The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-17
FRIENDS PRAISE
ALDR|CH'S WORK
Senator Who Labored in Con-
gress on Finance Victim
Of Apoplexy.
BY ENEMIES
Visited Here Three Weeks Ago and
Talked c. o. P. Affairs at Luncheon
with Party Leaders.
INDICATED BY ENEMIES

( washington was shocked Yesterday nv
the news of the sudden death Yesterday
| IN Now York OF former Senator Nelson;
| W. Aldrich from apoplexy II was only
about three weeks ago that the former
| senator was here for a few days on his
return from cruise i'm Southern waters
His yacht anchored In the Potomac
basin for few days. and MIR. Aldrich
look occasion to visit many of his old
friends among the Republicans in Con-
sress who had remained after the scs-
sion ended. and to give a private dinner
at which many of them We're present.
along with local capitalists and bankers.
The national situation was discussed
and Mr.. Aldrich expressed preference
for former Senator Root as the nominee
for 1916. and encouraged his guests to be-
lieNe that MIR. Root would accept the
nomination if he believed he could do Il
service for his party.
All AntaEoniSm Forgotten.
Although Mr.. Aldrich. as n Republican
leader of the ultra-conservative type. had
been the object OF bitter attacks from
men of more radical views all this was
forgotten yesterday. and the expressions
heard did justice to the constructive
ability of the man. 1t was the opinion
that he left his greatest monument in the
currency legislation. His vindication for
this work. criticised and INSTRUCTED at
the time he was active in passing the
NreelandAldrich bill. came when tho
Democrats in the last Congress re-en-
acted the bill they had once denounced
SO vigorously. His act i'm giving UP his
seat in the Senate to give his undivided
attention to perfecting a currency sys-
TEN was referred to today as his .'monu-
ment.''
Although he was frequently the subject
of attack in debate and was generally
able to defend himself, he always did
so with the hest of humor and seldom in
dulsed in personalities. The nearest APP
proach to a personal encounter was in
his memorable struggle with Senator
Dolliver of Iowa, in the course of the de
bate on the Payne Aldrich tariff law
when Senator Aldrich replied so viEor-
ously to Mr.. Delivers sharp criticism
Of the wooden and cotton schedules 1t
was in the course of this debate that
Mr.. Doliiver remarked that the two
greatest discoveries of the year We're
the finding of the north pole by DR..
Cook and the revision of the tariff
downward by Nelson W. Aldrich.''
Home Life Unostentntious.
Senator Aldrich's home life in Wash
ington was simple and transformations.
He and his family took very little in
terest in the social side of life at the
Capital. They had their limited circle
of friends. but did not figure in the
newspapers in connection with social
events. All his life Mr.. Aldrich had an
aversion to publicity.
After he concluded his work with the
monetary commission. Mr. Aldrich devot-
ed his time principally to travel. He
recently completed his beautiful house
at Warwick Neck. which is said to be one
of the most beautiful residences in Amer
lea, and which he had been ten years
in completing. Mr.. Aldrich is believed
to have left an estate estimated as high
as SIS, 100000.
Mr.. Aldrich was born in Foster r. l..
November s. 1SH. He was a member
of the Providence common council from
1863 to 1871 and from 1872 to 1875. In 1915 !
he went to the Rhode Island house of !
representatives. of which he was the |
speaker from 1876 to 1877. He was chosen |
a member of Congress in 1879 and on Oc- |
tober 5, 1881, was named United States |
Senator to fill the vacancy caused by the |
death of Gen. A. f. Burnside. His .
funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon !
with burial in Providence.