The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-29
NEWBERRY HAS
RIGHT TO SEAT,
REPUBS DECIDE
Demo Senators Diso-
gree; Charge Hleg-
al Practice.

Washington, Sept 29.-Opinions
conflicting along party lines were
presented today by majority and
minority members of the senate
privileges and elections committee
! on the Ford -Newberry 1918 sena-
torial election contest from Mich
igan.
The majority report cleared Sen
ator Truman H. Newberry, the Re
publican candidate, of corruption
and all other charges, and recon-
mended that he be legally seated.
The Democratic members, on the
other hand, asserted that Senator
Newberry was elected by corrupt
and Illegal methods and practices, "
and recommended that his seat be
declared vacant.
Action Up to Senate.
With the filing of the reports the
case now goes to the senate for
final decision which probably will
not be made for several weeks. In
the meantime, it is understood.
Senator Newberry will not attend
the senate sessions.
On only two major issues were
harmony in the reports filed today.
They agreed that Henry Ford. the
Democratic contestant, had not
been elected, and was not entitled
to the seat from Michigan. They
also agreed that too much money
had been spent in the Michigan
primary. The Democrats, however,
contended that Senator Newberry
was responsible personally for the
expenditures, while the Republi-
cans held he was not
Majority Dismisses Contest
recommendations of the major
ity report, submitted by Senator
Spencer, Republican. who conduct
ed the committee investigation and
recount, were:
That the contest of Henry Ford
against Truman 4, Newberry be,
and it is hereby. dismissed
THAT Truman H. Newberry is
hereby declared to be a duly elected
senator from the state of Michigan
for the term of six years commenc-
ing on the 4th day of March, 1919.
That his qualification for a seat
in the senate of the United States,
TO which he has been elected, has
been conclusively established, and
the charges made against him in
this proceeding, both as to his cleo
ton and qualification, are not sus-
tanned"
Conclusions of the minority, pre-
sented by Senator Pomerene, Demo-
crat, Ohio, and signed also by Sena-
tors King, Utah, and Ashurst, Ari-
zona, were:
Ford Not Elected.
THAT the irregularities complain
ed of do not relate to the general
election, but to the primary. Henry
Ford did not receive a plurality of
the vote cast at the general cleo
ton. We therefore find that the
petitioner, Henry Ford, was not
elected and is not entitled to seat
in the senate of the United States.
I'VE find thac under the facts and
circumstances of this case corrupt
and illegal methods and practices
were employed at the primary cleo
tion, and that Truman H Newberry
violated the corrupt practices act
and the primary act of the state of
Michigan, and that by reason there
of he ought not to have or to hold
a seat in the senate of the United
States, and that he is not the duly
elected senator from the state of
Michigan for the term OF six years
commencing on the 4th day of
March, 1919, and we recommend,
that his seat be declared
vacant"
Ashurst Files Own Report.
A separate minority report also
was submitted by Senator Ashurst,
who declared Senator Newberry's
credentials were stained by fraud
and tainted by illegal expenditures
of money" The testimony showed,
he said that the 1918 Michigan cam
paign "partook more of the charac-
ter of an auction than an election .
Claims OF MIR Ford to the Michi-
gan seat were denied by both ma
jority and minority members on the
same grounds-that all charges
against Senator Newberry related
to the primary, and not to the gen
eral election, and that il was estab- /
Iished conclusively that in the gen
eral election Senator Newberry had
received a majority. of the votes. !
Mr.. Ford's charges of bribery, il |
legal voting, undue influence and |
of voters in the general |
election were declared by the ma !
jority TO be without foundation.