The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-23
ELECTS A DEMOCRAT.
Fourteenth Mass District Overturns
Republican Plurality Of 14.250.

| Brockton, Mass, March 23.-The
| total vote for congress in the special
as follows: Eugene N. Foss OF Bos-
| ton, Democrat. 1880: William X
Buchanan of Brockton. Republican
Democratic victory of $40.
The district had never before elected
a Democrat to congress. Mr. Foss ac-
/ complished what was regarded as al
most political miracle, turning a Re-
publican plurality of 1920 into a
Democratic victory of 5-S4O.
| It was the most overwhelming de-
| feat that the Republicans have met In
| Massachusetts, since Governor Bates
was overthrown by William L. Doug
| las, six years ago.
The results is considered of more
than statewide Importance, for Mr..
| Foss stumDed the Fourteenth district
on national questions. 1t was the first
contest to be decided by the voters
since the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill be-
came operative and had a peculiar in
terest on that account. Mr.. F'oss. who
has figured in several campaigns, first
as a Republican and latterly as a. DEM
Ocrat with moderate prOtectiOnist lean
ings, is we'll known in the northern
states and Canada as a champion OF
Canadian reciprocity. an issue which
led him to leave the Republican party
last year and become the Democratic
candidate for lieutenant governor. He
failed by only 5000 votes to carry the
state at that time.
Another subject which was dis
cussed in the campaign was the high
cost of living. The Democratic cam
paigners charged the Payne-Aldrich
tariff bill and the failure of the Re-
publican party properly to supervise
the trusts with being mainly respon-
Sible for the high cost of living.
Met by Senator Lodge.
This attack was met by Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge. who delivered an
address at Brockton last Saturday
night, in which he stated that in
creases had occurred principally in ar
lowered when the tariff was revised
last year. Mr.. Foss. In replying to
Senator Lodge, presented a list of COM
parative food prices in Montreal. ST.
John, N. B., and Boston. which he
used as an argument against the ale
cation that the cost of provisions is
due to a worldwide upward price
movement.
The Republican leaders admit their
party in the district was divided part
ly due to the failure of Judge Robert
o. Harris to win the nomination in
the primaries. Judge Harris took no
part in the campaign, but many of his
friends, together with other dissatis-
fed Republicans, worked to defeat Mr..
Buchanan.
Mr.. Buchanan had also to meet the
attack that he was not strong party
man, his opponents pointing to the
fact that he was formerly the secre-
tary of Governor William L. Douglas,
a Democrat. The Brockton man was
further handicapped by a theory that
Mr.. Foss was as good Republican as
himself and 1t is true that Mr.. Foss'
prominence in the Republican party
previous to last year brought many
supporters to his standard. Con-
gressman-elect Foss is a prominent
manufacturer, banker and capitalist of
Boston. He had been twice defeated
for congress in the Eleventh district.
He is a brother of Congressman Foss
of Illinois.
Mr.. Buchanan Is the publisher of
the Brockton Times.
Mr.. F'oss in a statement declared the
result OF the election showed a de-
mand by the people that the Republi-
can party fulfill its pledge for an hon
est reduction of the tariff.
'It is a demand for the immediate
repeal of section 2 OF the Payne-Al-
drich act, which substitutes retaliation
for reciprocity and the commercial
warfare with our best customers" he
continued
The defeated candidate, VIM. r.
Buchanan, said:
"If the result will serve to convince
the Republican leaders at Washington
that something must be speedily ac-
complished in the way of lowering the
cost of living, I shall feel that my de-
feat has not been without value"