The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-20
DemocratElectedto toe on
gress in Rock-Ribbed
Republican District.
MEANS CHANGE
OF 10000 VOTERS
Result in Thirty-seco New
York Is One of Most Remark
able Overturns in Political
History-Losing Candidate
Is Party Boss in Mon
roe County.

roe County.
Rochester. n. y, April ls.-Between
six and eight thousand voters of Mon
roe county changed from the Republi-
can TO the Democratic column to-day.
and elected the first Democratic Con-
gressman that has represented the
. Thirty second District In twenty years.
James s. Havens, Democrat. running
on tariff reform platform, defeated
George W. Aldridge. for a score OF
years the ruler OF the county Republi-
can organization. by $500 votes.
Monroe county, which comprises the
Thirty-second Congressional District,
is normally Republican by about 5000.
James 3. Perkins. whose death In the
middle OF his third Congressional term
necessitated special election to-day,
carried the district in 1905 by 10.l6f
votes.
Taking the vote of the presidential
year 1908 for comparison, the total
turn-ove vote OF the district was s.
oS3. It is acknowledge however. that
Mr. Perkins's vote in that year was
abnormal, and accepting the average
Republican plurality as standard,
the change from the Republican TO
the Democratic column amounts to
about 5000"
Havcns had arrayed against him one
of the strongest political organiTations
In the state. Yet In campaign last
ing but seventeen days. and with has
tily constructed machinery, he accom-
plished one of the most remarkable
overturns in political history. The re-
suit of to-day's election takes its
place beside the Democratic victory
in the Fourteenth Massachusetts Dis
trict. where Eugene Foss was sent TO
Congress from a district supposed TO
be as rock-ribbed Republican as this
one.
Platform of Winner.
Rochester Is city of both homes
and factories. Monroe county is one
OF the States garden spots, crowded
with productive farms. Mr.. Havens
rode TO victory on platform advo-
eating tariff reform in the interests
OF the consumer. revision OF the
duties on wool and woolen goods: a
removal of the tax on hides and lum-
her: a removal of tho tariff on iron
ore. an income tax. and, finally, advo-
eating independence of all of political
bosses of any party.
Mr. Aldridge his opponent. content-
ed himself with general proclama tions
In favor of the policies of the Re-
publican administration. On the tariff
proposition he was regarded as a
stand -patter"
Both candidates declared for reci-
procity with Canada. an Employer
compensation act parcels post and a
postal savings bank.
The Democrats acknowledge thzt one
OF the main factors in to-day's rever-
sal of political sentiment was a per-
sonal issue, raised by Aldridges record
rs party boss, and evidence presented
at the recent fire insurance investiga-
ton. Mr.. Aldridge acknowledged that
he received $1,000 check from Elijah
Kennedy. an agent of the fire insur-
ance companies. but denied that he
He declared that he turned the money
into the treasury of tho Republican
organization.
Clergymcn Favor Havens.
This so-called moral issue was
taken up by the churches. and no less
than twenty clergymen announced
themselves in Havens's favor Mr..
Aldrdge's defense was that his record
stood for itself. He summoned to his
aid several thousand of Monroe county
voters. who We're under obligation to
the polling places We're throngcd with
workers for him, Outside of the dis
trict he received little, If any, assist.
ance Mr. Havens, on the other hand
was helped by the Democratic Ma
1lonal Committee. which sent here
speakers Of national reputation.
In spite OF the excitement of the
campaign to-days election passed off
quietly. Notwithist anding Democratic
charges of illegal registration there
We're no arrests.
Voting machines are used in this
city. and in a majority of the min teen
towns of the county the result of the
balloting was apparent within half an
hour after the polls closed At
o'clock Mr. Aldridge5s managers ac-
llnowledscd his defeat by about 5000
plurality. a few minutes later a com.
plete tabulation of the city vote show.
cd that Havens's plurality in the city
alone beat the figures. The towns
joined the procession with similar re.
suits,
Remarkable Keyerscs.
The oNcrturn in the city was from a
Republican plurality of G,215 in. Tho
last congressional election in 1908 tc
plurality for Havens of 3,746 The
towns. which In 1905 went Republicar
by 3.972, gave Hayens plurality OF
2,l54.
The most remarkable Republican lie.
verses occurred in some of the resi-.
dence wards, The Twelfth turned q
Republican plurality or l,652 into .
Democratic plurality OF 700.
The success Of Havens probabl,
means that he will be candidate Il
succeed himself when hts present tern
eXpires at the end OF tho year Th.
Democrats declare that't means tn,
end of Aldridge's hopes FOR elective OF.
flee.
James s.. Havens, the Successful can.
dldate, is n lawyer and a former part
rel OF the late .rConsressman Jame!
BrecS Perkins, whom he succeeds. Fl.
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