Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-03-22

RAN
- ss-e.e.3 v1rD'orE
The verdict in tho Newberry. cas-
in Michigan will give rise to sensa-
tons depending quite largely on the
point OF view Of the ohssrvsf.
In the hrst place,the political ele-
rnent has entered Quite largely Into
theScsse, not that the :case itself was
conducted ina parttan way. but that
it rev out of . hot political contest
in which party passion was aroused
an unusuaily high pitch. Senator
Newberrys most> active political OPP
ponentss ascribiDs their defeat in a
campaign 80 his alleged corrupt
methods, naturally felt that his con-
viction would justify themselves.
Their opponents, Eesardless OF thef,,
attitude toward Mr.. Newberry him
sell. begrVdged their political ems
emics the exultation which they knew
would follow conviction. Tho hopes
Of a good many strong partisans.
therefore. were governed by political
affiliasion.
To those lsumcientlf removed from
this prejudice, there cannot but be =
feeling OF regret, not that a man who
was guilty has been convicted. but
that the conviction Of a man holding
such a .high oficial position. and with
an honorable personal history,
should 30 apparently have been 5usti-
fed by the facts. It is q sad COM
mentay on eur public life that laws
enacted to govern the relations of
men in regard to their public acts,
and intended to enable the citizens OF
this country. to exercise the highest
privilege Of %citizenship are disregard
ed by men conspicuous in public life
who should be the first to exert them
selves for the faithful observance of
these Avs.
Yet another observation that is
suggested is that, the laws of this
land are intended to be of equal and
exact application without distinction
of race, creed, class, party or financial
condition. The chief defendant in
this case occupies a seat in the Unit
ed States senate. He was a men,
her, and a very capable one, Of a
former cabinet. He has long been q
man of prominence in his own state.
He lis the owner Of large business en-
terprises. He is a, man of great
wealth. Several of the sixteen who
have been convicted with him are
men Of standing and influence. Yet,
in atrial in which these men stood on
a plane of equality with the humbless
citizen, a jury Of twelve men selected
according 10 the usual forms has de-
clared them guilty, and the court
has passed sentence upon them,
Could there be = more emphatic and
impressive denial Of the lie that i.
too often told that our government,
and u courts are organized and op:
Grated for the protection Of, the rich
mar in his iniQuity, and for the op.
preston of the poo-?
Newberry and his associates%wiI
not go to prison, Immediately. Per.
haps they win never 30. Their cas-
has but passed through its first stage
An appeal will be taken to the higher
courts, and we may take it for grant.
ed that none Of the rights; guaran.
teed to the Accdsed under the consti.
tuition will be waived or neglected
These defendants will exercise the
same rights that were exercised BY
EusenesSSDebs, who, after his conyic.
ton, was at liberty for months pend.
ing lhai appeal. and weach are nov
being exercised by Victor Berger and
A. CROWLEY. both of whom have
been convicted. and both of whom
are at liberty while they await the
result of. their appeal. n
There are pending in the senate
charges against senator Newberr,
upon which it is component for tn.
senate to declare his seal vacant
The senate, like the house, in. such
matters, is not governed by >the :ac.
ton Of the courts. Each body is the
sole judge Of the qualifications OF til
" members Victor Berger was
excluded from the house, not because
a jury had, convicted him of crime
but because the evidence submitted
to the house, which was identical
with the evidence on which he was
convicted, demonstrated to the sat
i~sfaction Of the house that he was un.
dt to be "a member of that body,
Similarly the senate Will be guided,
not by the verdict, but by the eyi.
dence. In the mentime, it is appar-
ent that a man who lis resting, even
temporarily under a conviction In
SUCH a case. cannot with, good grace
continue to act as member Of an
American legislative body until his
reputation has been cleared Of the
stain upon it.
sOlEEBODYs CHnDR% ARE
ALWAYS NEAR
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