New-York tribune., 1922-01-12
the Supreme Court. from which he
quoted to Rustain his nosition

the Supreme Court. from which he
quoted to sustain his position.
senator Owen offered substitute
resolution providing that Senator
Newberry was not entitled to his seat
because his relatives and friends had
expended more than 100000 in his
campaign against public policy"
ut is no longer a question merely OF
Mr.. Newberrys guilt or innocence.
said Senator Owen at is question
of the honor and decency of the Senate
and the safety Of the legislative branch
of the government from being con-
trolled by corrupt processes"
Senator Owen referred to Senator
Newberrys indictment and conviction
in Michigan, under Republican Judge
and jury Of which eleven members
were Republicans. and he pointed out
that while the Supreme Court had held
Congress without authority to limit
expenditures in primary elections, the
court had expressly said each house
had power TO protect itself against
corruption.
Senator Underwood. Of Alabama,
Democratic leader, said:
ut is not Newherry that is under
indictment here; it is the Republican
party. If you confirm his title to the
seat YOU confirm the action of his com
mittee in making these enormous eX.
penditures. If you do this, we. as the
minority party. re entitled to carry
the issue to the American people and
cendemn you for YOU action
Charges Party Bought Seat
Senator Underwood contended that
the inhibition of the Michigan statute
against expenditure OF more than
$3.50 by Senatorial candidate ap
Piled also to the candidates commit
tee. He added:
When the issue of which party
would organize the Senate became
doubtful 1t was dete rmincd to buy the
seat. It was deliberately determined
to buy the seat. That is the plain truth
about it. I do not know exactly how
much was spent. Mr.. Newberry in his
statement before the Senate two DAYS
ago admitted that $50 900 was expend-
ed. and believe it wes more than that
That constitutes corruption in politics
Il doesn't make any difference whether
the Senator who occupies the seat par
t.-'ra+oI - 20 ~c---nl ov~o~Ai+"roe or
not The fact remains that Mr.. New
berry could not have been elected ex-
his campaign"
They had a public sale in Michi-
gan" said Senator Norris, "and the
property offered for sale was seat
in the Senate The bidding was in
the open and the seat was knocked
in Michigan had an opportunity to get
in and bid. Why. then, all this fuss?
The question before the Senate is
merely this: Shall the sale be con-
frmed? The price was adequate. In
fact, it seems to me that the price paid
was more than the blamed thing was
worth Why. then, should Senators
hesitate to confirm the sale?
"lf we do not confirm this sale in
Michigan the first thing we know we
will have a lot of poor men in the
Senate. We will have lot of farmers
here; farmers with long whiskers,
whiskers that will put in the shade the
foliage that adorns the face of our
illustrious leader Mr. Lodge"
Senator Hitchcock said it was the
Senate that was on trial and not New
berry. He proceeded:
THE eyes of the country are fixed
on the Senate. to see how it is going
TO decide this case. If we say that
S2500o0 can be expended in the cleo
ton Of one Senator, then it can be ex-
pended for every Senator. We give
notice to the country that seats in this
body are for sale to the highest bid
der. We expect the people to respect
the laws we pass, but how can we cx-
rect them to respect those laws if we
permit seats in this body to be sold
Dublc opinion all over the country will
Je that the expenditure of $250,000 for
Senate seat constitutes a national
se.r'al.
The substance of the whole case is
tfst ewHeir' was not elected to the
Sem Two endrcd thousand dollars
as elected and that is the way the
9eop'e 2. the country are going to re-
gard it,"