New Britain herald., 1915-04-16
FORMER U.S.&NATOR NELSON ". ALDRICH
 DIES IN NEW YORK
(Continued from First Pagc.)

(Continued from FlrSt Eage) 1 naturally was more in evidence Tn the larger arena. While he gave spe- cial attention to the tariff and finan- cial legislation in committed, on the senate floor his car was open for all that was said on any subject of gen. eral importance He seldom failed to participate in the discussion of any measure affecting governmental policies
 Subject of Criticism.
 Naturally Mir. Aldrich's long-con- tinucd supremacy in the counsels 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, 1t can be said in fairness that some of these assertions gained and held cur rency because it was his policy never to defend himself against published attacks. He rarely permitted him. self 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 inn pression that Senator AldIich was In some way peculiarly friendly to the oil magnate, and considerate of the so-called Rockefeller interests" Yet when a friend of the senator once asked him for letter to MT. Rock efeller. MT. Aldrich replied:
 'As I have met Mr. Rockefeller only twice in my life I fear the let ter would be of but little if any as- sistance to you.'
 Charged With Being Sectional.
 In legislation he was. chafged with being sectional. This is hardly borne out by the facts, and more than once he gained his points by utilizing the conflicts of interests between west and south and east.
 A temporary, opponent within his party when suddenly deprived of the floor during debate on proposed currency reforms expostulated in vain. As he took his seat he said: "The senate no longer is the great forum of free speech, at least not when the senator from Rhode Island is here"
 Born in Foster, R. I.
 Born in Foster, R. l., November s, 1S41, he first appeared in public office as a member of the common council in the city of Providence. He was elected to the Rhode Island as- sembly in 1875, and four years later sent to congress. After two sessions he was elevated to the senate. as suc- cessor of General Ambrose F. Burn side.
 Having begun his career as a busi- ness man. Senator Aldrich continued 1s.. t.s- ,i.T play businesslike methods and extra ordinary capacity for organization. Upon his election to the senate, he was immediately made chairman of the committee on rules. and member 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 than six revisions of the tariff and bore the burden of labor incident to them. The Payne-Aldrich tariff act was engineered through the senate by him after many weeks of skillful maneuvering and hard fight irg.
 Opposed by LaFollette.
 MT. Aldrich was always ready to serve upon any trend of public busi- ness to 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 direction was the Vreeland-Aldrich emergency cur rency law of 1908. put through the senate by Aldrich after an historic 1ijibuster directed by MT. LaFollette, tho progressive republican from Wis consin, who was aided by MT. Stone of Missouri, a democrat. Sharp parlia- mentary tactics enabled MT. Andrich to bring the bill to final vote, but In taking MT. LaFollette off his feet MT. Aldrich made an enemy who was re- lcntless in his opposition during many subsequent legislative contests.
 The emergency currency law was regarded by MT. 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, gv- ing most of his time to the work of the national monetary commission. He was able to devote his time unre- servedly to his work because in 1911 he declined to be candidate for re- election, giving ill-health as & reason.
 After his retirement from public life MT. Aldrich spent much of his time in travel, but he continued to follow business affairs. He saw many of his ideas on the subjects of cur rency enacted by the democrats and although the new law did not bear his name it is known to a large eX- tent he approved of what was done.
 Only Servants at House.
 Warwick Neck, R. l., April 16.--