McPHERSON, John Roderic, senator, born in Livingston county, New York, 9 May, 1883. He was educated in the public schools and in Genesco academy, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, removing to Hudson City, New Jersey, in 1858. He was president of the Hudson City board of aldermen in 1860-'3, the principal mover in the establishment of the People's gas company, and served for several years as its president. He was in the state senate in 1870-'3, opposed railroad monopolies, and secured the enactment of the general railroad law of New Jersey. He was presidential elector on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket in 1876, the same year was chosen United States senator as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1883 for the term that will end in 1889. His course in the United States senate has been independent and conservative, and he has often voted against his party associates on financial and tariff issues. In finance he belongs to the school known as hard-money men and has no respect for a depreciated currency, whether of silver or paper. On the tariff issue he is classed as a moderate protectionist.