Evening star., 1922-09-01
Newberry's Seat Made Direct Is
sue Because of Hughes Letter.

The "Newberry case" is a leading
issue in the coming congressional
campaign. Editors of every political
belief now insist that this has been
the result of the letter written by
Secretary of State Hughes to New
Jersey clergyman insisting that. fror,
a legal standpoint, the senator from
Michigan's title to his seat is un-
assailable.
Because the Secretary is an active
member Of President Harding's s
cabinet his utterances must be ac-
cepted as more or less Official"
editors insist, and they are debating
them from this angle. 1t generally
also is agreed that from now on the
before he started down to Rio. be-
comes an integral part of the cam
paign, and an issue in all congress
sional fights.
Comment Is naturally more or less
|tinged with partisanship, the demo-
cratic view being voiced by the Balti-
more Sun Independent democratic),
declaring that ''Newberry is too
damned spot to be rubbed out even
by a manipulation of Mr.. Hughes
ability. Mr.. Hughes pleading is al
most purely technical. 1t ignores
wholly the moral evidence. We recall
no other job which Mr.. Hughes has
done so badly. Probably no one else
could have done it any Better"
The Newark News independently
suggests that Secretary of State
Hughes has tried to do "a nice turn
for Senator Frelinghuysen. The
Hughes letter is notable for matters
in connection with the Newberry case
that are left unmentioned. AS counsel
for the Michigan senator. Mr.. Hughes
puts up as strong a defense as was
possible for his client. The letter of
Secretary Hughes is campaign
document. Under these circumstances
Congress cannot. without stultifying
itself, pass a pending bill that has
been heretofore favored to prevent
the repetition of such lavish expendi-
lures by candidates for the Senate
and House of Representatives"
But because both political parties
profess to be "scandalized" by the
lavish expenditures of their opposi-
ent democratic) asks why not be
honest? Why not admit the obvious
fact that this system of the people 8
will necessarily means the pouring
out of money? The people who kick
at Newberry and he ought to be
kicked at-must always do what he
did, with comparative economical ex-
penditures for their own region, in
their own district, for diffusing them
selves among an Intelligent people"
The New York Herald independent
republican, also sees in the primary
berry expenditures. and feels certain
that he was a victim of his friends.
because mo wise man is going to de-
fend the spending of huge sums to
nominate or elect men whose only
political asset Is their wealth. but be-
fore passing on the morality OF po-
litical expenditure all the circum-
stances Of the case should be con-
sidered." The Dayton News (demo-
cratic) holds that "Mr. Hughes has
muddled up the waters again in per-
mitting himself to become involved in
q controversy which is going to play
a big part in the November political
campaigns. Instead Of making the
road easier for some candidates. he
has made it definitely more difficult.
In attempting a defense he has done
that which will be accepted every
where as an apology"
The Detroit Free Press dndepend-
ent republican,, however, after sum-
ming up the arguments against New
berryism," says that the "cry the
democrats and their anti-republican
confederates have been raising Is a
lie and q fake, manufactured in the
hope that 1t could be used as smoke
screen, and 1t now Is blowing back
in the faces Of those who uttered and
published it."
"The paramount issue in the cam
paign," tie New York Post says, was
patriotism VS.. pacifism. Michigan sent
Newberry to the Senate with its eyes
open, No matter how voters view the
Newberry case, it will hardly do to
reduce primary campaigns to pennry
simply because too much money was
used in one in Michigan several years
ago." The New York Tribune (re-
publican) likewise insists that 1.-The
unforgiven sin of Senator Newberry
is that he appeared as a candidate of
the patriotic when the then President
had decreed that Henry Ford was 10
Sit in the Senate" And the Secretary.
the Boston Transcript independent
republican, says, is entitled to the
thanks Of all right-minded persons"
for his letter, which supplies read
ily Ineligible and convincing sum-
mary of the proceedings In the case
and will clear the air of q great deal
of misapprehension on the subject"
But. regardless of the arguments in
the case, the Detroit News dndepend-
ent) believes that nothing that may
he said can clear up in any sense
uhateyer the charge of the United