New-York tribune., 1920-05-23
Newberry Will
Drop Charges
Against Ford
Committee Is Told Senator
Refuses to Enter into
''Mud-Slinging Contest
With Former Opponent
Fraud Evidence an Issue
June l Is Set for Recount,
but Action Before Fall
Is Considered Unlikely

! From, The Tribune'S Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 22.-James @
Murfn, of counsel for Senator Truman
H. Newberry, to-day told the Senate
committee investigating the 1918 Sena-
torial campaign in Michigan that
neither Senator Newberry nor his coun-
sci would press counter charges Of mis-
conduct against the supporters of
Henry Ford in the primary and cleo
ton.
Mr.. Murfn said that, e.vnougn the
committee was investigating charges
against Mr.. Ford as we'll. as Senator
Newberry, the Senator would not zen
ster into a mud-slinging contest with
Mr.. Ford" He said he would make
counter charges only if instructed to
do so by the committee, and added that
he had in his Office "some suggestions
of leads which might develop evidence
| against Mr.. Ford"
Counsel for Senator Newberry had
been contending that the testimony
taken in Grand Rapids in the trial on
fraud charges, which resulted in Mr..
Newberry's conviction and sentence to
two years Imprisonment at Leaven-
worth. ought not to be considered by
the committee until recount of the
votes was concluded.
Ready to Repeat Contest
'If the recount shows that Mr. Ford
received a majority of the votes Mr.
Newberry will promptly step out of
the Senate and challenge Mr.. Ford to
run again in the election next fall"
Mr.
fraudulent in connection with the votes
cast for Mr.. Newberry he will also
promptly resign and become candidate
for election"
After prolonged discussion an agree
ment was reached whereby the test-
mony taken at the Grand Rapids trial
will be considered by the committee
either in abstract or in detail.
The meeting was called primarily to
discuss the motion which counsel for
Ford had made for submission as evil
dence Of the testimony taken in the
trial at Grand Rapids.
Although Mr.. Murfn reiterated that
Senator Newberry had no objection to
presentation Of the Grand Rapids tes-
tlmony to the committee, he argued, as
did Martin Littleton. another of the
Newberry counsel, that conside ration
of the fraud charges should be post
poned until after completion of the re-
count of votes and decision of Mr. New
berry's appeal in the Supreme Court.
1T was contended that if the recount
was favorable to Mr.. Ford he would
get seat in the Senate, whereas the
removal of Mr.. Newberry because of
exorbitant expenditures in the cam
Paign would not necessarily give the
seat to Mr.. Ford.
Mr.. Littleton insisted that the fraud
charges should not be considered as
long as the court case is pending.
Dual Inquiry Objected To
"A man is frightfuly handicapped
by the necessity of defending himself in
two places at one time" said Mr. Lit
tleton, with two impending results
and two lines of procedure. The neces-
sites of the court case may obviously
close his mouth in an investigation Of
this character"
I'VE have been trying now for nearly
two years to get this evidence before
the Senate said Alfred Lucking, the
attorney representing Mr.. Ford. at
should be remembered that this is the
investigation of definite charges filed
by Henry Ford, asserting that he is
entitled to the Senate seat which Mr.
Newberry now occupies. 1t is con-
tested election case and nothing more
Inc case does not rest alone on the
recount of votes. We have charged
suppression and intimidation of the
electorate, mishandling of the ballots
and an enormous expenditure of money
all in contravention Of the law
These issues cannot be separated
as Mr.. Littleton suggests. Certainly
it is time now that this case should
be heard and decided"
Charges Ballots Are Missing
In connection with the recount the
fact was brought out that a consider
able number of the ballots have dsap-
peared.
1--WE are informed that, in addition
to the ballots which were destroyed