Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-04-22
DEMOCRATIC LANDSLIDE.


Upon the heels of the heralded retire
ment Of Republican United States Senators
Aldrich and Hale and following close upon
the recent capture Of rock-ribbed Repub-
lican district in Massachusetts by Eugene
N. Foss, the Democratic candidate for Con-
gress at a special election, Democratic
landslide in the Rochester IN. " Con-
8ressional district has amazed the entire
country and shaken the deepest strata Of
RepublicaniSm-
At the las, regular election James B.
Perkins, Republican. carried the Rochester
district by upward Of ten thousand major
ity. Mr. Perkins died short time ago. and
a special election was ordered to choose a
man to fill the vacant seat in Congress
The special election was held on Tuesday
last, and James B. Havens. Democrat. was
elected over his Republican opponent by a
majority Of nearly six thousand, showing
Democratic gain in the district Of up
ward of sixteen thousand votes.
Monroe county. which comprises the
Rochester or Thirty-second congressional
district. is nominally Republican by about
six thousand. For twenty years it had
been giving Republican majorities Of from
five thousand upward.
Mr.. Ravens had arrayed against him one
OF the strongest political organizations in
the State. Yet. in campaign lasting but
seventeen days. and with hastily con-
structed machinery. he accomplished one
OF the most remarkable overturns in polit-
ical history. The result of Tuesdays cleo
ton takes its place beside the Democratic
victory in the Fourteenth Massachusetts
district. where Eugene N. Foss was sent to
Congress from district supposed to be as
rock-ribbed Republican as this one.
Rochester is city Of both homes and
factories. Monroe county is one of the
States garden spots, crowded with pro-
ductive farms. Rochester has reputation
for the manufacture of mems clothing,
Shoes Photographic supplies. buttons, and
various small wares that require skilled
labor.
Mr.. Ravens rode to victory on platform
advocating tariff reform in the interests of
the consumer. revision of the duties on
wool and WOODEN goods. removal of the
tax on hides and lumber. removal of the
tariff on iron ore, an income tax. and,
finally. advocating independence of all
political bosses of any party.
Mr.. Aldridee, his opponent. contented
himself with general proclamations in fav-
or of the policies of the Republican admin
istration. On the tariff proposition he was
regarded as ''standpatter."
Mr.. Ravens interprets the result as fol-
lows
This is not wholly partisan victory.
In larger sense it is the victory of the
free people of Rochester and Monroe county
over a bipartisan organization and its
boss.
THE campaign was on a high plane,
and our appeal was made to the judgment
of the people Of this country over the heads
of the organization which opposed us. and
the people saw clearly and acted quickly,
as they always do.
While this may be justly heralded as a
great Democratic victory, it was no less a
victory such as the progressive Republicans
have been winning, both in the East and
the West. II is victory over the things
for which Cannon has stood and for the
ideals which Gov. Hughes typifes.
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 has not been
exaggerated. The people of this country,
feel certain, demand an honest and rea-
sonable revision of the tariff schedule in
the interest Of the consumer and not in
favor of special interests.
Il believe that this victory means that
political bosses belong to the past-their
policies are in political history not in the
politics Of the future. This county is free
tonight for the first time in twenty years
from the dictation of any political leader"
.