New-York tribune., 1907-01-23
DENIAL By DRYDEN.
EY-ASSEMBLYMAN'S TALE.
alleged 4fdarit Tells of Offer of
$4,000 for TOte in 1902.
LRv relegrarh % The rrIhunc.1

Trenton. y. J.. Jan. 22.-Following the sep
arate ballotinS to-day in the New Jersey Senate
and Assembly for United States Senator IN
which Senator Dryden lacked five votes Of re-
election. Legislators greatly excited 10 read
ia THE Newark Evening News" an anti-Dryde
paper, an alleged affidavit charging attempted
bribery in the Senator's last election
According to the published document, GeSess
W. Holman jr, said that a member of the
Legislature in 1902 he was approached by
Thomas Palmer. railroad lobbyist, with the
offer of bribe of So 600 for casting his vote for
Dryden. This ne refused, and. It was alleged,
the offer was increased TO S10oO0, which he also
refused.
Senator Dryden tonight Indignantly denied
the accusation. He SAID lie had heard rumors
of intended charges OF bribery. but he did not
think, he said that his opponents would descend
to old campaign trick"
Holmans alleged affidavit as follows:
State OF New Jersey, Ocean County. SIS:
George w. Holman. jr-. of full age. being duly
sworn on his oath. saith that he was member
OF the Legislature OF New Jersey from Ocean
County, in 1902; that during said session there
was an election for United States Senator and
that John F. Dryden, of Newark, candi-
date for said Senatorship
And deponent saith that previous TO the Re
publican caucus for said Senator, one Thomas
Palmer, who was known as the legislative
agent of the Erie Railroad Company, approached
this deponenI and told him that he would give
deponent, would cast his vote In said caucus
for the said John f. Dryden: that deponent
laughed at said Palmer and told him that this
deponent and the said Palmer could not do bust
ness along that line. Whereupon the said
Palmer said he thought he could get deponent
ten thousand dollars (S10000). If he would vote
for the said Dryden for United States Senator;
that this deponent told the said Palmer that
he. the said Palmer, could not trade with this
deponent, and the said Palmer left him.
GEORGE w. HOLMAN. Jr.
SworE 10 and subscribed this 18th day Of jan
uary, A. D. 1907, before
l. ". CARMICHAEL. Master I'm Chancery.
Senator Dryden's statement issued tonight
follows:
For several weeks past there have been stories
current that my opponents preparing TO
make some sort Of bribery charge and il has
been strongly intinated that they might even
go so far as 10 have some representative actu-
ally offer a bribe TO a legislator with view OF
injuring my candidacy. l did not think, how
ever, that they would resort 10 such old
campaign trick as TO make a charge so trans-
parently ridiculous as that contained in the afi-
daYit purporting TO have been made by Mr.
Holman. The affidavit charges that
Thomas Palmer made an offer 10 Mr. Holman
in my behalf Since the publication of tho affi-
davit have been informed that Palmer was a
professional! legislative agert who died three or
four years ago. II the first time I had
ever heard OF him. He was not known TO me,
and certainly was not authorized by me or by
any OF my friends TO make a proposal OF any
kind to any legislator. At the time was aware
that Mr. Holman was pledged TO the election of
Governor Griggs, and one ever author
lied by TO solicit his vote
IN my campaign for reelection / have en-
phaticaly and distinctly made my position clear
and warned my friends that under TO circum-
stance would / cOuntenance any attempt 10 i'm
properly influence any legislator. AS the
ognized candidate of my party made the fight
az the primaries and at the polls last fall and
won. and if my record r Republican and a
Senator does not warrant my reelection do not
want the office majority Of the Republicans
in the Legislature have decreed I'm caucus that I
shall he reelected. and ! expect of course, that
ria1n Of Tla ~ InH.tf DFaf inn
Toms River. y. J.. Jan, 22.-Ex-A Assemblyman