Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-04-22
\. ". ALDRICH DIES
SUDDENLY HOME
Former U. S. Senator Stricken
With ApopIexy.
FORMER LEADER OF G. O. P.
Expert on the Tariff and Finance Sue
cumbs to ApopIexy Following At
tack of Indigestion-Was
Attacked by Many.

New York, April 19.-NeIson W. Aid
rich, for 80 years United States sena-
tor from Rhode Island and Republic
an leader whose name was stamped
upon tariff and currency legislation Of
his party, died on Friday Of an apo
plectic stroke at his home on Fifth
avenue here. He had been i'll Of in
digestion since Thursday afternoon.
Until then he had been in excellent
health He was in his seventy-fourth
year. Mr.. AldTich viii be buried Sun
day in SwanpOint cemetery, Provi-
dence, r. /
Members Of Mr.. AIdrich's immedi-
ate family were hurriedly summoned
when he became unconscious and were
at his bedside when he died.
Mr.. AIdrich held a seat in the
United States senate continually from
1881 to 1911.
Probably the greatest parliamentar-
ian that ever served in the senate
Mr. Aldrich had no difficulty in main
tanning leadership of his own party.
While he gave special attention to the
tariff and financial legislation in com
mittee, on the senate floor his ear was
open for all that was said on any sub
ject Of general Importance. He sell
dom failed to participate in the dis
cussion Of any measure affecting gov
eminent policies.
Naturally, Mr. AIdrich'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 rarely
permitted himself to be quoted by the
press.
The fact that his daughter was mar
Tied to son of John D. Rockefeller
served to strengthen the popular i'm
preston that Senator AIdrich was in
some way peculiarly friendly to the
oil magnate and considerate of the
so-calIed Rockefeller interests" Yet
when a friend of the senator once
asked him for a letter to Mr.. Rookie
Teller, Mr.. Aldrich replied:
AS I have met Mr. Rockefeller
only twice in my life, I fear the letter
would be of but little assistance to
you"
Born in Foster, R. L, November 6,
lS41, he first appeared in public of
flee as member of the common coun-
Gil in the city of Providence. He was
elected to the Rhode Island assembly
In 1875 and four years later sent to
congress. After two sessions he was
elevated to the senate as successor
to Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside.
Having begun his career as a bust
ness man, Senator AIdrich continued
throughout his public service to dis
play businesslike methods nd ex-
traordinary 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 in
terstate commerce.
Later as chairman of the finance
committee he was called upon to as
sumo a large share of the RESPONSE
bility for all tariff and financial Iegis-
IatiOn before the senate. He partici-
pated 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 sEillful ma
neuvering and hard fighting.