The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-16
Protest Against Election OF
Lodge Reaches Senate.
No Two TabulatiOns of Vote
Agree, Says Complaint.
CALLED MINORITY" WINNER
Senator Has Been Repudiated,
Is Wall of Defeated.
Committee May Act Now or
Wait Until After March 4.

Washington, Dec. 16.-The pro-
ceedings begun in Massachusetts chai-
lenging the reelection to the senate of
Henry Cabot Lodge. the Republican
leader today were transferred to the
senate itself.
A protest and challenge" against
the election of Senator Lodge, was re-
cefved by Vice President Coolidge.
from Conrad w. Crooker attorney for
John a Nichols, defeated prohibition
candidate and representative of the
LIBERAL Republican league of Massa-
chusetts.
Flagrant irregularities in the Nov
ember senatorial election were
charged in Mr.. Crooker's petition.
which declared Senator Lodge was a
minority winner and had been re
pudiated." Mr.. Crooker asked for an
Immediate hearing.
Committee May Wait.
The papers are to be referred to the
senate privileges and elections conf
mittee of which Senator Dillingham;.
Republican, Vermont, s chairman Tt
is not customary for the committee
or the senate to take action on cleo
ton contests until the convening OF
the new congress which they affect
and senate leaders indicated today
that despite the request for immediate
action the Crooker proceedings would
lie dormant until March 4.
Reports that Vice President Cool
idge might make a preliminary refer
ence of his petition to Senators Lodge
and Walsh, in accordance with a SEN
ate custom, today led Mr.. Crooker to
send Vice President Coolidge another
protest against any such move. He
declared that the impropriety OF re-
ferring his papers to Senator Lodge
was 'obvious."
Mr.. Crooker's statement said that
the Liberal Republican league repre-
sented more than 100, 200 Massachu-
SettS Republicans. He ADDED that his
protest against the validity of Mr..
Lodges reelection was justified by
abundant evidence" and also by ''the
overwhelming demonstration OF Mass
achusetts public sentiment at the polls
in the recent election"
Massachusetts has repudiated
Lodge and all the reactionary obstruc-
tion that he stands for" the statement
said
was minority Candldate."
The total vote for senator was
s67, 157," it was declared, and Senator
Lodge received on the face of returns
414,130, and was thus a minority
candidate" 1t was added that no two
tabulations of the vote agree.
"Flagrant Irregularities in the con-
duct of the election occurred all over
the state.'' Mr.. Crooker said, "and the
result as tabulated by the governor
and council as the basis for the issu-
ance of a certificate of election 20
Lodge is a result that cannot be ac-
cepted or recognized as representative
of legal or final result. We are sat
isfied on all the Information that has
come into our possession since the cleo
ton that Lodge was not legally elected.
and am here to obtain Immediate
opportunity to prove it."
Says Move Non-Partisan.
Mr.. Crooker said his fight was net
in behalf of William A. CASTOR, who
was the Democratic candidate and was
not a partisan move but was designed
"to unseat the man who has accom-
plished more harm as an obstructor OF
world peace and the natural express
sion of liberal thought than any man
since Nero.
More than that" he continued.
'the practices by which Lodge has
maintained his power in Massachu-
setts are as venaI and menaceful as
any thing that Platt, Penrose, or Quay
ever attempted"
Mr.. Crooker added that he realized
the administration would fight to RE
tain its principal senatorial propS' but
he said Lodge was beaten at home and
his machine IS a shattered wreck"
1t is understood the liberal league
has served notice on Massa chusetts
election officials to preserve the ball
lots for use in the senate contest.
Senator Lodge refrained from COM
ment ca the contest petition. His
friends said he did not regard the
move al fmDortaut