Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-11-15


Detectives at the Polls in This and
Other Counties and Says the Evil
dence They Gathered Is Worth the
Cost--Detcctives Are Now Clinch-
ing the Edivcnce They Gathered.
TRENTON, Nov 15:--Detectives
employed by Colonel Edwin A. Stew
ems, of Hoboken, democratic candi-
date for the United States senators
ship are busily engaged in gathering
evidence of election frauds that are
expected to result in substantial proof
that four republican assembymen
and one state senator, of the same
political faith. were elected by cor
rupt practices in Middlesex and Cape
May counties. The state democratic
organization is taking no active part
in the investigation, which has been
instituted by Mr.. Stevens.
This move on the part of the Ho-
boken man is in line with the stand
he took before election, when he went
before the people on an anti-bribery
platform.
In canvassing the state Mr.. Stew
ems impressed upon his hearers that
while the cause of the "moneyless
campaign" might not prevail at the
coming election, it was an idea that
was sooner or later bound to receive
adequate recognition.
Had Detectives Here.
At most of the polling places In
Middlesex and Cape May counties.
November 6, were detectives employ
de by Mr.. Stevens, who also had
many of the polls in Essex manned by
watchers.
The reports submitted make inter
esting reading about republicans in
Middlesex and Cape May counties.
1t cost Colonel Stevens $4,000 for
these detectives, but he considers the
evidence they gathered well worth
the money. The colonel has his
agents at work in Middlesex and
Cape May clinching the election-day
evidence, and lawyers will round it
into shape to present 1t to the as
se1nbly when thatzbseyzsnnyenes in
January.
1t is stated by friends of Mr.. Stew
ems that he will be able to show that
the republicans declared elected by
the returns were in reality defeated,
but were counted in, and that whole
sale bribery was practiced in Middle
sex and Cape May.
Has Strong Evidence.
! Evidence that the agents of the
colonel are collecting is said to be SO
strong that not only will four repub-
lican assemblymen be attacked, but
t,n ~alldity of the election of Sena-
I tc elect Hand, in Cape May, will be
~llenged before the senate.
If Colonel Stevens should succeed
in producing sufficient evidence to
prove that even four of the five legis-
lators were elected through fraud
ulent methods, 1t will result in the
complexion of the next session being
changed from republican to demo-
cratic, on joint ballot This would, or
course, mean the election of demo-
crat to the United States senate, and
as Colonel Stevens is practically con
sidered the candidate Of the party, In
the event of a democratic legislature.
his moneyless campaign may not
have been in vain.
The house of assembly Is now DEM
ocratic by 81 to 29 votes, while the
senate is republican Is to 6. This
gives the G. o. P. majority of seven
on joint ballot.
The republicans recently declared
elected to the assembly in Middlesex
county are: DR.. Frank Crowther.
William r. Drake and e. e. Haines,
while Wosville G. Stille is the assem-
blyman-elect in Cape May.
Would Elect Democrat.
The unseating of these men and
the substitution of the democrats,
who are DR.. w. E. Ramsay, Thomas
Hagerty and Alfred Kerr, in Middle
sex, and William Lake in Cape May,
would give the democrats Al votes on
joint ballot, which is just major
ity and is a sufficient number to elect
representative to the upper branch
of congress.
The election of Robert e. Hand.
republican nominee for state senator,
who was declared the winner over
Samuel e. Ewing, democrat, by less
than $50 votes, is also questioned,
and should he also be unse9ted in
Mr.. Ewing's favor it would give the
majority to the democrats on joint
ballot, with one to spare.
The fact of the democrats having
majority IN the house will insure
an investigation of these alleged
frauds in the cases of the assembls
men, at least of thoroughness t.
would have been impossible in t
event of the republicans having co
troll The case of the Cape May sen
torship is not likely to get thorouf
hearing. it IS believed by some