Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-01-20

Twice before during my service here
the senate has been presented with
the question of the alleged corrupt
election of members of this body. In
the Lorimer case the testimony was
so conclusive that he was denied
seat. The Stephenson case, with an
expenditure of around 100000 in the
primary and election, so shocked the
conscience OF the American people as
reflected in this body, that, as l now
remember it, "a votes were cast
against Mr.. Stephenson having right
to seat here and 40 in his favor. The
third case is now presented to us.
Regardless of any statutes, federal
or state, such large sum of money
may be expended in the election of
senator or congressman as to faint
the entire matter and justify refusal
of a seat The line of demarcation
would be difficult to draw, but if the
sum expended were such to shock pub
lie conscience so that it was in effect
a breach Of public policy, it would vi
tiate the election, even though there
were no violation of the statutes.
There might be such a wholesale cor
ruption of voters by the purchase of
influence that under their constitu-
tional right to determine the election
the senate could well say that the ell
ection was tainted at it's source 1t is
against the fundamentals of our gov
eminent. 1t is violative of those ethics
that should he maintained in a free
republic.
| realize that there is no use in dis
cussing the evidence; that if the rec
ord showed the expenditure of a mil
lion dollars for Mr.. Newberry, sena-
tors would still refuse to listen
venture the assertion that very few
senators on this side of the chamber
have read even the briefs, to say no.
thing of the record, nor will they do
so. They are determined that Mr..
Newberry shall retain his seat. I ap-
prehend that some senators in this
body who voted against Mr. Stephen
on-Where there was an expenditure
of only 100000, which at that time
shocked the public conscience - will
be found here voting to retain Mr..
Newberry. l think the American peo-
pie will watch that record with some
interest; but l give my own convic-
~tion that no one with open mind who
will divorce himself from friendship
for Mr. Newberry and forget for the
time that he is member of any polit
ical party can calmly and judicially
review this evidence and not arrive at
the conclusion that the statutes of
Michigan we're fagrantly violated;
that such sums of money were spent
in hiring workers and in the publicity
campaign as to shock the public con-
science; and that the election is abso-
lutely tainted at its source-and when
| say election, I of course include
the primary as part of the election or
as an agency of election, as it neces-
sarily is.
know, however, that this will not
be done. Senators are going to rely on
the majority report They are going to
rely on the oft-repeated statements
of the senator from Missouri that Mr..
Newberry knew nothing about it. And
they are going to do SO because they
have great affection for Mr.. Newberry
because he is good fellow, was pa
triotic citizen during the war, and was
member of the Roosevelt cabinet,
which is in itself great distinction
and honor.
The Social Lobby as 1t Affects and
Directs Legislation.
The social lobby has been active in
this case, more active than in most
matters; and the social body is be-