The New York herald., 1922-12-18
LODGE MUST FACE
MASS OF EVIDENCE
Accuser of Senator Strongly
Denies Proceedings Are
joke in Congress.
ELECTION FIGURES VARY
Crooker Says Fight to Unseat
Veteran Lawmaker Will
Be Pressed Hard.

According 10 Conrad ". Crooker OF
Boston, all the evidence forming the
basis OF charges that Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts, was not
elected legally last November has been
prepared. Mr.. Crooker came here yes
terday to confer with lawyers concern
Ing the conduct of the proceedings. With
Mrs Croker, he Is at the Commodore
Hotel.
I'VE have been through every district
and have complete and ample proof that
there was great irregularity tn the cleo
ton" Mr.. Crooker said. He filed last
week with the Vice-President the psti-
tions asking for hearing before the
Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections. of which Senator Dillingham;
(vt) is chairman.
There Is ready for presentation to
the committee q great MAS Of proof
showing frauds In the election" Mr.
Crooker said ~ have the evidence In
hand and am prepared to present II any
time the committee Is ready to proceed.
Denies II II Jake.
I'm answer to the comment in some Of
the newspapers to-day that this pro-
ceeding Is regarded as a joke In the
every Senator with whom talked as
sured meethat there will be no effort or
disposition to cover any one not entitled
to his seat, not even Lodge. am abso-
lutely convinced after weeks OF investi-
eating and studying the evidence that a
reexamination of the ballots alone will
establish the fact that Lodge was not
elected"
All the ofScial returns arc at odds,
Tr cot
In many districts, and even on the re-
count 1t has been impossible TO tabulate
returns which agree. One set Of figures
supplied by town clerks and other. off,
cials gives Col. CASTOR, the Democratic
nominee against Lodge. gain of nearly
1900 votes. That count, however, in
cluded all the ballots which the Lib
erai Republican League and the Demo-
Gratis contend are fraudulent.
The Bay State law requires that bal
lots be sealed and guarded after the
polls close One Of the charges which
the league Is understood to be prepared
to sustain is that the ballots were not
sealed or guarded. and were doctored
after the official count began. Mr..
Crcoker would not even intimate the
nature of his mass of evidence" fur
thcv than saying that II proves gross
Irregularities" But. in addition to the
unsealed ballots. II In understood that
the charges will set forth .nnwarrantsd
use of money. voting by noaters and
repeating--ali the regular fraud charges
usually made In such contests. Mr..
Crcoker Is acting not only for the
league by instructions ut a special meet
ing. but also for John A. Nichols. who
was prohibition nominee against LodgS.
The league 10 not a Democratic by
product, and we are not making this
contest for CASTOR or the Democratic"
Mr.. Crooker said. I'VE are a cross Soc
ticn OF the Republican party. mostly
progressive Repuhlicans. who have bean
unable TO tolerate Lodges high handed
rule. We are the worst boss ridden
State in the Union. worse than New
York under Tammany and there is q
great latent progressive sentiment In
our State Lodge does not at all repre-
sent the State, but he has a most effsc-
tive and menacing political machine"
III action is not taken within reason
able time there will be a move in the
Senate to force action Mr.. Crcoker
said. "ore of three things may hap
pen. The Senaks may decide that Lodge
was not elected and Gaston was; that
the election was illegal and a new one
ordered held. or vacancy interim ap-
pointment may be made"