The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-03-31
Enttnrial Dtgrat.
An Independent Analysis Of Leading Cur.
rent Events rs Rejected In the Puh-
lie Press Of the Country
The Consequences Of Senate
Newberrys Conviction.

Shouh Senator Newberry Of Michigan, con-
victed under the federal corrupt practices act,
continue to hold his seat in the senate! II ne
will not resign, should he be expelled! IL his
case parallel with that Of Senator Lorimer OF
Illinois? Is it similar to that Of Victor Berger!
Is the law under which he was sentenced TO
two years in the peuitentiary fair one! Is 1t
constitutional? These questions are answered
in various ways by the press OF the country.
Columbus Citizen Qnd): No matter how
much his Republican associates in the senate
NAV think they need his vote, they won't dare
fout public opinion by keeping him in his pur-
chased seat in spite of his conviction. They
won't want that issue in a presidential
campaign.
Los Angeles Times Und. Rep.): Senator
Newberry's conviction does not disquallfy him
per Sc from continuing to serve IN the senate
His colleagues may decide to wait until the
decision of higher court has been rendered.
Neither does it mean the seating OF Henry
Ford, his chief opponent in the senatorial con-
test If Newberry is unseated his successor
will be appointed by the governor of Michigan,
and as the present governor is Republican,
change in personnel would not weaken the
present slender Republican majority in the
upper house.
Buffalo News Rep): He might do far
worse than to resign, thus relieving his asso-
if he claims his seat.
Louisville Post (1ndl: Steps should be
taken to remove Newberry from the senate;
for that body cannot tolerate as member
anyone who holds law passed by congress
null and void in his particular case because it
has not his personal approval.
Harrisburg Patriot Ind Dem.): Newberry
ought to quit the senate, of course, out of re-
spect for its good name if nothing else.
Detroit Free Press und): If he still feels
| himself innocent of any offense against the
/ law, he would be wrong to make undue haste
to resign his seat. He is justified in consider
ing the verdict still in the balance so long as
an appeal to the supreme court is pending.
Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ind. DEM: The
better way for all concerned is for Newberry
to resign at once. Former supporters Of the
senator should be the first to back the sug-
gestion.
Duluth Herald 0nd.): The fact that his vote
is needed to maintain the Republican majority
should not count feathers weight, and will
lot count with any Republican worthy the
name Of senator and citizen.
| Milwaukee Journal Qnd.): The conviction
leaves the senate with only one thing to do
Il is lamentable that Mr. Newberry was ever
seated at all, but the senate could not know
the facts. The senate does know them today
st, Louis Globe-Democrat (Rep): Senator
NeWberry has no right in morals nor in re-
spect for the opinion of the people of the
| country to continue in Office during the hearing
of his case on appeal
Worcester Gazette Gnd.): The public will
watch the senate to see if it permits him to
held his seat. Not until he has proved his in
nocence of the charges against him. now they
have been affirmed by jury of twelve, should
the senate allow him to have share in fran.
ing the laws of the land.
Newport News Record Qnd.): The situation
| raises uupSti0n of oty pf
being allowed to be a lawmaker after the lower
courts, at least, have decided he is law
breaker.
Philadelphia Public Ledger (Iud): Mr. New
berry will hardly have the effrontery to seel
to take any part in the deliberations of the
body into which court and jury have for
lmally declared he had bought his way by meth
DDS in contravention of law.
Philadelphia Record lind Dem.): He should
resign and make way for better man. If he
lacks the decency to do this the senate should
lose no time in expeling him.
Houston Post DEM: Will the Republican
majority find it good politics to wash its hands
of the convicted senator and expel him, or will
it defend him as a martyr to the admin
istrationo
Inevitably the Newberry case is comuaref
with that of Victor Berger, Socialist, recent,
refused seat in the house on the ground O
his conviction of crime
| New York World fDem): Both have an
pealed and are on bail. Berger's offense wa.
to question the motives of the United States
for entering the war, which he said was cant
tallstic. Newberry's offense was to partcipat
in and profit by the lavish use of money il
an election The one was punished for al
opinion; the other for deed.
Louisville CourierJournal (Dem): TIL
house barred Victor Berger, convicted OF VIC
lating the law. Keep watch on the senate To-
its conduct toward Mr.. Newberry.