New-York tribune., 1922-12-16
Bay State Foes
Ask Senate to
Unseat Lodge
Minority Group, Claiming
IOO,OOOVOtes, Challenges
Validity of His Election;
Asks Immediate Hearing
Coolidge Gets Protests
Charge Irregularities; Con-
tests Against Texas and
Utah Members Also Loom

From The Trieunes Woshaofon bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-Conrad W.
Croker, chairman Of the Liberal Re-
publican League Of Massachusetts,,
claiming 70 represent more than l0o,-
900 Republican voters, Is here to open
a fght for the unsestlng Of Senator
HenrS Cabot Lodge He charges ir-
regularitieS In the recent election and
that Senator Lodges victory was not
legal. He has not disclosed any de-
tails Of what proof he expects to offer
Mr.. Crooker to-day fled two pro-
/ tests with Vice-President Coolidge, as
president OF the Senate, challenging
the validity Of the Senator'S election.
One is fled as chairman Of the Liberal
Republican League Of Massachusetts,
and the other "a attorney for John A.
Nichols, who was the Prohibition
candidate. Mr. Crooker demands a
hoaring before the Privileges and Elec-
tions Committee.
Senator Lodge declined 20 comment
on Mr.. Crookef's action. Some Of his
friends( maintained the proceeding
would prove a farce. Mr. Crooker in
sisted the fight would be carried
through. He denied he was backed BY
Colonel CASTOR. the Democratic ehndi-
late against Senator Lodge.
Demands Immediate Hearing
After fling his two protests, Mr..
/ Crooker tonight issued this state
nent: "As chairman Of the Liberal Re
publican League Of Hassaehusetts, an
organization that represents over i0o,-
600 Republican voters In that state,
have come 20 Washington TO lay out
the procedure for the opening OF our
fight TO dislodge Lodge. We challenge
the validity Of Lodges alleged re-elee-
tion &c the Senate on November Z, and
/ therefore object 70 his being seated
for the term beginning March I, 1928.
Il have to-day fled our formal pro
test and a demand for an immediate
hearing BY the appropriate Senate
committee with Viee-President Coo
lidge as the president Of the Senate.
Our course In this connection IL justi-
fed not only by abundant evidence al
ready In our possession, but also, and
more emphatieslly, by the oYerwhelm-
ing demonstration Of Massachusetts,
public sentiment at the polls In the
recent election.
Massachusetts has repudiated Lodge
and all the reaetionary obstruction
that he stands for. Out Of a total
vote east for Senator Of 867,i67 Lodge
polled only 414,ie0, the opposition, as
represented by the vote for all other
candidates polled 456,027; Lodge was
a minority candidate by 41,S97 votes.
Massachusetts, Is normally Repub-
lican by a very substantial margin.
In 1920 the Republicans carried the
state by nearly 100000 and this year
after a hard primary fight that LETT
many ineradicable scars, an entirely
spectacular candidate for Cover
nor was elected by 50.74s votes. Fuller,
our Republican candidate for Lieuten-
ant Governor, defeated his Democratic
opponents BY 70,724 votes.
"No two tabulations thus far made
seem to agree. The original Assoeia-
ted Press and other Newspaper returns
for the complete state gave Lodge
margin Of only i,945 votes. Later
press estimates were appreeiabiy
higher.
Charges Fragrant Irregularities
"The recount obtained BY our league
and by the Democratic candidate, Colo.
mel CASTOR, gave CASTOR q net gain OF
over 1,400 votes, Notwithstanding the
Inclusion by the tabulAtors In the
Lodge vote of thousands Of ballots
that were protested BY our representa-
tives and by representatives Of eAndi-
dates other than Lodge
Not only Is the contest against Mr..
Lodge In prospect, but friends Of Gov
ernor Bambefger Of Utah, who ran
against Senator King, are here to look
over the ground preliminary TO con-
test against King.
A contest also Is 70 be brought
against Earle h. Mayfield, elected SEN
ator In Texas with Ku-Klux Klan sup
port. Mayfield's opponents are paving
the vrav 10 a contest 20 unGeat him.