The New York herald., 1921-04-15
ELECTION CHARGES
AFFECT EDWARDS.
Senator Mackay Reveals
Cause of Demand for S25,-
900 to Follow Inquiry.
HUGE FRAUDS ALLEGED
Governors Plurality III
Hudson County to BE
Investigated.
HUGE FRAUDS ALLEGED
BUGBEE LOOKED WINNER
Republican Candidate Was
Showed, Under in One Spot
After Sweeping State.

Much delving into the conduct OF
election affairs last fall in Hudson
county has convinced members of the
Mackay investigating committee that
frauds demanding its attention were
committed in the election Of 1919, at
which Gov Edward I. Edwards was
swept into office.
This statement was made yesterday
by State Senator William B. Mackay,
chairman of the investigating COM
mittee Of the New Jersey Legislature.
1T will be recalled that the enormous
plurality rolled up for Gov Edwards
in Hudson county resulted in his elec-
ton.
No previous intimation has been
made by Senator Mackay that the in
westigation of administrative bodies in
Hudson county, including the commits
zion governments of Jersey City and
Hoboken, and Of the 1920 election, had
led the committee back into the middle
OF the campaign for Governor. Sena-
tor Mackay's statement was made ex-
clusively to THE NEW YORK HERALD
following the action of Gov. Edwards
on wednesday in disapproving the
House resolution increasing from Slo,-
, 600 to s25. 900 the appropriation for the
committee.
"whoIcsaIe Frauds" Uncovered.
II am sure that Gov. Edwards would
not have taken this action had ne known
that the committee had decided to go
into certain matters connected with ne
| election OF 1919 In Hudson county,
senator Mackay said yesterday. lie
will realize. I am sure, that MS action
in disapproving OF the $4,000 needed
10 continue the probe, and particularly
to go back into the 1915 campaign.
places him in a false position. am
| sure that he had no intiTatlon that The
| committee intended to survey this part
Of the Hudson county situation.
.'Since the Legislature adjourned last
Friday the committee can secure no
money from IT. Unless we have addi-
tional funds we will be compelled TO
drop tho 1919 election. Under these cir
/ c,lmstances, tho Governor. nos wishing
/ 10 be placed In an awkward p.sition.
might reconsider his action. THO money.
I believe. could be granted by the Sfnte
House Commission. consisting Of NE
4 Governor, the State Treasurer hnd the
/ State Comptroller
Senator MacKay said that the investiA
CATION of the campaign last 'all mad
uncovered Wholesale frauds" as Wei
as much actual violence. The ihvesu-
CATION, TO date. has shown numer us
frauds grossly apparent on tho race ol
the returns he said. For example, In
the matter OF the fight for Sheriff where
n vote had been cast for Andrew Hart.
Republican candidate, and the rest OF
the Republican ticket, some one on many
ballots had put a cross opposite the
name of Madigan. the Democratic cam
didate, in order TO invaldate the Hart
vote.
ures Of the name OF the Republican can
didate for Freeholder and also for other
Offices on the Republican ticket. Crosses
were inserted opposite the Democratic
candidates. Moreover the markings
were such that the change could not
have been made by the individual voters.
Big Plurality in Hudson.
Extreme violence also prevailed in
some OF the Jersey City wards. Prince
ton students designated as watchers for
the Honest Ballot Association were par
ticularly marks for attack"
Senator Mackay said that Newton A.
X Bugbee. Republican candidate for
Governor. approached the Hudson
county line victor by 2i,5oo votes, but
that he was showed under In this
county. the storm centre Of Jersey poll
tics. by plurality for Gov. Edwards OF
$4,000 votes.
Commissioner Harry l.. Schmulling OF
Hoboken. in charge of parks and play
grounds. admitted various irregularities
- - L. In, tHn nf - exy
afternoon yesterday on the witness
stand in the Hudson County Court
House In Jersey City. He faced a rapid
fire OF questions from John A. Bern
hard counsel for the Mackay committee.
He admitted that before the May cleo
tion IN 1912, AT which he and the rest
Of tho commission were reelected, his
| regular force OF twenty-five men taking
4 charge Of Fairgrounds, &c, had jumped
/ to 3J7 men and fallen again. a day or
I SO after the election. to the previous
| figures. Mr.. Schmulline explained that