Evening star., 1924-06-08
MAYFIELD IS UPHELD
IN SENATE SEAT FIGHT
Evidence of Excessive Expendi-
lures by Klan in His Behalf !.
Held insufficient.
FINAL REPORT NOT DRAFTED
Republican Opponent Gets Permis-
sion to File New Brief.

The Senate committee investigating
the election contest against Senator
Mayfeld, Democrat, Texas, yesterday
upheld his right to a seat in the
Senate
The evidence presented by his Re
publican opponent George Z. e.
Peddy, was held to be insufficient 10
support charges that excessive cam
paign funds had been spent in his
behalf by the Ku klux Khan or any.
other organization or individual, in
1922
The decision was announced after
counsel for Peddy, who have been
presenting testimony for several
weeks, had argued in an executive
session of the committee for a con-
tlnuation Of the hearings during the
recess of Congress. Senator Mayt
/ fields attorneys had urged action
declaring sufficient evidence already
had been produced to enable the com
mittee to decide.
Report Is Held In.
Chairman Spencer, in announcing
| the view of the committee explained
| that the full ELECTIONS committee still
| must act on the contest and that 1t
n
action by the Senate itself.
AT the request of counsel for Peddy
the committee agreed to make a fur
ther examination before it drafts it's
report into the charges of intimida,
tion and unfair practices in the. cleo
tion.
Briefs will be filed by counsel on
these two phases of the case.
Ihe subcommittee investigatinn
the. charges unanimously agreed"
the chairman said. that on the evi-
dence thus far adduced there was no
reason why Senator Mayfield should
not retain his seat in the Senate.
Digest to Be Presented.
Questions were raised by couns-.
for Mr. Peddy regarding alleged in
timidation in the election, as we'll as
violation of the laws of Texas and
certain legal proceedings at the cleo
tlons. We decided to accept a digest
or the evidence which Mr. Peddys
counsel Will present on these quess
tions
The subcommittee will examine
the digest sometime during the re-
cess Of Congress. Should it be of the
opinion that there is sufficient show
ing made to go into these matters.
there will be further hearings. The
committee has only considered and is
now only passing upon the charge Of
illegal expenditures, and il is on that
charge that our finding was an
nounced today
We have announced that except
ing Senator Mayfield's relations to the
ku klux klan and the relations Of
that organization in his election this
committee is not interested in the
affairs of the organization"
Committe Is Praise<f.
Counsel for Senator Mayfeld CON
graduated the committee for the
'thoroughness and patience with which
IL mad conducted the Investigation
"A conclusion as to weight of eyi-
dence expressed by a person who has
not heard the evidence and has not
read 1t. and has not heard it read"
Luther Nickels, counsel for Peddy. de-
ciared in statement issued after the
committee had announced its deci-
sion, involves a species OF stultif-
cation which deprives the conclusion
OF all weight At least some when
members of the subcommittee have
neither read nor heart read. nor 9th
erWise considered all of the evidence
before the case is finally tried in the
senate all the evidence. of course.
viii be considered