The Washington herald., 1920-02-26
ny a star Correspondent. Z.
SECOND ARTICLE.

ny q star Correspondent.
SECOND ARTICLE.
Grand Rapids. Mich. Feb. 25.--A
faetional fight among the Republic
cans In Michigan complicated the
campaign launched by Senator New
berry for the United States Senator
ship. All Republicans were not
willing workers. Gov. Chase 8. Os-
born had many friends. but seemed
to be shy on funds. The New5erry
campaign committee consequently
found II necessary to exert pressure
here and there, as brought out on
the stand before Judge Sessions.
The majority of the workers were
hand picked, but some had to be
dragged into the fold. William III.
McKeighan. former mayor Of Flint.
was one of the latter. McKeighAn.
before the Newberry primary In
llsls, was facing a penitentiary SEN
tence of from two to fifteen years
as an accessory to an assault and
robbery case. He had great inhu-
ence politically in his town. but
was against Newberry.
| The Senatorial committee was
| anxious about Flint, SO Mckeighan
was visited at his drug store by
Richard Fletcher, state labor COM
missioner. and others, and told. ac-
cording to McKeighan, that unless
he Joined the band wagon he would
be certain to go to jail. but IL he
carried his ward for Newberry pres
sure would be brought SO that his
case, which was then before the
! Supreme Court on an appeal. would
| be reversed. Fletcher denied the
conversation later. but McKeighan
decided to, play safe and the ward
went for Newberry in the primary.
McKeighan testified on the stand
that his case was reversed, but as
the reversal came after the election
it was robbed of it's Importance as
having any bearing on the election.
Gets Dime for Each Name.
The masterpiece in maneuvers,
however, was the bringing of James
w. Helme, former State dairy COM
missioner, into the fight as an op-
ponent of Henry Ford on the DEM
ocratic primary ticket. Helme was
persuaded to enter the race by Will
liam ]. Nickel, formerly deputy un-
der Helme. Nickel opened head
quarters in a Grand Rapids hotel.
for which he paid IS a week. Then
he started out for signatures for
Helme, petitions, paying as high as
10 cents a name. Prosecutor Daley
trailed the petitions as far as Great
Lakes Naval Training Station,
showing that Michigan tackles at
the station had been employed and
their expenses paid in getting sig
natures for Helme.
In this connection tho prosecu-
tion claimed that the money for the
petitions and other expenses came
from the Newberry campaign fund.
and that Helme himself was get
ting $25 a week from The commit
tee. Helme stoutly denied the lat
ter, but sorrowfully admitted on
the stand that he had been made
the goat" James o. Murfin, of
counsel for the defense, agreed that
it was a brilliant political maneu-
yer on the part of the Newberry
people.
Small details were not overlook
ed If votes were at stake. A dental
bill of s12 figured in the remunera-
tion. Smaller amounts for trivial
expenses have been brought out.
Also figures reaching into the hun
dreds OF thousands were testified
to. Richard Fletcher was quoted
by a witness as having said in an
swer to a suggestion that IL looked
as If 100000 had been spent in the
Newberry election:
"A half a million. He'll! Ittcost
nearer 100000. and know what ]
am talking about"
Despite objection from the de-
Tense the statement was allowed to
remain in the records.
Checks burned After Election.
Whatever the expense, checks
have been hard to get, Cancelled or
otherwise. 1t is claimed that after
the election these were burned
Consequently whether or not the
government will be able TO show
greater expenditures than the s175,.
600 admitted is a question still to
be answered. Prosecutor Daley is
however. piecing together certain
Information. written and otherwise
by which he hopes to prove that
according to the campaign work
and material turned out more than
the sum mentioned must have been
expended. In this connection en-.
ters the much-talked-of film, "Our
Navy" which IL is claimed actually
gave Newberry his 1000 majority
over Henry Ford
This film has been the cause OF
much merriment at the trial. as
wherever Newberry figured the pit-
ture was taken on the .'superdread-
naught' anchored in Onion Square
New York. Whatever the original
intention of the promoters had been
the fact that trees and street cars
formed the background precluded
the possibility of making it a salt
water scene, although actual pic-
lures of Uncle Sans navy were
skilfully inserted.
Among other exhibits IL was
shown that 5000 plates had been
distributed to State publications
IONS OF circulars were sent broad
cast, but the defense asserts that
the Newberry committee were pix.
ers alongside of Henry Ford, who
distributed booklet during the
campaign which 1t is claimed cos
$4,000.
Many Form Letters Sent Ont.
In order to show the marvellous
! system of organization the prosecu.
ton has shown that perhaps 80 OOC
FORM letters were typed in the De.
trolt office and then forwarded to
New York, where they were signed
. or rubber stamped" by Senate,
Newberry. These letters were SEN
J TO individual workers and bore ey.
! cry evidence of being a personal
; message from the candidate. The,
: conveyed congratulations and an,
J probation for work done and ex.
pressed the hope for a future meet.