Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-17

Mr.. Aldrich about $50 o'clock. The pa.
tient seemed to be in good spirits and to
be suffering from nothing more serious
tran slight attack Of indigestion.
After chatting with him about ten min
utes DR.. Thatcher left the house. Ten
minutes later Mr. Aldrlch was stricken.
Thirty Years in Senate.
Nelson Wilmarth Aldftch held a seat
in the United states senate continuously
from 1881 to ISL. The influence exerted
by him on government affairs was best
Illustrated by the fact that when he was
satlrically introduced to an audience as
the general manager of the United
States that appellation lived through
the administrations of Mckinley. Roose-
Welt and Taft.
PROBABLY the greatest parliamentarian
that ever served in the senate, Mr.. Aid
rich had no difficulty in maintaining
leadership of his party Although known
among the veterans as a Committee"
senator. he was quite as much at home
on the floor, and naturally was more in
eVloence In the larger arena. While he
gave special attention to the tariff and
financial legislation in committee, on the
senate floor his ear was open for all that
was said on any subject of general inn
portance, He seldom failed to partici-
pate in the discussion of any measure af-
tect'ng governmental policies
Naturally Mr. Aldrich's long-continued
supremacy in the counsels. of his party
ana In directing legislation caused him
to become the subject of much adverse
criticism. He was charged with bossissn
and with being the tool of the Inter
ests. Whether or not this was true in
the main, it can be said in fairness that
some Of these assertions gained and held
currency because it was his policy never
to defend himself against published at
lacks. He rarely permitted himself 10
be quoted by the press.
Native OF RhOS.. Island.
Born In Foster, r. L.. November 8, 1871
he first appeared in public office as
member of the common council IN the
city of Providence. He was elected to
the Rhode Island assembly N 1879, and
four years later sent to congress After
two sessions he was elevated to the sem
ate rs successor to General Ambrose E.
Burnside.
Having begun his career as a business
man. Senator kldrich continued through
cut his public service to display business
like methodo ard extraordinary capacity
for organization. Upon his election to
the senate he was Immediately made
chairman OF the committee on rules, and
a member of the committee In finance
and interstate commerce. Later as
chairman of the finance committee he
was called upon to assume a large share
OF the responsibility for all tariff and
ficancial legislation before the senate.
He participated in the preparation of no
fewer than six revisions OF the tariff and
b1re the burden of labor incident TO them.
The Payne-Aldrlch tariff act vns en-
sineered through the senate by him after
many weeks of skillful maneuvering and
hard fighting
Pushes AIdrich- VreeIand Bill.
Mr.. Aldrich was always ready to seize
upon any trend of public business t.
advance legislative causes in which he
was interested. The bankers panic" OF
1907 enabled him to give impetus to his
plan to bring about monetary reforms
The first fruit OF his labors in this direc.
ton was the Nreeland-Aldrich emergency
currency law q 1905. put through the
senate by Aldrich after an historic fill.
buster directed by Mr.. La Toilette, tho
progressive republican from Wisconsin
who was aided by Mr. Stone OF Missouri
democrat. sharp parliamentary tactics
enabled Mr.. Aldrich TO bring the bill TO a
final vote, but in taking Mr.. La Toilette
off his feet Mr.. Aldrich made an enemy
, who was RELENTLESS in his opposition dur,
ing many subsequent legislative contests
The
garded by Mr.. Aldrich as the best remedy
possible of speedy enactment. but he d,d
not stop there. He began work i'm
mediately upon more permanent plan
OF currency reform. giving most of hil
, time to the work of the National None
tary commission, He was able to devote
his time unreservedly to his work be.
cause In 1911 he declined to be a candi.
date for reelection, giving IN health as
a reason.
Trip Through West UnSuccesEfuI.
Mr.. Aldrichs friends contended thai
his effort to revise the currency system
of the country was approached in an alb,
solute nonpartisan way He was ex-
ceecingly anxious that his work should
stand up as a monument to his publ,
/ service. His disappointment was keer
when in 1911 his party lost control OF tn,
house and took from the republicans tn,
credit OF putting through this far-reach
ing legislation. Before the political com.
pleXion OF congress changed MIR. Aldricl
was compelled to admit that his efforts
we're being frustrated by antagonist,
sentiment in the central west Mr.. Aid
rich then undertook a speech kinJ
trip with the avowed intention OF eradi
eating hostility TO himself and his pro
ject. Although he had large audiences
OF bankers and business men. his mission
was far from successful
why is not our plan taken at fac,
valueF' he asked a friend. He recsivec
frank answer.
You have spent your vacations II
Europe. You have not studied the PEG
pie. Your language IL that OF the pros
porous business man. You are seekinl
too late in life to know the people"
After his retirement from public If,
Mr.. Aldrich spent much Of his time il
travel. but he continued 10 follow bust