The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-22
SENATOR NEWBERRYs CONVICTION

HE PROMPT conviction of the Michigan Senator and his
 sentence to two in prison is the first real victory great moral crusade which has been wang ln America for many years.
 The American politicians inherited British practice certain political methods which the custom or brlD voters and legislators
 There was corruption the elections from the beginning grew greater and dan Some political thinkers felt al one tune tna tne e Republic being destroyed by this internal rot
 this feeling effort to egislate against bal lot corruption and legislative bribery The earlier eSson feebe but the statutes stronger and the years pro- ceeded when the Federal government as well most of the states, had statutes.
 statutes the western states the strongest As and reached the eastern communities where the habits of corrupons firmly fixed they had fewer teeth.
 Nowhere during yeas such laws enforced with their presence brought about abatement of of the worst forms of the evil
 The direct purchase abated not entirely be- law, because improved methods of baotng difficult impossible for the buyer to know that the vote was being delivered
 But in some sections notably in Greenwich vote buying continued even elections the practice there being the voter something before he entered the voting place. and something additional if the right candidates were vic torious.
 Generally speaking however, corruption in recent purchase of votes took forms expensive such the employment of large and unnecessary persons the po the employ men of persons the party the employment of an unnecessary number of automobiles and
 Very great money raised, which sometimes by the candidate and sometimes from the
 has frequently happened during the past five years {ha investigated violations of the 5racice large small fry impris- he conviction and sentence of Senator Newberry the penalties of methods reached to and included the principal and those chiefly concerned with him in subornng the ballot box
 supposed That the offense for which Senator Nebery and his fellow conspirators convicted the most grievous offense of it's kind
 During the last contest of the late Mayor Mitchell of New York expended with such result that the mary S upset and many individuals dsgrac- ed Even William Hamlin Childs who is under indict- ment connection with these charges awaits the action of the authorities In this campaign about three times much money expended Senator Newberry used
 Connecticut has permitted corruption to to appalling figures Unless warning is taken from the examples that made the distant when the politicians necticut will learn a bitter lesson.
 Bridgeport also be warned by the Michigan verdict Bridgeport last eecon money expended per capita appealed than Neberry used per capita in Michigan.
 As The Times at pains totshow of the if nancial method of the last local of the law is only because the spirit of law reinforcement with respect to the corruption of elections to Connecticut that Bridgeport politicians indicted, tried and sentenced.
 These words of helpful warning Everybody ha any practical knowledge of political methods Connection knows what the conditions are; knows that poica methods knows that the bottom may dror at moment and precpitate many thoughtless consciously guilty into the fiery furnace justice time to ime is lighted at the torch popular will to il luminate popular reform.