Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-23
A BIG TURNOVER.
F0ss Elected in the 14th
Mass. Cong. District.
Defeats Buchanan, Rep, BY
Vote Of 1860 TO 9340.
Of National Interest, Owing to the
Issues Involved.

tional political weather cock turned
Democratward in Massachusetts, to-
day when the Old Colony section. the
14th district, one of the Republican
strongholds of the state, placed Eu-
gene n. Foss of Boston, one of the
'country's leading opponents of reci-
procity with Canada, in the congress
sional seat of the late William c. Low
ering of Taunton. Mr.. Foss accom-
plished what was regarded as almost
a political miracle. turning a Repub-
lican plurality of 1920 into Demo-
cratic victory of 5640.
The vote today was: Eugene N.
Foss Of Boston, DEM. 1880: William
r. Buchanan of Brockton, Rep. 9340.
1t was the most overwhelming de-
feat that the Republicans have met in
overthrown by William l.. Douglas six
years ago through the political guild
anea of the same Mr. Buchanan, who
failed in the same capacity on his own
behalf today.
The Democratic victory today is con-
sidered of national Importance. for Mr..
Foss stumped the district from the
granite hills of Mansfield to Province
ton on narional questions and people
backed him up with whoop.
High cost of living. high tariff and
Cannonism We're denounced through
MIR. Foss. while it was seldom that he
did not mention the benefits of better
trade relations with Canada by agree
ment.
Where the two cities and every one
of the A towns threw Republican ma
iorities only six months ago. q scant
dozen remained loyal to the Republic
cans today.
The campaign was a short, sharp.
hard fought and well managed on both
sides. Both political machines entered
into the contest and the Republicans
drafted Senator Lodge and Congress
man Greene from Washington, but
they could not turn the tide.
That the people We're interested In
the issues and anxious 70 speak their
opinions was shown by the unusually
heavy vote for an out-of- season cleo
ton. With the Socialist vote which
may reach 500, more than $4,000 ballots
We're thrown today, which is about
fourffths of the average vote in the
three past Congressional election and
larger than the election of 1902. The
strength of the Foss vote was shown
in the two cities, Brockton and Taun-
ton, both of which he gathered into his
column and in addition took all the big
towns with the exception of Attleboro
which he lost by five votes. He also
captured a majority of the little towns
on Cape Cod.
Mr.. Foss will serve out only the bal
ance of Mr.. Coverings term, as he ex-
poets to enter the state campaign next
fall
The election attracted more than
statewide interest for several reasons.
In the first place the contest was the
only one which has been decided by
the voters since the Payne Aldrich tar
If bill became operative. Mr.. Foss.
who figured in several campaigns, first
as Republican and latterly as DEM
ocrat with moderate protectionate
leanings, is well known in the North
western states and in Canada as q
champion of Canadian reciprocity. is
sue which led him to leave the Republi-
can party last year and became the
Democratic candidate for lieutenant
governor. He failed to carry the state
at that time, by only 5000 votes.
Another subject which was discussed
in the Congressional campaign was the
high cost of living. The Democratic
campaigners charged the Payne-A1d-
rich tariff bill and the failure OF the
Republican party properly to supervise
the trusts with being mainly RESPONSE
BILE for the high cost of living This
attack was met by Senator Henry Cab
OF Lodge, who delivered an address at
Brockton last Saturday night, In which
he stated that the increases had oc-
Cured principally or articles on which
the duty had been lowered when the
tariff was revised last year.
Foss, in replying to Senator Lodge,
presented list of comparative food
prices in Montreal, st. John. N. b., and
Boston, which he used as an argument
against the allegation that the cost
of provisions is due to world wide
upward price movement.
The Democrats were assisted in the
short campaign by Former Congress-
man John K. Thayer of Worcester,
Charles s. Hamlin Of Mattapoisett, for
Continued on Page Twelve).