Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-25
The 18th Massachusetts, District.

The 18th Massachusetts District.
The defeat of the Republican candi-
date in the fourteenth Massachusetts
congressional district has been hailed
by Democratic newspapers as an in
dication that the Republican strong
hold Of New England is in revolt.
Such conclusion. in the light of all
the facts, is as wrong as it is hasty.
Mr.. Buchanan the Republican candi
date mas been Democrat and is now
owner of Democratic organ. Thou
sands of Republicans in his district
entertained grave doubts as to his
Republicsnism. Mr.. Foss, the success
full Democratic candidate, has been
Republican up to within year and is
still considered Republican by thou
sands of his adherents. Therefore,
neither had any advantage which
would accrue to man of strict party
regularity.
1t is necessary to go deep in the
CduocS VI WI . bCISot IL an
intelligent conclusion is to be reached.
His name was one of the several pro
posed before caucus. Personal pop
ulari:y was in favor of Judge Harris,
but Buchanan, by his vigorous cam
paign for the nomination. overcame his
opponents ard was chosen to bear the
standard of the party in the election.
Criticism of his methods was wide
spread tefore the caucus and imme-
diateiy thereafter it became matter
Of common knowledge that thousands
of Republicans would cast their bal
lots for Mr. Foss in preference to him.
1t therefore became a personal contest
against Mr.. Buchanan with Mr. Foss
That he did profit is shown by the tre-
mendous majority he received in a
district which has been Republican
ever since it has been d district and
which is as strongly Republican to-
day as ever in its History.
"Nichols' writing in the Boston
Transcript. says:
The result was simply rebuke
to Buchanan. With the figures be
fore one, it is impossible for an up-
prejudiced observer to reach any
other conclusion, although there
may possibly have been some; mi
ri TThag
press throughout the country will
doubtless declare Foss' election an
'insnrgent' triumph, victory for
tariff reform. a rebuke TO the Taft
administration and especially to
Senator Lodge. and an evidence of
the unrest of the people over the
high cost of living. 1t will assert
that Buchanan defeat presages
the election of d Democratic House
of Representatives next fall. Pos
sibly. anG probably even the Dem
ocrats may carry the next House,
although they deprived themselves
of their hest asset when they over
threw "Cannonism.'
The press outside Massachusetts
will make these assertions honestly
but ignorantly, because they do not
know the local situation. Even
admitting that these considerations
had some Judgment in the voters
minds the conclusion is inevitable
that the result of yesterdays cleo
ton was only a Buchanan rebuke.
Had former Governor Long, Judge
Harris former Senator Wheatley,
Senator Nash. Civil Service Com
missioner Curtiss, Fish and Game
Commissioner Garfield, or almost
any other good Republican been
nominated he would almost GER
tainly have been elected,
Foss' election is for short term and
the regular election must be won by
the Democrats before the 14th Mas
sachuSetts district can be said to have
reversed it's political faith The cleo
ton just held proves nothing except
the personal unpopularity of the de-
fcatcd candidate. n is not a Demo
cratic victory, nor is it an "iISurgcnt"
victory. II was the defeat Of Mr.. Bu-
cfanan. nothing more.