Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-21
Senate Seats Arc Not for Sale

= AFTER and sale Of seats in the United
- States Senate receives tremendous
blow in the verdict which declares Senator
truman II. Nowbcrry, Of Michigan, guilty Of
criminal conspiracy in violation of the Fed
eral corrupt practices act, and in his SEN
tence to Two years in prison This Senator.
who the jury finds. succeeded in buying his
way 10 seat into the nations highest legis-
lative body today stands convicted and dis
sraced before the nation, and only his
prompt resignation will prevent his expul-
sion from the assembly into which he mis-
takenly believed his gold would pave the
%ay.
Conviction Of the Michigan Senator is
pouhd TO have all effect at once salutary
20 those who i'll the future might be tempted
10 weigh money against principle, and reas-
suring TO the public at large What has
happened or will happen to Newberry as an
individual is of no particular moment buI
the demonstration that the long arm of the
law can reach even into the United States
senate take therefrom one Of it's members
ana condemn him TO feion's cell for an
onense committed against the pcople will
enforce new respect for the statutes in
sun wholesome fear into the hearts Of those
whose ambition onirunS their honesty and
good citizenship and give fresh faith TO the
people that their representatives in Wash
plSton arc there through merit and the popu-
iar WILL and not through their power 10
purchase or as the favored ones of privilege
IN this time OF unrest, class antaeonisn and
general suspicion tho example is mos, timely
and It's good effects should be far-rrachinr
There Vas time within the memory az
oven the younger OF this generation when
me United states Senate was not free from
'hc suspicion mat some OF its members had
secured thcF seats through the lavish use
oi money. u was Il matter OF common
N"ow'edse that great fortunes had been
spent III the struggle for senatorial honors
bht mat was before tho enactment of the
Fedora! corrupt practices law. and before Tho
several states had strengthened their cleo
ZION statutes. Their seats once attained they
were comparatively free from intcrfcrcncn
! Then public opinion rovolicd tho demand
| Tor purity in politics could not be denied ana
! election conditions were rcvoluionizcd l.,
| recent years William u. l.orimcr of Chiraro
dared 10 buy seat in the United State,
senate. and was expelled after ii sensational
nearing, Dut, IN so far Is now recalled
! .>e"berry Is the only Senator who has been
! convicted IN Tire courts ana scn,,uccd ,o
! prison. Ii the lesson read in his case is
| well learned II Will he ii long time before
! another aspiring candidate becomes bold
| enough 10 attempt the purchase of :; scat
! III open violation Of the peoples rights
! 30 ends .thc career OF one who had ho.u
| h"hoFcd by the american people only to
conSpirc against them. Nrwbcrry had served
; IN high position in the national government,
| in private life hc was powerful by reason
Oh MS wealth, and respected, a cOmbna tiou
mat led him TO believe that what he wanted,
even in public honors, he could buy over the
counter He had unlimited possibilities for
| "a''ohal service, but he sought to purchase
"hat might have been freely bestowed. II
- we way OF the transgressor even when
that 'fanSgrcSSor happens 10 be a United
states senator and multi-mllionaire
considering how little 1t will buy. I, is
queer 'hai somebody has taken the trouble
10 counterfeit The SO note