Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-20
VOTES TURN TO TARIFF
REFORM CANDIDATE
First Defeat Is Received by the Re-
publieans In Monroe County fer
Twenty Years and the Tide is Turn
ed With Big majority-People
Strike at Party Boss Principle.


ROCHESTER,. N. Y, April 10
More than 10000 voters of Monroe
county changed from the Republican
TO the Democratic co.umn today and
elected the first Democratic congress-
man that has represented the Thirty
second district In twenty years.
James s. Ravens. Democrat. running
on tariff reform platform. defeated
George w. Aldridse. for a score of
years the ruler In the county Repub-
lican organization, by $500 votes.
Monroe county, which comprises
the Thirty-second congressional ais
trist. is normally Republican. James
b. Perkins. whose death in the mid
die Of his third congressional term,
necessitated a special election today,
carried the district IN 1909 by 1857
votes.
Remarkable Victory.
iiavens had arrayed against him
one OF the strongest political orsani
cations in the state. Yet, in a cam
paign lasting but seventeen days, and
with hastily constructed machinery,
he accomplished one of the most re-
markable overturns In political his
tory. The result of today's election
takes its place beside the Democratic
victory in the Fourteenth Massachu-
setts district. where Eugene N. Foss
was sent to congress from district,
supposed to be rs rock-ribbed Repub-
lican as this one.
Rochester is a 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 a platform advo-
eating tariff reform In the interests
Of the consumer; revision OF the
duties on wool and wooden goods; a
removal of the tax On hides and ium-
Der; removal of the tariff on iron
ore: an income tax and finally, advo-
eating independence of all political
bosses of any party.
Opponents Policies.
Mr.. Aldridge. his opponent. content
ed himself with general proclamations
in favor OF the policies of the Repub-
can administration
On the tariff proposition he was re-
garded as "s.and-patter" Both can
| didates declared for reciprocitxWith
Canada, an employers coElzastion
act. parcels post and a postal saw
ings bank.
The Democrats acknowledge that
enc OF the main factors IN today's re-
verssl OF political sentiment was a
personal issue raised By Aidridge's
record as party boss and evidence
presented at the recent FIRE insurance
Investigation. Mr.. Aldridge acknowl-
edged that be received a 81 600 check
from Elijah Kennedy, an asens OF the
fire insurance companies. but denied
that he benefited personally by the
transfer. He declared that he turned
the money into the treasury of the
Republican organization.
Preachers Oppose Republicans
This so-caIled moral issue was
taken up by the churches. and no less
than twenty clergymen announced
themselves in Ravens favor. Mr..
iidridge's defense was that his record
stood Tor itself He summoned TO his
aid several thousand Of Monroe coun-
ty voters. who were under obligation
to him for Political favors. and today
the polling places were thronged with
workers for him. Outside Of the dis
trict he received little. II sny. assist
ance Mr.. Ravens. on the other hand.
was helped BY the Democratic nation
al committee which sent her speakers
CT national reputation.