The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-09
WAS DIGNITY OF THE
STATE At STAKE?
BY SAM BLAIR

Grand Rapids. Mich, Feb. s.-A
new type of political morality NAV he
In process of creation here through
developments in the trial OF United
States Senator Truman II. Newberry
and 122 political associates. all
charged with conspiracy to obtain
the senator's election through excess
siVe expenditure of campaign funds.
II constant dripping can wear
away a stone. the recurrent presen-
'auon or a moral theory may give it
eventually the weight of positive con-
sle.lon, For week past the gov
-ean ihent mas piled suggestion upon
suggestion, intended to convince The
Jury that a sin against the Tnitnti
states and the state of Michigan was
committed when Senator Newberrx's
eiecuon was achieved by the spending
."t unlimited supplies OF money. For
several weeks yet to come. this same
suggestion will be repeated daily.
Originally the defense attorney.
'ook the position that the barrel
campaign was justified by the end
sought. It was the theory OF Senator
Sewberry's men that the defeat Of
we Democratic contestant Henry
state. N''1
This attitude still persists b,,, thare
Us tendency developing TO counter
me governments evidence as TO the
amounts OF money squandered. In
ot1er words. 1t may be possible that
oeiofe the trial Is completed, the de-
tense will join the government in
agreeing that campaign extravaganza
- thing to be condemned. Then
the contest will concern itself with a
oennitlon OF extravaganza and IL such
coincidence OF principle il ever es-
tablished then it will be many moons
before another Michigan politician
lays down upon his path to office
paving OF gold and silver.
BUT the government, to win con-
Viction must do more than convince
the JuEy that an ethical wrong has
been done by the Newberry forces.
II must prove that Senator Newberry
himself and those on trial with him
entered into conspiracy to violate
VnS law which prohibits a Michfnxau
'orial candidate from expanding
y his primary and general election
campaign a total of more than $3,75O.
! II Is necessary for the government to
prove that Mr.. Newberry actually d.
rected the spending OF greater
amount than the specified sum.
Frank c. DALEY special assistant
attorney general believes he has laid
| ground work for his proof through
the evidence thus far given by the
half hundred witnesses already placed
upon the stand. They have proved
the following questions:
That Frederick Cody, New York
lobbyist, made frequent trips between,
MIR. Newberry's New York Offices and
the Newberry campaign headquarters
in Detroit; that Paul II. King, New
berry campaign manager in Michi-
gan, made number Of Visits TO Mr.
Newberry in New York: that Mr.
Newberry was kept advised constantly
by telegraph and mail of the cam
paign progress; that In Newberry's
New York Office, the statement was
made: The lid Is off in Michigan and
| the sky's the limit that at least sew
eral Of those connected with the New
| berry campaign organization under
stood that the campaign finances
were, originating partially with Mr..
NewbArry himself,
Further evidence Of this character
has been promised by government
attorneys They have already linked
together In the campaign spendin@
| system many Of the I22 who ara ~,
trial with the senator 1t Ia to the
ultimate purpose of the government
TO attempt to show that every defen-
| dant definitely consipred to obtain
Newberry's election through violation
OF the corrupt practices election laws.
Fifty witnesses have been lined In
ready for the opening Of tomorrow
session II oE course win be impos-
sibie to cali during the day more tina n
fraction OF this number. In ali, the
government will place about four hun
dred Witnesses on the stynd. The de-,
Tense will have an equal Or = greater
number.
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The man IN the street. ~ !