The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-01-09

expended, and more than ought to be
necessary to expend in any ordinary
ca1npaign. But this was not an ordi-
nary campaign $. | shall not dwell
upon the reasons which the commit
tee thought imperatively demanded
campaign Of newspaper publicity in
volving this expenditure of money.
candidly say that | regret exceedingly
the fact that so large an amount of
money was necessarily expended. |
can further say that in the, acquisition
of that money, in the use of that
money, | had nothing whatever to do.
| knew, nothing whatever. about it,
not even the amount Of it.
Il make this statement not to es-
cape any responsibility but in order
that the actual facts in the matter.
as | know them, may be presented to
the senate. How the money was spent
in the state OF Michigan, how the
books of account were kept, who were
engaged in this work, or what they
did, ! did not know. | do not know
now, except from the accounts of the
hearings which have been held, and
the report filed after the primary.
States Understanding of Law
1T is and always has been my I'M
derstanding that insofar as the pri-
mary in Michigan is concerned if the
cost is not borne by the candidate
himself, the committee in charge of
the campaign may spend whatever
amount it pleases for the eleven emu
merated objects which are set forth
at length in the Michigan primary
law. /, therefore. assumed from the
start, and | still believe that the law
was carefully ob2yed by this indie
pendent committee, which had the
campaign for my primary election in
hand.
AS to the campaign fund the Ques-
ton of its acquisition. or of it's ex-
penditure was never called to my at
tention by any one connected with me
or the campaign committee; and
when | stated that no money was
spent with my knowledge or consent.
endeaVored to. convey the same I'm
preston which | now endeavor to-
make clear, namely, that, as for my,
self, | was spending no money, and
that | knew nothing about the ex
penditure Of money in the campaign
| want TO make this point just as
strong as | am able to do because i
has been limited that money which
was contributed, without my knowl
edge or consent by relatives and
friends Of mine. was subsequently, in
some way, directly or indirectly, re
paid by me, or was to be repaid by
me- There is not even a shadow OF
truth or the slightest foundation for
any such statement
Reiterates Statement
so far as | am personally con.
cerned, | did not spend in the primary
campaign in Michigan, q single dollar.
directly Hor indirectly. and with the
exception Of q personal contribution
of $500 to the Republican state cen
trail committee, this is equally true
OF the general election.
THE people of my state knew the
whole story from beginning to end
and whatever action the senate OF
the United States may take. | shall
remember az long as live, the
st2unch loyalty of the people of Mich
igan, who with complete and full
knowledge of every allegation made
against me, and of the charges tina,
were made and placarded throughout
the state in. connection with the pri
mary campaign, held me in such con
idence and believed in me sufficient,
TO elect me one OF their senators from
Michigan"