Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-21
MR. NEwBERRY RESIGNS.

Senator Newberry should have re-
signed on Jan. IL, when the Senate de-
clared him entitled TO hold his seat,
but at the same time, by a majority
OF Ave votes, convicted him and itself
In the extraordinary amendment to
resolutions offered by Mr.. Willis Of
Ohio. That amending resolution de-
clared
That the expenditure OF such exces-
sive sums (s195.o00 or more) in be-
half Of the candidate, either with or
without his knowledge or consent,
being contrary to sound public policy,
harmful to the honor and dignity OF
the Senate, and dangerous to the per-
petuity of free Government, such
| excessive expenditures are hereby Sc
verely condemned and disapproved.
Mr.. Newberry was indicted in Mich
igan for a conspiracy with 1913 Re-
publican campaign workers to violate
the Federal Corrupt Practices act in
the primary election of 1918. He was
convicted. with sixteen other de-
PENDANTS, and sentenced TO two years
Imprisonment in the penitentary and
a fine Of $4,000. In 1921 the Supreme
Court unanimously reversed the con-
victions. 1t Is just to Mr.. Newberry
to recall that he was not accused of
biAbery. The manly course, which
he is said to have preferred till he
was overruled by his party associates.
| was a blunt defense. From the ruling
Republican point of view the expen-
diture of any sum to beat Henry
> Ford. guilty of the crime of being ap-
proved by Mr.. Wilson. was justified.
-, The real conspirators were Mr.. Lodge
and Mr.. Bbandegee and their fellows.
What offense was not a mere pecca-
dillo !; committed in the cause of saw
ing the United States from participa-
tion In that monstrous crime. the
Covenant of the League of Nations?
II Mr.. Newberry had been unseated
, In the Spring of 1919. the Senate
would have been a tie. with the de-
Gliding vote left to the Democra tic
Y Nice-President. Mr.. Newberry. a man
9 of honorable instincts and character
was persuaded by the consplrators
make weak and evasive defense in.
e stead of straightforward one He
4 was the victim of his party. Since
however he now expresses his "eterna
satisfaction" at having aided il
keeping the United States out OF tho
League of Nations" he ought TO b,
glad TO have paid for that satisfaction
;, by the unsavory notoriety md the
!, growing public hostility that have
been his lot in the last four years
As Mr.. Borah said, the Senate. h,
= accepting the Wills declaration. pu
the brand OF shame" upon Mr.
Newberry "as completely as If W,
= should exclude him from the Senate.
y complying with party prescription
\ doubtless. rather than with his ow,
desires Mr.. Newberry has mee<lv ac
= cepted the brand OF shame for months
He didn't find It intolerabe until III,
eve O. the meeting of the called SEES
sion ia which new efforts for his ex
pulsion were about to be made. I,
the Senate of the Sixty-eighth Con
gress he could have small hone
II 1t should be remembered that eye,
Mr' Ferris. who defeated Senate
! townsend largely on the issue q
Newberryism." confesses that tn
amount which Senatorial candidat
IN Michigau may expend under the la,
is insufficient None the less II ;
~ candidates duty TO obey the law.
- 10 be remembered, too. that ther
was a certain amount of incau
descent partianship or of conscious q
-, unconscious hypocrisy in the attack
made by some Senators. themselve
,o not ignorant Of fat campaign fund
Tor their own benefit. Yet the gener,
public instinct was sound. The fore
OF public opinion has at last extrude
Mr.. Newberry. Apart from legal tech
hcalities. apart even from the lec-it
m mate demands which the primary sy.
TEN makes upon the purse of the car
didate in hard-fought primary can
. palgn in great State. the mass of ~
people is justified in feeling that emo,
nous campaign expenditures are III
pardonable and evil; that they tend
substitute plutocracy for democrat
and poison free political life. Yet rjgh
posing judgments will not be too c,
we're on Mr.. Newberry. He was h,
the amiable pawn OF more powerf
J." and sinister players. They loaded ~
dice and won. Only the business n
nd weil-being, the stability and peacc
ne all nations lost.-New York Times.