Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-10
Georgia Senator's Vote May
Decide Most Bitterly Con-
tested Issue Since OuSting
of Lorimer
623 Riggs Building.
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau.
BY THEODORE TILLER

most the deciding vote, the senate
today neared the end of probably
the bitterest fight in a generation
over the title to a seat in that body.
1t is doubted that even the famous
Lorimer case has furnished, up to
this stage, the feeling entered into
the controversy over the seat held
by Senator Truman II. NeWberry,
Republican, of Michigan. "a min
imum of three votes" was the ma
jority claimed late Saturday by the
Newberry managers. such as Sena-
tors Curtis and Townsend. Their
more optimistic counts, however,
are for a majority Of five to eight.
but it is apparent that a switch
of two Or three votes may upset
calculations and change the result.
With the exception of Senator Wat
son, the Democrats say their side
will vote solidly against Newberry.
Senator Watson told the Journal
correspondent Saturday afternoon
that the issue was not partisan.
that he had not changed his mind.
as rumored. and that he intended
to vote for Newberry. The Geor-
gia senator's vote. because of the
closeness of the senate situation,
assumes unusual importance.
Senator NeWberry today took the
floor and emphatically defended his
right to a seat in the senate.
Reasons for Stand
'I investigated the Newberry case
thoroughly sometime ago and before
l made my speech" said Senator
Watson, 81 went through the record
as a lawyer should study it. L
found nothing to prove to me that
Senator Newberry was in any col
fusion to purchase his seat or that
he had personal knowledge Of the
sums expended by his managers and
friends in his campaign. AS an i'm
partial reviewer and giving him the
reasonable doubt to which one is l.
titled when a civil statue is given a
criminal meaning, I found nothing
in the evidence of a direct or circum-
stantial nature connecting Senator
Newberry with any bribery, fraud or
conspiracy and I shall vote that he
keep his seat in this body. Suppose
my friends in Georgia, while 1 was
out making speeches, had expended
sums of money about which 1 knew
nothing; suppose that they, with
out my knowledge, expended sums
for advertising, or for cigars, or 9TH
err campaign expenses, should l or
any other senator under similar cir
cumstances be penalized for their
actions?
"I cannot find in the Newberry
otto nd
the scrutiny of fair-minded lawyer
and I have given it that scrutiny,
have made up my mind and intend
to vote for Newberry."
Only Democratic Detection
Other senate Democrats say that
Senator Watson will be the only
Democratic detection. But the
Georgia senator is firm in his con-
victions and says he does not in
tend to change and has tried to act
in this case only as a lawyer and
judge. Furthermore he says, he has
received but one letter since he made
his speech which protests against
his intention to vote for Newberry
and the writer of this letter, who
lives in Oklahoma, said he had not
read the entire Watson speech and
asked for a copy of it. Instead, he
says, he has received numerous let
tiers commencing his position, these
coming from Michigan and else
where. His Georgia correspondence
on the subject has been light.
AS the senate fight neared con.
clusion today there were further
polls and counting of noses which
nf tho NnTU.
berry vote and made Senator Wat
sons stand of possible great effect.
There are about a dozen Repub-
lican senators still classed as doubt
full and since the Newberry cohorts
admit a possible minimum of three
votes to spare and not more than
five to eight votes, it is plain that
two or three changes would decide
Newberry's fate.
Senator Newberry himself now in
tends to confront his fellow senators
next Monday and enter his own de-
Tense of the charges that he ex-
pended more than 100000 in the
Michigan primaries. Opponents of
Senator Newberry allege the sum
expended greatly exceeded this, but
that the lower figure is admitted by
the Newberry managers, who assert,
however, that the expenditures were
without the personal knowledge or
consent of the candidate. When he
speaks, it is understood that SEN
ator Newberry will invite questions
from any senator and that days SeS-
sion Of the senate pomises thrills.
Fiery Senate Debates
The fiery senate debates Of the
past two days have brought renew
ed charges from Democratic sources
that the administration is squarely
behind Senator Newberry.
At the White House President Har-
ding has informed callers that he
held Senator Newberry in the high.
est esteem. The president indi-
Gated that he did not mind If this
statement received publicity. Mr..
Harding took the position that it
was not the function of the chief
executive to pass upon the merits
of a contest involving a seat in
the senate, but he had no hesitancy
in saying that he regarded Senator
Newberry very highly.
This statement, thoughtfully made
by the president, doubtless will be
regarded at the capitol as revealing
the attitude of the administration in
the Newberry case.
AS the Silent vote" in a national
election presumably determines the
fate of candidates, the doubtful
vote in the senate today plainly will
determine the seating or unseating
of Senator Newberry. From sources
close to the Michigan senator it was
learned that the pro-Newberry poll
shows approximately half dozen
votes to spare for Mr.. Newberry.
However, there enters the equation
Of absenteeism, the refusal of Demo
Gratis ito pair" on the Newberry is
sue and the wavering attitude OF
certain senator's who are hearing
from home" as the vote approaches.
PrO-Newberry Outlook