Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-17

of the committee on finance and inter
state commerce. Later, as chairman
Of the finance committee, he was
called upon to assume a large share of
the responsibility for all tariff and
financial legislation before the senate
He participated in the preparation OF
no fewer thon six revisions Of the tar
iff and bore the burden Of labor Incl
dent to them. The Payne-Aldrich tar
iff act was engineered through the
senate by him after many weeks OF
skillful manoovuring and hard fight
ing.
Monetary Reforms.
Mr.. Aldrich was always ready to
seize upon any trend of public bust
ness to advance legislative causes in
which he was interested. The bank
ers panic" of 1907 enabled him to
give impetus 10 his plan to bring
about monetary reforms. The first
fruit If his labors in this direction
was the DECENTRALIZATION emergency
currency law Of 1908, put through
the senate by Aldrlch after an his
toric filibuster directed by Mr. LaFol-
lette, the Progressive Republican
from Wisconsin. who was aided by
Mr.. stone Of Missouri, "A Democrat.
Mr.. Aldrich to bring the bill TO a final
vote, but in taking Mr.. LaFollette off
his feet Mr. Aldrich made an enemy
who was relentless in his opposition
during many subsequent legislative
contests.
The emergency currency law was
regarded by Mr.. Aldrich as the best
remedy possible OF speedy enactment,
but he did not stop there. He began
work Immediately upon a more per
manent plan Of currency reform, Civ
ing most Of his time TO the work Of
the national monetary commission. He
was able to devote his time unrcserv-
edlv to his work because i'm 1871 he
declined TO be a candidate for re-clcc-
tion, giving III health as a reason.
Mr.. Aldrichs friends cOntended that
his efforts TO revise the currency sys-
TEN Of the country was approached
I'm an absolute nOnpartisan way. lie
was exceedingly anxious that his
work should stand up as a monument
TO his public service. His disappOint-
mcnt was keen when in 1911 his party
lost control OF the house and took
from the Republicans the credit OF
putting through this far-reaching leg
islation Before the political com
plexion of congress changed Mr.. Aid
efforts were being frustrated by an
tagonistic sentiment I'm the central
west. Then he realized that the at
tacks ne had scorned to answer had
taken root. He could not understand
that the course he followed through
his public career Of judging what was
best for the state itself was not ap
proved by the people themselves
Not Familiar with People.
Mr.. Aldrich then undertook a
speech-making trip in the middle
west with the avowed intention of
eradicatlng hostility to himself and
his project. He desired especially 10
convert the people TO believe his dec
laration that he had no purpose save
to devise system Of national finance
sound i'm principle. safeguarding all
legitimate interests and embOdying the
best wisdom Of the entire country.
Although he had large audiences Of
bankers and business men his mission
was far from successful.
"Why Is not our plan taken at face
value?" he asked friend. He re-
ceived a frank answer.
you have spent your vacations In |
Europe. You have not studied the !
people. Your language Is that of the /
business man. You are /
seeking too late in life to know the |
people"
Mr.. Aldrich expressed regret that l
he had not earlier made opportunity |
to acqualnt himself with the western !