nd fri