The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-16
ALDRICH IS DEAD.

CONTINUED from Page One.J
tics at the age Of "a. He served in the
Rhode Island assembly and in 1879
he was elected United States senator
He represented Rhode Island in the
senate until 1911, when he retired.
For years he had occupied a dominant
place in the national councils of his
party.
Mr.. AIdrich will be buried Sunday
afternoon.
Sketch OF His Life.
Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich held a
seat in the United States senate con-
tinuously from 1881 to 1911. The in
fluence exerted by him on govern
mental affairs was best illustrated by
the fact that when he was satirically
introduced to an audience as ''the gen.
eral manager of the United States"
that appellation lived through the ad-
ministrations of Mckinley, Roosevelt
and Taft.
Probably the greatest parliament
tartan that ever served in the senate,
Mr. Aldrich had no difficulty in main
tanning leadership of his party. AL
though known among the veterans as
COMMITTEE senator, he was quite
as much at home on the floor and
naturally was more in evidence 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 impor-
lance. He seldom failed to participate
in the discussion of any measure af
fecting governmental policies.
Naturally Mr.. Aldrich's long con-
tinued supremacy in the councils of
his party and in 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, it
oov ho in fol f1aot nf
these assertions gained and held cur
rency because it was his policy never
to defend himself against published
attacks. He rarely permitted himself
to be quoted by the press.
The fact that his daughter was mar
ried to son of John d. Rockefeller
served to strengthen the popular i'm
preston that Senator A1drich was in
some way peculiarly friendly to the
oil magnate, and considerate of the So
called Rockefeller interests
Born in Foster. r. l., Nov. 6. 1S41,
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 in 1876,
and four years later sent to congress.
After two sessions he was elevated to
the senate, as successor of General
Ambrose E. Burnside.
Upon his election to the senate, he
was Immediately made chairman of |
the committee on rules and a member |
of the committee on finance and inter |
state commerce. Later as chairman
of the finance committee he was
called upon to assume large
share of the responsibility for all |
tariff and financial legislation before |
the senate. He participated in the
preparation of no fewer than six re- |
visions of the tariff and bore the bur-
den of labor incident to them The |
Payne-Aldrich tariff act was en-
gineered through the senate by him |
after many weeks of skillful maneuv-
ering and hard fighting.
His Currency Measure.
Mr. Aldrich was always ready to
seize upon any trend of public bust |
which he was interested. The "bank- |
er's panic of 1907 enabled him to
give impetus to his plan to bring about |
monetary reforms. The first fruit of |
his labors in this direction was the |
emergency currency |
law of 1908, put through the senate by |
Aldrich after an historic filibuster di- |
rected by Mr.. LaFol1ette, the Progress |
sive Republican from Wisconsin, who |
was aided by Mr.. Stone of Missouri, a |
Democrat. Sharp parliamentary tao |
tics enabled Mr.. Aldrich to bring the |
bill to final vote, but in taking Mr. |
LaFol1ette off his feet Mr.. Aldrich |
made an enemy who was relentless in
his opposition during many subse- |
quent legislative contests.
Swing Around the Circle.
Mr.. AIdrich undertook a speech
making trip in the middle west with |
avowed intention of graduating hos
tility to himself and his project. He |
desired especially to convert the peo-
pie to believe his declaration that he |
had no purpose save to devise a sys-
tenn of national finance sound in prin-
ciple, safeguarding all legitimate in
terests. and embodying the best wis
dom of the entire country. Although |
he had large audiences of bankers and |
III
successful.
why is not our plan taken at face
value?" he asked a 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
prosperous business man. You are
seeking too late in life to know the
people,
Mr.. Aldrich expressed regret that he
had not earlier made opportunity to
acquaint himself with the western
people. He said: I'm a way 1 have
been familiar with western interests,
and have done all / could to protect