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ELSON WILMARTH ALDRICH, for nearly a quarter of a century United States senator from Rhode Island, was born at Foster, in that state, November 6, 1841, the son of Anan E. and Abby (Burgess) Aldrich; receiving his education at Killingly, Connecticut, and in Providence seminary, East Greenwich, Rhode Island. His business life began as bookkeeper for Waldron & Wightman, a business house of Providence, to which he was admitted as a partner in 1865. Early in his career his public spirit led him to take a practical interest in municipal affairs and in Republican political issues, and he quickly raised himself to prominence in the party councils. Elected to the city council in 1869 he remained a member for six years, during two of which he was president of the council. His career as councilman came to an end in 1875 on his election to the General Assembly of Rhode Island. His administrative abilities gave him a leading position in the state legislature, and he was speaker of the house in 1876. Two years later he was elected to the national house of representatives; and he was reelected in 1880.

Mr. Aldrich, as will be seen, had made very rapid progress in public life, through his practical business abilities, his political skill and his good judgment, which had given him the leadership of his party in Rhode Island, while he had won the high esteem of the people of that state. The final step in his career of political advancement came in 1881, when he was elected to the United States senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Ambrose E. Burnside. He was reelected in 1886, in 1892 and in 1898. During his entire service a member, and for years chairman, of the committee on Finance, Senator Aldrich's familiarity with intricate questions of finance, and with matters concerning the tariff, has given him great influence in the senate on these subjects. While he speaks but seldom, and then in a plain, practical manner, he is always hastened to attentively when any financial question arises. The reciprocity features of the McKinley tariff bill were largely due to his suggestions,