The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1922-09-06
Grand Old Man
Explains Vote
SENATOR KNUTE NELSON Elk
PLAINS REASONS WHY HE
VOTED TO SEAT NEWBERRY.
(From S1ayton Herald)

| GGdG0S o6lldIt WIFI UCLGSl HlCSOIV
for sterling honesty than Senator
Knute Nelson of this state. Senator
Nelson simply would not do small
or dishonorable thing There is not
money enough in the world to in
fuence him one whit in the perform
ance Of his duties. He was one of
the majority in the Senate who voted
to seat Newberry. He has no ques-
ton but that he did right in doing
SO, and any fair minded person will
come to the same conclusion.
Senator Nelson wrote to person
al friend in St. Peter, Mr.. R. "A. Dean,
giving his reasons for his vote. The
Herald is permitted to publish a copy
Of this letter. 1t states briefly the
facts of the case. Senator Nelson's
letter follows:
January 80, 1922.
Mr.. R. A. Dean,
st. Peter, MINI. ... .s..
Dear Sir:
In reply to your favor of the 17th.,
touching the Newberry case, | beg
leave to state, for your information,
that Mr.. Ford, the automobile man,
had succeeded in a few years in &C
cumulating millions and millions of
dollars, until he had become one of
He had never been in the public SER
vice. The only demonstration he had
made in that line was to send over
the so-called "peace ship to Europe.
President Wilson sent for him and
wanted him to become candidate
In order that he would be dead sure,
Of some kind of nomination, he ran
| at the primaries both on the Demo-
cratic ticket and on the Republican
| ticket. He had made such arrange
ments that he was sure of winning on
the Democratic ticket, but he made
his great fight, thru his multitude
of agents and employees, to try and
get the Republican nomination also.
If he had succeeded in that, it would
have left him the only candidate in
Michigan, because he would have HAD
| both nominations. He was known in
| Michigan as proGerman, as a Paci-
fist, and rather hostile to the war.
The sending of the peace ship over
| to Europe ended, as you know, in a
fzzle, and demonstrated his hostility
| to the war.
When this situation confronted the
people, in Michigan, they felt it in
| cumbent upon them at all hazards tic
defeat Ford. They finally turned their
attention to Mr.. Newberry. New
berry had, during former Republican
administrations, served as Secretary
and Assistant Secretary of the Navy |
Department, and during the war he
was actually serving as a Naval Of
Gao,, +Lo S+o+oe Nav, TO
toned at New York. The leading
Republicans Of Michigan finally CEN
tered upon him. He was loath to be-
come a candidate, but finally, after
great urging, promised to run; but he
told the men who .importuned him to
run that he could give no attention t.
the campaign, that he would continue
| his duties in the Navy at New York,
and leave it to the people of Michi
gan to manage the campaign. And
the people of Michigan took up his
| battle.
The primary system, under which
it was supposed so much good would
come to the country, is one of the
most expensive systems that can be
we'll conceived. It makes an opening |
for newspaper graft beyond perad-
venture.
Newberry's campaign, conducted
by his friends, was a publicity cam
paign, carried on thru all the news
papers in Michigan, and all the news
papers wanted pay. Besides, it was
necessary to send out letters and
posters and all that. Newberry him
self spent none of the money.
I think the people of Michigan were
so anxious about this that they spent
more money in carrying on publicity
campaign than was necessary. But
nothing in the evidence shows that
there was any money used to corrupt
voters. 1t was wholly a great adver.
Using and publicity campaign, where
most of the proceeds went to the
newspapers and periodicals.
I think that the people of Michi-
gan deserve great credit for defeat
ing Ford. These men who have be-
come suddenly rich at the expense of
the public, I think are a menace tc
the welfare of our country, and they
should be kept out of the public SER
vice.
These, in brief, are the outlines Of
the NeWberry case, and they give
you the reasons why l voted to seat
Newberry. Ford, being the contest
ant in the case, Of course no testi-
mony was taken or given as to the
amounts he expended. My own opin-
ion is that he expended far more I'M
his campaign than was spent on be-
half of Newberry.
I write you thus fully, not because
I feel that owe you an explanation,
but rather to enlighten you on this
subject, so that you will not get
wrong notions into your head.
Your truly,