Evening star., 1922-12-16
ATTACK 0N7L0DGE
FILED IN SENATE
Challenge to Verdict Record.
ed in Massachusetts Sena- I !
torial Election Presented.
WILL GO TO COMMITTEE
fragrant Irregularities" in State
Campaign Alleged by Defeated
Prohibition Candidate.

The proceedings begun In Massachu-
sets. challenging the reelection to the
Senate Of Henry Cabot Lodge. the re-
to the Senate itself.
A protest and challenge" against the
election of Senator Lodge was received
by Vice President Coolidge from Conrad
w. Croker. attorney for John A.
Nichols. defeated prohibition candidate
and representative Of the Liberal Re-
publican League Of Massachusetts.
"Flagrant irregularities" in the No
vember senatorial election were
declared Senator Lodge was a "mi-
nority" winner. and had been 'repudi-
ated." Mr.. Crooker asked for an i'm
mediate hearing.
VIII BE Referred to Committee.
The papers are to be referred to
the Senate privileges and elections
committee, OF which Senator Dilling-
ham. republican. Vermont. is chair
man. 1t is not customary for the
committee or the Senate to take
action on election contests until the
convening of the new Congress which
they effect. and Senate leaders indi-
gated today that despite the request
for immediate action, the Crooker
proceedings would lie dormant until
March I.
Reports that Vice President Cool
tdge might make a preliminary ref
erence of his petition to Senators
Lodge and Walsh. in accordance with
a Senate custom. today led Mr..
n
idse another protest against any
such q move He declared that the
tmpropriety of referring his papers to
Senator Lodge was "obvious"
Mr.. Crookers statement said that
the liberal republican league repre-
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 Mas
saehusetts public sentiment at the
polls In the recent election"
Says Lodge Was "Repudiated.-
Massachusetts has repudiated
Lodge and all the reactiohary OBJ
struction that he stands for" the
statement said
The total vote for senator was 667,-
157: 1t was declared. and Senator
Lodge received, on the face OF re-
turns. 414.130 and was thus q minor
ity 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" said Mr.. Croker, land the
result as tabulated by the governor
and council as the basis for the is
suance Of certificate of election to
Lodge is a result that cannot be ac-
cepted or recognised as representa-
tive OF legal or final result. We are
satisfied on all the information that
has come into our possession since
the election that Lodge. was not le-
gally elected, and / am here 10 OBJ
tain an immediate opportunity to
prove it."
Declared Not q Partisan Move.
Mr.. Croker said his fight was not
In behalf OF William A. CASTOR, who
was the democratic candidate. and
was not q partisan move, but was
designed ito unseat the man who
has accomplished more harm as an
natural expression of liberal thought
than any man since Nero"
More than that" he continued. "the
practices by which Lodge has main
tained his power in Massachusetts are
as yenal and menaceful as anything
that Platt. Penrose or Quay ever at
tempted"
Mr.. crooker added that he realized
the administration would fight to re
tain its principal senatorial prop"
but he said Lodge was beaten At
home and his machine is shattered
It 10 understood the Liberal League
has served notice on Massachusetts
election officials to preserve the bal
lots for use in the Senate contest.