New-York tribune., 1902-01-08
CRUSHING FOR BELMONT.
HE AND HIS FRIENDS OVERWHELMED
LIVELY CELEBRATION FOR LESSLER.

NELEBhAIION
Montague LessIer the Republican and anti
Tammany candidate for Congress in the With
Congress District triumphantly elected yes
terday by a plurality of 394. pulling down a
normal plurality of 1000 in what is generally
considered to be one of the safest Democratic
Congress distrsts in New-York City. No Re-
publican ever carried the district before at
present constituted. 1t the first time that
Mr.. Lessler for office. and last night ne
was the political hero Of the hour
His victory over Perry Belmont. who at ths
last had the technically united support of Tam
many Hall and the Greater New-York Democ-
racy. was celebrated all through the lower part
OF Manhattan and Staten Island last night
with parades. fireworks and speeches. Mr.. Bel
mont's defeat was terrific surprise to him and
his friends. The police returns at 10 o'clock last
night gave the vote in the various Assembly
districts making up the With Congress Dis
trict as shown in the table 1T the head of this
article.
BEATEN BY TAA1MANY OBJECTIONS.
Mr.. Belmont was defeated by defections from
the Tammany ranks ali along the line. The
knitting was particularly noticeable in the Ist
Assembly District. which he carried by only
six hundred while it usually gives three thou
sand. Richmond County. which is generally con-
sidered a "standoff' between the big parties.
under the skilful management of Borough Pres
ident George Cromwell gave rOusing Republi-
can plurality of 2.2O2- Tammany men deserted
the regular organization in the Ist Assembly
District. where ex-POlice Commissioner Michael
C. Murphy is the leader. in shoals to support
Lessler So fearful were Mr.. Croker's friends IN
the Ist District that Battery Dam Finn would
accomplish the overthrow of Murphy that some
of the Tammany election district captains
worked shoulder to shoulder with Republicans
in order TO defeat Belmont.
This was not the case. however. in Colonel
Murphy's own election district. the XIIIth. In
order TO show his stanch regularity he carried
the district by the usual plurality of nearly one
hundred and fifty.
Mr.. Lessler received election returns last night
in company with Secretary George R. Manches-
ter, Phillip Doblin and other members of the
County Committee at No. 1 Nadison-ave. The
early returns were little bit discouraging. as
they were all from the Tammany strongholds-
AS soon as the Richmond County election dis
tricts were heard from, however. it was seen
that the result would be close BY $50 o'clock
enough districts had reported 70 make Lesslers
friends sure of the result Scores of Republic
cans visited the new Congressman and cOngrat-
ulated him.
The welcome of the night. however. was down
in the Ist Assembly District. where the Repub-
licans have a headquarters at No I'll North
Moore-st. Here is where the Belmont men had
spent money with lavish hand The sum OF
S135 was distributed in each election district to
man the polls. The distribution followsi
Finn Democrats, $50; Greater New-York Demo-
Gratis. $50: Murphy Democrats S25: Citizens
Union. $40 AS against this. the Republicans
had $50 10 a district
LIFTED OFF HIS FEET
The elected Congressman started from thu
Republican County Committee rooms at
o'clock. stopping at the lid Assembly District
headquarters, in ST. Luke's Place, where ne was
welcomed by Frederick Haldy and hundreds Of
enthusiastic Republicans At 9 o'clock his auto
mobile whirIed into the dimly lighted North
Moore-st. where the population is largely made
up of stalwart laboring men. employed around
the docks and at trucking. His feet no sooner
touched the pavement than he was lifted bodily
above the heads of the crowd and showed into
the doorway OF the club. He wore blue nannet
shirt. his derby hat was half covered with mud
and was jammed in at the top from too much
handling. but his boyish face was wreathed with
smiles as he faced the throng. and made the
following speech:
Fellow citizens of the Ist Assembly District:
grateful and very proud OF t9s opportTnisy nii 70
tonight. whether Republicans or Democrats. you
are all my people ana n M M me No an a1v time and
If can help any man among you you - may & coIa z
my course as Congressman will demonstrate thaS
/ friend
I don't feel that my election any personal
victory OF my The victory was due 70 the
spirit OF manhood possessed by the stalwart voters
Of this Congress district The verdict AT the polls
to-day meant that you the kind OF men who
will wipe of politics any man. whatever his
name. who seeks election at your hands by pn-
worthy methods. The election to-day means thaC
the voters of this district resent the tmputatton
that they be herded or rounded up Ike cattle
full. and 1 shall try TO make you proud or the
honor that YOU have conferred upon me to-day.
bid you goodnight and Godspeed-
Inside the club brief speeches were made by
Frederick HaIdy. Martin Healy. leader of the
others Mr.. Lessler was not willing to go away
from the club until he had personally greeted
Antonio Dalessandro. the Republican captain OF
the Fifteenth Election District. which rolled up
a Lessler majority of ninety yesterday.
Mr. Lessler and his party stopped at Pearl-st-
and Park Row. in the Hid Assembly District. to
greet constituents, after which he went to
Tompkinsvile. where the scenes which were
enacted in North Moore-st. were repeated at
rousing rally of Staten Islanders.
A VICTORY FOR PRINCIPLE
When asked how it seemed to be Congress-
man, Mr.. Lesser said:
'I can only say the greatest honor of my life
has come 10 me. and 1 profoundly stirred
with gratitude. I realize that my personality
was a minor factor in the contest. The result
Ia splendid victory for principle The Repub-
lican party of New-York owes a greater
debt of gratitude to the citizens OF the With