The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-02-28
NO REPUBLICAN PLOT.
Ns,curk Evening Mssp,.


solid Foundations for the charge published
in the New York World that negotiations
have occurred or are under way for the
purchase by them of Democratic Senators
ia order to break the deadlock now exist
ing at the Statehouse. The United Press
reporter this morning interviewed Sena-
tors Smith, of Ocean; voorhees,, Of
Union Rogers, of Camden Packer. of
Gloucester, and Ward, of Salem.
They all said that whatever Richard b.
Reading had done for his own amusement
or to learn the secrets of the Democrats,
he had not acted for the Republican par.
ty or the members of the Republican
Senate. Senator Voorhees,, voicing the
opinion and sentiments of oil his collea-
cues, said:
81 do not believe in the truth OF this re,
port. II any negotiations have been made
they have been without warrant or au-
tbority, expressed or implied, and without
any knowledge OF any of the Republican
Senators.
''If efferts have been made, 4" be coniin-
ued, saud | do not believe they have, to
bring about the conversion OF any Of
the Democratic Senators in the manner
suggested, it has been done without the
knowledge or consent of the Republican
Senators and solely upon the responsible
iiy Of the individual pretending to act for
them.
"There is absolutely no reason why the
Republicans should wish to have any Ut
the Democratic Senators join them fer
the purpose Of legislation. They have a
majority they are regularly organized
and are competent to pass laws and are
doing SO. The addition Of one or more
high-priced Democratic Senators would not
aid them in any way
The negotiations for the foregoing alleged
transaction are said to have been carried
on by ex,Mayor James II. Edmunds, Of
Cape May City, for the Democrats, and
ex.Riparian Commissioner Richard b.
Reading for the Republicans.
MIR. Reading, when spoken to about
the alleged scheme said: "Edmunds
came to me several weeks ago with
proposition to turn over to the Republi-
cans three or four or five Democratic
Senators-wbateve we needed-tV enable
us TO organize Senate In such a manner
that its constitutionality couldn't be ques,
/ toned"
i 4.
"Well, he started at first at 800, 900,
and afterward scaled down. His least Of
fer, think, was 100000, or something
like that. His programme was to deliver
the men to US, and then we'd give him
the money to do as he pleased with" q
"Whcse votes did he promise to give
yOu9"
'sHe assumed to be able to get us the
aid of Senators Miller, of Cape May
Perkins, OF Burlington; Martin, of Hum
terdon McMickle, of Sussex, aud another
| il we really wanted Ave."
"What shape are the negotiations now
| in9''
"They are supposed to be still under
consideration.
"Where do you propose to get the mon
eyG"
"What money 2"
1.-THE price fixed by Edmunds9"
''My dear sir said Reading, 81 never
had the slightest intention of making such
contract. 1t was all a jolly on nay part.
Edmuuds came to me with the PROPOSE
ton and l just let him think that l was
going into the deal l wanted to have
some fun and wished to see how far he'd
GO. No, sir" he continued, ''the Repub-
lican leaders wouldn't give cracker for
/ all the votes that Mr.. Edmunds controls.
They are satisfied with the situation as 1t
| is."
"Did you consult with any OF the other
Republican leaders about this 7"
"Ah-no, not one"
"Why not2
"Oh, knew they wouldn't take any
stock Ia such business"
AT the conclusion of the interview Mr..
Reading repeated his statement that he
had been only having fun with Edmunds.
Ex-Mayor Edmunds, of Cape May,
who, Reading says, conducted the nego
tiaions within the Democratic lines, has
been a Republican aud Democrat
alternately, but he 10 new IA Democrat.
When seen at his office at Cape May City
last night regarding tho alleged conspir-
acy, MIR. Edmuuds said:
81 am prepared TO deny everything and
admit nothing In that matter.
"Then IL is not true that you conye'scd
with Richard b. Reading concerning nm
arrangement whereby the deadlock was 10
BIO broken2 z" he was asked.
mo, sir; II is not true. l have held
no conversation whatever with Mr.. Read
ing, more than to pass the time OF day
with him, since the night before the OPP
ening of he session in January. Nor do
recall that at that time the subject of
breaking the deadlock was broached.
us it true or false that you said to Mr..
Reading that the deadlock could be brok-
en- for money consideration 2"
ut is false in every particular Al d. in
general repeat ihut hive not talked
with Mr.. Reading upon the subject"
"Tben the sum of . 100, 900 rs a consd-
GRAFTON for the deserlion vi four, or three,
Senators from the Democratic Senate has
not been mentioned by you to MIR. Read
ing nor by him to youl"
ssNo sir, It has not. Neither that sum
nor any other sum If money has been
mentioned by him TO me or by me 10
him."
"Have ysu held consultations or con-
ferences with Senators Martin, Perkins,
Miller, Drake or any other Senator look
ing to the settlement OF the deadlock for
so much cash In hand ~
al have not. / have talked with. per-
haps, all OF the present Democratic and
Republican Senators from time to time,
as has been my custom for many years,
but have not proposed deal Of any
kind or received during the past six weeks
proposition from any Senator looking
to one.
"Have ysu had any correspondence
with any Democratic Senator upon the
question OF breaking the deadlock"
mo, sir, have not"
"The opinion is quite general, Mr. Ed
munds, that you knew that the sum nam
ed as necessary to break the deadlock was
at your command whenever you were