The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-20
CONTESTED SENATE SEATS.
NO REPUBLTCAy TO BE UNsEA7ED ON
TECHNfcALTTY ONLE

Their sests. bat In the Trey ass Orange
Districts Wholesale Fraud nad Bribery
OF Voters sy Republicans May Ussesi
| senators Derby and RieharAsoa.
ALBANY. Feb. 19--Two Of the Senate con.
tested election cases were closed this after
noon before the Senate Committee on Elec-
tons These are tho contests from the Orange
| and Troy districts. The other contests have
been practically dropped In the Troy and
Orange contests the grounds were bribery
| and election frauds. while in the Saratoga and
Wyoming contests the contestants relied
| mainly on technical constructions OF the new
| ballot law. In the flush OF triumph,
! many Of the Democrats OF the Senate.
notably Lieut.. Gov. Sheehan. were in favor OF
throwing out the Republicans whose sents
were contested. More conservative and eS-
perlenced Democrats. men like Mr. Croker
and Commissioner Gilroy. who have been VIC
torious often enough not TO lose their heads
over an election triumph. were In favor ofcare-
ful consideration OF all the cases before any
action was taken. They wero opposed TO ln-
seating single Republican unless there was
clear evidence OF fraud and bribery. and not
on n technical construction OF the election law.
Mr. Croker thought that the unseating OF any
man on account OF technicalties would iniure
tho Democratic party. and his counsels have
at last prevailed.
This decision insrres the retention Of their
seats by Senators Van Gorder and Donaldson.
In Senator Van Gordcrs case the ballots were
imperfect through n printers flaw. His on
ponent might have won In the courts on this
technically. In the Donaldson case the re.
turns were Improperly made by ignorant
inspectors who attached pink ballots to the
returns instead of tho white ballots rs the law
directs. Nothing appeared. however. to show
TINT the count was incorrect. although. techni-
cally. the inspectors violated the law and made
them selves liable to fine and Imprisonment
and the voters Of their district to disiranchise.
ment.
In tho Troy and Orange contests the con-
testants presented strong aud incontestable
evidence OF bribery and fraud. II appeared
from the evidence which has been taken from
day to day. and which was confirmed by
further evidence this afternoon. that the Re-
publican State Committeeman in tho Orange
district .b and The kepu6lican MISREPRESENTATION
fund. and that this money was given to the
Republican. district workers. who bought
ss9 soeh besides this the Rspu6lican Sheriff
in Washington county appointed tho Repuhli-
Ssss d SnS so se'ay
Democratic voters away from the POLLS and to
election districts posters were marked and
given to voters so that the votes might be
know how the. men TO whom brides were prom
Used had voted. in order that payment might |
not be made unless the vote paid for was de-
soas ssso sSSS
ton which was caIe, the Sherman club. With
this money mons l07 members OF tIe sherman Club
a WAR MI oh
accounted for the Democratic loss in New
D B, IT. :. Secretary Johnson paid the members
It - and 81 apiece y does not appear how,
'ribed voters got bnt the money was "' sven n to
,im in lump sum. and he pnid the members
what he agreed TO-.
paid 5000 to the club in ST bills. and said
hat was to the club an and that he
ssyP II ss ms f hnd no ss
riendly .isposed toward the club; and as long
i q fi Es neney came n iroR the
state Com mittee and part from Senator Rich.
in the Troy district it appears that there was
fd sms Hoosek Fa s%d Fort N Spn
The face OF tho returns
Ives Ives the Republican sitting member ',s4 pa:
properly be deducted from this. but they say
hat the contestant has not specifically proved
nore fraudulent votes. The contestant claims
hat it is not necessary for him to prove that
here were more than 'G4 fraudulent or bribed
otes east by bringing tho men in detail one
y one. hut that the proof OF - or 2O fraudn-
ent votes in Il district raises ths presumption
n favor Of tho contestant that there wers more
fraudulent votes cast there. and proof that
he Republican deputy sheriff marked and al
cred ballots in specific cases is sufficient
roof for that district, Argument on this
oint was heard before the, committee to-day
y eX.Judge Whitman OF Washington county
nd "; J. Roche Of Troy for the contestant.
IT. Collins and Mr.. Wellington in behalf of
ions election Senator Collins had about 5000
,rity against him was caused by the marhina-
ons and fraud Of ex;C,ongressman Bnrleigh
I whitehall. The evidence shows that the
epublicnus had an enormous campaign fund
!st fall. running from 5000 to s7W! in an
} have been used to try TO elect II Plat Sem:
n who would be able To- vote for a United
tates Senator to succeed Senator Hiscock
othing like 80 much attention seems to have
cen given for the Republican candidates for
n