The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-04-16

Aldrich, for 80 years Uniteds States
senator from Rhode Island and Re
publican leader whose name was
stamped upon tariff and curren-
cy legislation of his country, died
,of an apoplectic stroke at his home
on Fifth avenue today.
He had been i'll of indigestion since
yesterday afternoon. Until then he
had been in excellent health
He was in his 74th year The burial
will take place in Providence, r. l.,
Sunday afternoon.
D.. John Thatcher, the family
physician, had left Mr.. AIdrieh less
than half an hour before he died. Mr.
Aldrich then appeared to be recover
ing from slight attack of indiges-
ton, which put him in bed yesterday
afternoon. Ten minutes after he left
Mr.. Aldrich suddenly became uncon-
scious. He died within few minutes.
Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich held a
seat in the United States senate con-
tinuously from 1881 to 1911. The in
fiuence exerted by him on government
tai affairs was best illustrated by the
fact that when he was satirically intro
duced to an audience as the general
manager Of the United States. that
appelation lived through the admins
| ;rations of Mckinley, Roosevelt and
Taft
Probably the greatest parliamenta-
rian that ever served in the senate.
Mr.. Aldrich had no difficulty in main
tanning the leadership of his party.
Although known among the veterans
as committee senator he was
| quite as much atahemesen the fioeT- ana
| 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-
tance. He seldom failed to partici-
pate in the discussion Of any measure
affecting governmental policies.
| Naturally Mr.. Aldrich 5 long-contin-
| ued supremacy in the counsels Of his
| party and in directing legislation
| caused him to become the subject of
much adverse criticism. lie was
charged with bossism and with being
the tool of the ''interests. 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 de
fend 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 Aldrich was in
some way peculiarly friendly to the oil
magnate, and considerate of the So
called 9 Rockefeller interests Yet
when a friend of the senator once ask
ed him for a letter to Mr.. Rockefeller
Mr.. Aldrich replied:
As l have met Mr.. Rockefeller
only twice in my life I fear the let
ter would be of but little assistance
to you -
In legislation he was charged with
being sectional. This is hardly borne
out by the facts, and more than once
he gained his points by utilizing the
conflict of interests between West anC
South and East.
A temporary opponent within hi.
own party when suddenly deprived
of the floor during a debate on pro
posed currency reforms expostulated
in vain. As he took his seat he said
1.-The senate no longer is the grea
, forum of free speech, at least not whe1
; the senator from Rhode Island i
t here.
StudiOusly avoiding discussing o
: reading attacks upon him Mr. Aldriel
practically invited adverse criticism
A well known writer of Wall stree
tales devoted one whole winter to
study of Aldrich and then wrote
, long biography for a popular maya
: zine. The article was profusely illus
trated and highly eolored photograph
. was used on the outside cover. Nat
! urally the author desired to knoy
! what Aldrich thought of the article
and friend sought to find out
copy of the magazine was handed t
the senator. He looked at the cove
and his face depicted disgust. ''
never wore green waistcoat in m
life he said, and forthwith the OF
Tending magazine was thrown into tn
S waste basket.
Born in Foster, r. l., Nov. 6, 1871
he first appeared in public Office as
: | member of the common council in tn
: | city of Providence. He was electe
= to the Rhode Island assembly in 1877:
: | and four years later sent to congres,
q After two sessions he was elevated t
y the senate, as successor of Gen. An
:. brose E. Burnside.
Y Having begun his career as a bus
: ness man, Senator Aldrich continue
J. throughout his public service to di:
J. play business-like methods and extra
!. ordinary capacity for organization
Upon his election to the senate he wa