Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-20
THE PRESS ON NEWBERRY

THE eastern newspapers are com
i ing to, the editors desk now
with comment on the seating o.
Senator Newberry. Of course, the
democratic papers all condemn the
action Of the senate in vigorous
terms, but we are specially inter.
estcd in the comment Of the repub.
lican dailies. Even the most stall
wart of the republican organs
strike note of apology. A few
condemn their own party for its
action. "A very considerable pro-
portion Of these republican news
papers we have seen, maintain
silence in their editorial page
about the matter. Not willing to
defend the republican party in its
action, they discreetly say nothing
at all.
The independent daily press is
almost a unit in condernning the
senate for seating the Doodle SEN
ator from Michigan. One Of the
ablest Of the Independent news
papers, the Springfield Republican,
makes this logical presentation OF
the facts:
"The resolution declaring Mr.
Newberry entitled to his seat in the
United States senate places the SEN
ate in the indefensible moral posi-
ton of condemning an offense while
welcoming the offender to its mem
bership on terms Of complete
equality. It is like condemning
a crime and then harboring the
criminal.
1T must be remembered, that
the resolution at first declared that
the charges against Mr.. Newberry
were not sustained; in order to Sc
cure the votes necessary to seat the
Michigan man, that clause was
omitted and the following added
That whether the amount ex-
pended in this (Michigan) pri-
mary was $1e5,0Oo, as was fully
reported or openly acknowl-
edged, or whether there were
some few thousand dollars III
excess, the amount expended
was in either case, too large,
much larger than ought to have
been expended. The expendit-
ure of such excessive sums IN
behalf of a candidate, either
with or without his knowledge
and consent, being contrary to
sound public policy, harmful to
the honor and dignity of the
senate and dangerous to the
perpetuity of a free govern
ment, such excessive expendit-
ures are hereby severely con-
demned and disapproved.
1.-THE significance of the amend
ment is that the charges against
Mr.. Newberry were true and that
the senate confesses that they were
true. In confirming Mr.. New
berrys claim to his seat, under
these circumstances, the senate
condemns itself. For there was but
one conclusion to be reached after
branding M. Newberry's Michigan
campaign as contrary to sound
public policy, harmful to the honor
and dignity of the senate and dan
gerous to the perpetuity of free
government" That was to declare
the seat vacant. ....
"In seating Mr.. Newberry the
senate even makes a nockery Of
the constitution of the United
States, the preamble of which de-
clares that this government was
founded to establish justice" "oro-
mote the general welfare" and
secure the blessings of liberty"
Is it the way to establish justice
and secure the blessings Of libsrty
to seat as senator of the United
States a man whose electoral CAM
paign was dangerous to the per-
petuity of free government"
Quite a number of newspapers
indulge in severe criticism Of Pres
ident Harding for his active inter
ference with the senate in behalf
Of the Doodle senator and the New
York Globe thus characterizes the
presidents action in that respect
president Harding's 11th-hour
Intervention in behalf of Truman
II. Newberry, junior senator from
Michigan, may do credit to his 10y
atty as friend, but it will give
no fame to his wisdom as presi-
dent. On the contrary, it is CAPT
tai political blunder. one likely to
be as costly to the republican party
as was former President Taft's in