New-York tribune., 1906-11-13
CONTEST IN MIDDLESEX?
DEMOCRATS CRY FRAUD.
Unscatimg of Republicans You'd
Mean Defeat for Dryden.

New Brunswick. Nov. 12-It is reported here
that the Democrats will contest the election in
Middlesex County. The ground will be that OF
bribery and corruption AS the Democrats con-
troll the Assembly, they have hopes OF success,
it is said.
The average majority for the Republican AS
semblymen, canvassed to-day, was $40. If
the contest successful it would make the
Legislature stand: Republicans Al: Democrats.
40. With the vote necessary 10 elect United
States Senator in the hands of Senator Everett
Colby, OF Essex. who has declared that he will
not be bound by caucus pledged to Mr. Dry
den, the Dryden men realize the danger.
Charges of bribery are made with the utmost
boldness. In one district Of the I'd Ward Of
New Brunswick sixty ballots came out, every
one knotted in peculiar way, and every one
of them a straight Republican ticket In an
other polling place forty such ballots. with the
same knots. and every straight Repub-
lican ticket, were voted. These all pro-
tested. but were counted.
In the 1st District of the 9th Ward forty-three
such ballots were cast. Six of them were opened
and counted, when the Democratic watchers
protested the ballots they came out, and the
others not counted. Thirty-seven folded
ballots are held rejected ballots.
The Democrats say that enough obviously
marked ballots. according to the spirit of the
law. were counted to make up the majority for
the Assembly candidates, and that if they were
rejected a majority for the Democratic nOmi-
nees would be established.
The mode of procedure in the case of a con-
tested seat in the Legislature is for the con-
testant to file a protest against the holder of
the certificate of election on the opening day
Of the session, setting forth the grounds upon
which he bases his protest. The matter is
ferred TO the Committee on Elections. when
appointed, which proceeds TO take testimony,
and when that has been done. the committee
makes its report the House. The person
against whom the protest IS filed. however, is
sworn in and becomes a de facto member, with
tled TO vote on all measures and motions, in
Guiding questions pertaining to his own right
the seat, until ousted by a vote of the House.
In the next Assembly, however. the Demo-
Gratis Will have the majority, even with the
MiddleseX Republicans sitting.
II is planned for the Democrats to prevent
a majority Of the Assembly being present at
the joint meeting until the Midlesex contest
has been finally disposed of, and without a
aJOrity Of the House present il will be i'm
possible TO elect the United States Senator.
According to the returns at present, the next
Legislature Will consist of forty-four Repub-
licans and thirty-seYen Democrats, which gives
the Republicans majority of joint
ballot If the three Republican Assemblymen
from MiddleseX should be unseated and the
three Democrats put in, the joint ballot would
Gratis Ampng the forty-One Republicans, how
ever is included Senator Colby. who will not
vote for Senator Dryden under any circum-
stances
charges and say that il would he easy To con-
vict Democrats of bribery.