The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-12-14
MAYF|ELD WILL
FIGHT PLAN To
GUST HIM
Texas Senator Breaks Long
Silence With Cryptic
Defiance.
By KENNETH CLARK.
international News seYvice.

International News Service.
Breaking the silence he has 90
steadfastly maintained since he as.
sumed office. Senator Earle b.
Mayfield CD Of Texas, announced
definitely today that he was pre-
Jared to fight any attempt to GUST
him from office
II am here" Mayfield declared.
II was duly and legitimately elect
&C Senator from Texas by a ma
jority of 1877 900 votes. No move is
Up to me. / intend to continue to
serve the best interests of the
people who elected me. This I
will do to the best of my ability. -
Rattle to Gust Him.
Other than this cryptic state
ment, Mayfield refused to discuss
Erewing behind the scenes in the
Senate to unsea. him.
The first move in the fight to
Gust Mayfield was made during the
closing days OF the last session
when a formal protest was filed
with the secretary Of the Senate.
The protest was based primarily
on charges that MayfieId spent
more than the $4,000 permitteS
under the Texas elections law.
II filed diets lied statement of
my campaign expenses with the
Secretary of State OF Texas" May
field said. "Thas record will speak
for ITSELF" Mayfield declared he
spent approximately $4,000.
Mayfield's opponents In Texas
have been in Washington almost
continuously siEcc the opening Of
Congress laying the foundations of
the contest against him. Arrange
n.ents have reached such q stage.
it was learned today. that q motion
Is expected NO. be made next week to
refer the protest against Mayficld to
the privileges and elections commit
tee for investigation.
Would Mean Clash.
That would be the signal for the
open clash in the Senate. While
tie question oe alleged excessive
campaign expenditures is the chief
burden of the protest, 1t is expect
cd that the Ku Klux Khan issue
will figure prominently in the open
| earrings. The khan question was
a dominant one I'm the Texas cleo
tons that sent Mayfield to the SEN
ate after two primary contests and
a general election: last November.
In the Democ ratio primary In
July, 1922. Mayfield won over a
field Of six opponents, including the
incumbent. Senator Charles A.
'culberson. who lad served for tl1ir-
ty-two years, by majority of 81, 900
votes. In the run-off in August
against former Gov. Jim" Fergu-
son, Mayfield was victorious by
81 900.
Shortly before the November
tered as an independent, asking for
the Ku Klux Khan After bitter
court fights, Peddy's name was not
printed on the ballot. The protest
charged that the election was not
legal because Peddy's name did
not appear.
Stand on Khan Issue.
Mayfield declared today that In
more than 1870 campaign speeches
in Texas he did not once mention
or recognize the khan other than
a statement, before he entered the
race, that he had resigned and did
not belong to the organization.
friends charged that
Ferguson. running behind in the
first primary. brought up the khan
issue by appealing for anti-klan
votes in the run-off.
Until a formal move is made
against him in the Senate, May
field said he did not feel obligated
to answer charges contained In the
protest, but that he would be ready
iii the occasion arose"