New-York tribune., 1920-02-04
Admits He Was
Worked toRun
Against Ford
Candidate in 1913 Demo-
cratic Primary in Michi-
gan Makes "Humiliat-
ing Statement to Jury
Aimed to Beat Millionaire
Correspondent Testifes to
Attempt to Hire Him for
Campaign at $500 Month

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, Feb. g.
First evidence in the election con-
spiracy trial Of Senator Newberry and
122 co-defendants was introduced TO-
day. when J. G. Hayden, Washington
correspondent of "The Detroit News"
and James F. Sweinhart, head Of that
papers New York bureau, gave testi-
mony bearing on the Newberry pub
licity campaign. Previous to the call
ing of these witnesses James W.
Helme, candidate for United States
Senator in the 1918 Democratic pri-
mary in Michigan and one of the de-
PENDANTS. made to the jury statement
which he said was "humiliating"
Helme's appearance was unhcralded.
1t followed statement by James O.
Murtin, who opened for the defense,
that Helme had been "worked" by the
Newberry campaign committee into
making the race against Ford. Murfn
explained to the jury that this was
done to prevent Democratic votes be-
ing cast for Henry Ford in the Re-
publican primary.
II was 'worked,' as Mr. Murfn told
YOU" said Helme. 81 am making this
statement because l seem to occupy a
position apart from the other defend
ants. but the recita is n bit humiliat-
ing"
Aelme said Samuel O'Del, another
defendant, who was State Treasurer in
1918, told him that if he beat Ford in
the Democratic primary and Ford won
the Republican nomination all the Re
publicans would turn to him in the
general election"
Sought to Eliminate Millionaire
Heme concluded with an explanation
that his motive was "to eliminate one
of the millionaires from the campaign"
Spending money in campaign may
be legal but / am an Idealist and hold
it to be a moral wrong" he said.
After some legal skirmishing Hayden
was placed on the stand as the first
witness. He testified to conversations
in December, 1917, with Frederick Cody
AID Truman H. Newberry, then lieu
tenant commander in the navy. He said
on direct examination that Cody tried
to hire him as campaign manager for
NeWberry. On cross examination by
Martin W. Littleton. he agreed the job
was that Of 'political secretary"
with headquarters in Detroit and duties
of examining political sentiment in
Michigan.
Hayden swore Cody came to him in
ton, and later telephoned from New
York and arranged a Sunday conference
in that city with Mr. Newberry. He
said he understood their offer was $500
month, but that he refused because
he believed political jobs were disad-
vantageous to newspaper reporters af-
ter they returned to their own profes-
sion.
Hayden said Cody told him the New
berrys were Immensely wealthy" but
that he had advised both Cody and
Newberry not to make barrel cam
palgn' He said Newberry agreed with
him and they mentioned the Mitchell
mayoralty campaign in New York and
the Herrick campaign in Ohio as ex-
amplcs OF wasted expenditures
On cross examination, Iittleton
brought out that Newberry had told
Hayden he had been urged to run for
the office by Governor Albert T..
Sleeper, Thomas Clark. the Governors
business partner; A. +. Peterman. of
Calumet, and Roger Andrews. of Me-
nominee. Hayden could not rene mber
that Newberry told Of a conference by
these four at Port Huron in the sum
mer of 1917.
king Couldn't Take Cent"
The testimony also touched n visit
of Cody TO Washington. in which the
latter told Hayden that Paul King.
meanwhile selected for campaign man.
ager, would not take q cent and that
King had explained when he accepted
the position that che wanted a chance
at some of the legal business of the
Newberry concerns.' He said Cody
also told him that Allan A. Templeton
was receiving nothing forShis part in
the campaign.
Sweinhart testified to meeting Cody
in New York in January, 1918. and be.
ing told that Hayden would De made
such Financially attractive offer
that he could not afford to refuse it,"
Swelnhart also related that Cody,