New Britain herald., 1922-01-09
Appears Personally Be- fore Senate And Makes Sweeping Declaration Of His Innocence
Protests That He Had No Part in Waging Cam paign, Soliciting Funds or Spending Money.

Washington, Jan. 9.-A sweeping declaration of his innocence was made by Senator Newberry, republican Michigan, today in the senate.
 Taking the floor for his own de- fensc in the custer proceedings brought by Henry Ford, the defeated democratic candidate, Senator New berry emphaticaliy denied personal knowledge of the collection or expen- diture of the large campaign fund spent in his behalf.
 Protests Innocence
 As God is my witness,' he said, "I am not to this day and hour conscious of having done, in connection with either the primary campaign or the general election of 1918 in the State of Michigan a single act that was, or is, in any way unlawful, dishonorable or corrupt, and this l say to the sen- ate of the United States, without res ervation or qualification. Upon these facts, as I then believed them to be and as I now believe them to be, l shall abide the result with a clear con- science"
 Asks to Tell Story.
 business man and not an cX- perienced speaker, Senator Newberry, of short, sturdy figure with glasses over his blue eyes, said he desired to give the senate what little information he had personally regarding the charges made against his manneP of election. At the outset he asked that he be not interrupted until he had concluded his prepared address.
 Cannot Remain silent.
 "I cannot remain silent any longer during the consideration of my right to represent the State of Michigan as one of it's senator's he said. 'I did not volunteer to appear before the committee of the senate which took testimony in this matter because l really had any information that would assist in the investigation of charges filed by my opponents. It seems to me that the time has come to speak because my silence might be misunderstood by my friends.
 "As my colleagues in this body know, and as is well known by my as sociates and constituents in the State of Michigan I am not accustomed to public speech and whatever service l have been able to render to my coun- try or to others, has been entirely along lines remote from oral debate. Therefore l earnestly request my as sociates in the senate to permit me to proceed with my statement without Interruption
 Will Tell All.
 "J shall state the whole case as l know it fully, frankly and honestly, as in the presence of God and before my fellow senators in this great tribunal; and I shall do this just as completely as I am able to do it. ] can add ab- solutely nothing to what 1 am about to state to the senate. l must abide bv whatever effect it may have upon the conscience and the judgment Of the members of this body
 Ut is perhaps unnecessary for me to say that l shall confine myself strict lv and entirely to the facts as l Know them to be and shall not attempt in any sense either by argument or ap- neal to affect in the slightest degree the judgment of this body. So far as l am concerned I desire that the facts as they are shall determine this matter.
 Was in Naval Service.
 "On the sixth day of June 1917 l was commissioned a lieutenant com mander in the Y. s. navy and on July 23. 1917, was assigned to the third naval district with headquarters in rI iro1I l. ately took up my duties there and from that day, July 23, 1917 until after the signing of the armstlce, November II, 1918, I was never Tn Michigan a single hour. The prlm- ary election and the general election of 1918 occurred during my absence from the state of Michigan.
 Urged to Be Candidate.
 .In the early fall of 1917 l began to receive visits and letters from men active in public and political affairs in Michigan, urging me to become candidate on the republican ticket for II. $. senator I was not unmindful of the suggested honor and yet l fully realized that I certainly would not resign my commission in the navy to become a candidate for my political office and that I could not take any personal active interest in the cam paign while l continued to be an of fcer on duty in the r. s, navy.
 Friends Run Campaign.
 "While I was considering whether or not it was my duty 10 become candidate for the United States sen ate at the November election of 1918 I said to Mir. Allan Templeton, Wno was president of the Detroit board of commerce. that if l should decide to become q candidate l hoped that II would meet with the approval Of my Detroit business friends and asso- ciates and that I trusted the campaign might be looked after by business men O. that description. This is as far as ] had any direct connection with the selection or the committee of bust ness men
 apid Not Select King
 "Mr I'aul II King was inducen t'