Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-07
WORD PASSED HARDING
FAV0RS SEN. AEWBERRY.
Republican Spokesman, 1t Is
Said, Expected to Aid in
Fight for Seat.
by John Gicissner.


United News STAFF Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Jan. s.-The word
mas o'en passed out officially thu.
President Harding holds SENATE,
Newberry in very high esteem.
This eliminates any doubt that tn.
Republican administration spokes-
men would be expected to supnort
the cause of Newberry in his fight
to retain his seat in the United
States Senate.
In addition to the statement at tho
White House as to Hardinr.s mar
sonat estimate Of Newberry, there ia
persistent report at the Capitol
that Harding has dispatched a letter
to one of the administration Sena-
tors Tor use, IL necessary. In tho
Newberry fight. 1t proved impos-
sibie to confirm this report, learn
the name of the Senator to whom
the letter is alleged to have been
addressed, or ascertain it's SUBJ
! stance.
Regards Newberry Highly.
It Is officially stated, however, to
be the Presidents wishes that he
be not made participant In tho
proceedings around Newberry's fight.
So far as action on the case Is con-
ccrned the President feels It Is I.
question entirely up to the Senate
| membership. but he does not object
to having Ii known that no regards
! Newberry highly.
The fight to GUST Newberry began
in the Senate this afternoon with an
| attack by Senator Caraway. OF Ar
! kansas. which early developed into
| n heated exchange with Senator
Spencer, or Missouri. chairman of the
committee which investigated tho
election.
Newberry was not in the chamber.
Ga"rries were crowded. with fewer
women present than ordinarily at
tend. There was a liberal attend
ance OF Senators at the outset, but
they gradually deserted the cham
her during the afternoon. and only
n handful were present to hear n
! speech by Senator Helm, Democrat,
of Alabama.
Lines Tightly Drawn.
Lines were tightly drawn as tho
debate opened. Leaders Insisted
Newberry Will be upheld by safe
majority but uncertainty prcsiatcd
as to how number OF votes will bs
cast. and II was indicated the out
come will DO close.
Caraway asked Senator Curtis, Re-
publican whip. IL 1t were true that
Ncwberry was to speak on Monday.
and was referred by Curtis to
| Spencer.
ST Is true that Senator Newbcrry
expects to come here Monday and
| ut Is also true that Senator New
herry's family and friends have felt
his health would suffer IL he did. and
that he had no right to subject him
self to the ordeal OF coming here to
submit to All attack by his enemies"
/ Caraway' wanted to know why
Spencer had objected to the request
that the limitation OF an hour on de-
1 bate be not imposed on Ncwterry
because I felt that the motive for
that move on the part OF the minority
/ was ono OF antipathy and antagon-
ISM" replied Spencer.
He added that he considered the
attack. abuse and villihcation" ot
| Newberry by the Democrats brutal
and an atrocity."
\ Hopes to Question Ncwbcrry.
| SdTaWHV spencer aDOuC
conversations tho latter had with
Ncwberry, and declared that Spencer,
as chairman OF the investigating
committee. had no right to confer
with the man under investigation.
Spencer said he had rs much right
to confer with Newberry as other
Senators did to confer with Henry
Ford's counsel. who now sits In tho
gallery"
The Arkansas Senator then launched
into n long argument designed to
show that Newberry is not entitled
to hold his seat.
Senator Williams. Democrat, OF
Mississippi, expressed the hope that
Sewberry would permit himself to DO
| questioned.
The Newterry family Is an hon
orable one. and the family of tho
! Senator's wife is an honorable one"
said Williams. IT should be sorry In
deed IL the SPECIALIZED junior Senator
from Michigan did not give me some
! reason to conclude that he had not
disgraced two distinguished fami-
lies"
Heflin declared Newberry conduct
ed a barrel campaign with the bar
rel open at both ends"
| g'pE.S N HING