New-York tribune., 1919-01-09
Newberry Men Plan
Counter Charges to
Henry Ford Contest
Affidavits Allege Illegal
Vote Soliciting and Other
irregularities; 100000
Used by the Democrats
Special Correspondence

Special CORES pondencc
DETROIT, Jan. s.-Commander Tru-
man II. Newberry and his friends all
over Michigan are ready to fight Henry
Ford to the last ditch.
Notwithstanding his election
| statemen. that he would not make a
contest, because the election was free
from irregularities, Ford's petition for
a recount, filed with the United States
Senate, alleges widespread corruption
| by the Newberry forces.
Commander Newberry, who still is
in the naval service, was elected Sem
ator over Ford by a margin OF 1857.
There are about $500 voting precincts
in the state. The Republican State
Central Committee spent about $4,000
for the election of Mr. Newberry and
the entire state ticket, mostly for news
paper display advertising, and filed a
statement detailing where the money
came from and where it went.
Ford Men Used 100000
The Ford people. working through
various campaign committees, reported
about 100000.
Following the announcement of the
candidacy Of Mr.. Ford, who frankly
stated that he became candidate at
the request Of President Wilson, his
campaign managers assiduously culti
waited the impression among the voters
that Mr.. Ford was not spending a dol
lar in his own interest. His campaign
managers, however. obtained contribu-,
tions from about $50 Federal office hold
ers, besides going to Mr.. Ford's friends
for help. One of the contributors was
Thomas A. Edison, who gave $4,000.
General contributions made up the
Republican State Central Committee
fund, toward which Commander New
berry contributed 81, 500. In the pri-
mary Newberry's relatives, friends and
business acquaintances all over the
state raised the money for his can
vass.
Under ordinary circumstances can
didate defeated by 1857 votes in Mich-
gan, where the total vote was 3S,452,
would concede the election. Apparent
" Mr.. Ford has been persuaded to
believe that he can unseat Newberry.
Mr.. Ford's counsel is ex- Congressman
Alfred Lucking, Of Detroit, and his
campaign manager is Ebert II. Fowler,
and both seem to have ample financial
resources for the contest.
From all around the state come
stories of activity of counsel for Mr..
Ford. in Grand Rapids a Democratic
United States District Attorney, Myron
II. Walker, aided by Deputy United
States marshals and Department of
Justice agents under Special Agent J.
II. Cogger, are working in conjunction
with Ford agents in seeking evidence"
with which to support the petition ask
ing the United States Senate not to
seat Newberry.
Commander Newberry's personal
counsel is James o. Murfin. of Detroit,
former circuit judge. The Ford people
have obtained temporary court order
restraining election officials throughout
the state from destroying tho ballots
cast November 5. With no recount
in prospect the statute does not pro-
vide for preservation of the ballots
after the official canvass. There are
charter elections in various cities. In
: the city of Marquette, for instance, the
: November ballots were destroyed in
order to get ready for the charter
I election in December. In other locali-
/ ties. ballots have been destroyed, fol-
lowing custom, there not having been
/ lntlmation of contest. The hearing
on the return of the temporary order
obtained by the Ford people to show
I cause why the order to preserve the
ballots should not be made permanent
: is set for argument in Grand Rapids
January II and in Detroit February 3.
counter Charges Made
On those dates the Newberry people
will present affidavits to support their
legal contentious. There are affidavits
that Ford employees violated the cleo
ton laws by soliciting votes at the
doors of the voting places; that Ford
employees were coerced into purchasing
banners at 81 apiece carrying the in
scription. "President Wilson wants
Henry Ford for Senator" and that the
collectors said the money was for cleo
ton purposes, that postal employee on
Sunday, their day off, for pay, circu-
lated Ford campaign literature.
The battle by the Ford people, as
sisted by the Democratic Nationa!
Committee, to prevent the seating of
Commander Newberry assumes more
or or less Of national character because
Mr.. Newberry's vote is needed by the
Republicans to insure the Republicans
working majority. With Newberry
seated the Republicans will have 40
against Al Democrats.
THE Republicans of Michigan and of
the nation may rest assured that the
Newberry men will resist to the utter
most any attempt by the adherents of
ar. FORD, no matter by whom inspired.
to deprive Commander Ncwberry Of his
election as Senator" said Paul n.
! ~'"'stinh "a viz iNeWDSITy CAIN
| paign committee.
I'm New York, where about 2,2oo, 900
votes were cast for Governor, Smith,
| the Democratic candidate, won by IA
GEO. In Michigan, where 43s,0o0 votes
were cast, and where Newberry won by
7.,sa' ,a.Ia h,s plurality, employing the same
Empire State. would have been five
times 1857, or nearly 10000. so that
the Newbcrry margin, figured on the
New York ratio, IL not q slender one.
Considering that Mr.. Ford was backed
by President Wilson, by the Democratic
national and state committees, by
Federal ofTiceholders, by the Ford a9en-
cies. and by the unique prestige en-
joyed by Mr.. Ford M an employer Of
wcil-paid labor, the victory OF Com
mander Newbcrry, who was serving his
country continuously as AN officer Of
the navy during the entire campaign
and still IL serving, was an emphatic
Republican victory. The Democrats
will find az on guard. We shall hold
sShe 4yA hnun xynn ~