Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1910 — REPUBLICAN DEFEAT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REPUBLICAN DEFEAT

Stunning Blow Delivered to Payne-Aldrich Tariff LANDSLIDE AT ROCHESTER “An Honest and Reasonable Revision Demanded fn the Interests of the Consumer” Tide Turning Strongly Against Trust Protection. New York as well as Massachusetts ijas found an opportunity for lodging its protest against political bossdom and tariff robbery and has used it splendidly. In the Thirty-second congress district, comprising the town of Rochester, the Democratic '’andidate, James S. Havens, has been elected by a majority of 5,831 votes over the Republican boss, George W. Aldridge. A Republican majority of 10,000 has been converted into a Democratic majority of the above size. Local and personal Issues, it is true, helped to effect this result The Republican candidate was proved to have taken a SI,OOO bribe for political favors. But national feetors also figured in the election, especially the tariff, as reflected in the Canadian dispute and the high cost of living.

The Democratic candidate, we are told, “stood on a platforin advocating tariff reform in the of the consumer, a revision of the duties on wool and woolen goods, a removal of the tax on hides and lumber in the interest of cheaper houses and for the preservation of forests, a removal of the tariff on iron ore, an income tax and, finally, advocating independence of all political bosses of any party.” His opponent contented himself with general proclamations in favor of the policies of the Republican administration and was a stand patter on the tariff. The successful candidate gave out the following explanation of his victory: “This is not wholly a partisan victory. In a larger sense it is a victory of the free people of Rochester axd Monroe county over a bipartisan organization and its boss. While this may be justly heralded as a great Democratic victory It was no less such a one as the progressive Republicans have been winning both in the east and the west It is a victory over the things for which Cannon has stood and for the ideals which Governor Hughes typifies. The result of the vote in the city wards shows that the revolt of the men who most feel the high prices of necessaries against the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill Mas not been exaggerated. The people of this county, I feel certain, demand an honest and a reasonable revision of the tariff schedules in the interest of the consumer and not in favor of the special interests which exchange campaign contributions for favors in legislation." The defeated boss, on being asked what he had to say about the result, remarked: “I was licked, and that’s all there is to say. You can figure out the reasons for your Self.” Although Senator Payne, at Washington, when asked what he thought of the result, professed to regard it as “a question of the man, not of the party,” yet the Republican party managers know too well that it is nothing of the kind. The evidence is too strong against them, and it keeps coming. This is the third election in succession since the passage of the new tariff law where the Democrats have won. Representative Eugene N. Foss of Massachusetts, the newly elected congressman, commenting upon the election, said: “It was the Payne-Aldrich bill that defeated Aldridge. While there were other contributing causes, I will admit, the issue was mainly an honest revision of the tariff and Canadian reciprocity. The pledge made by the Republicans that they would make an honest revision of the tariff is In the people’s minds. This result means only one thing, and that is that all the chaps who voted for the Payne-Al-drieh bill have got to go. Aldrich and Hale have already been taken ill, haven’t they? And there will be a lot more who will be taken ill or will not run or something else will happen. The old time leaders have had their innings, and the tide is turning strongly against them.” „

American Workman—l guess this ladder ’ll have to be lengthened or that wall ’ll have to come down!—Westminster Gazette. <