Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-09
WILSON CONTESTS
SEATING OF Ware
Senator Robinson Files Peti-
ton of Defeated Demo-
cratic Candidate.

/ A new attack on the election of
| William S. Ware, Republican. to the
Senate in Pennsylvania last Novem-
Der was launched yesterday, when a
| petition Of contest was filed in the
| Senate by Minority Leader Robinson
on behalf of William B. Wilson, Wares
Democratic opponent.
! In presenting the petition to the
/ Senate Senator Robinson, the Demo-
| cratic leader, gave notice that he
would introduce a resolution later di-
| recting Senate committee to impound
all of the ballots cast in the Pennsyl-
vania senatorial contest to prevent
their destruction.
| While standing behind Mr.. Wilson
| in his contest, Senate Democrats are
! undecided whether the ballots should
be collected by an elections subcom,
mittee, the usual procedure, or by
the special campaign funds commit
tee. which disclosed expenditures of
SO, 900 900 I'm the Pennsylvania primary
in which Ware defeated Senator
Pepper.
Called Separate Contest.
Senator Robinson said the contest
brought by the Democratic nominee
for Senator was wholly apart from
the fight that will be made to prevent
Ware from taking his seat because
of the expenditure Of approximately
$500, 900 in his primary campaign.
A partial report on it's investigation
of the Pennsylvania primary has been
| made by the campaign funds COM
| mittee, and on the basis of this some
| Democrats have announced that they
would undertake to prevent Ware from
taking the oath pending a hearing
before the elections committee.
SifYai1oT hQ mazda when
Frank L. Smith, Senator designate
from Illinois, presents his credentials
to the Senate. Mr.. Smith is expected
to arrive here this week, and although
he will hold an appointment from
Gov. Small. a fight will be made
against him because Of contributions
made to his primary campaign fund
by Samuel insult and other officials
Of public utilities in Illinois
Fraud By Ware Charged.
Personal expenditures of ST. 900 by
Ware in his primary campaign We're
made a part of tho petition of Mr..
Wilson, who asserted this violated the
corrupt. practices act of 1925, which
limits expenditures of candidate for
Senator to $685. 900.
Wilson also raised the contention
that under the law of Pennsylvania
the primary is an essential step in the
selection of a Senator.
In addition to this charge, the petit
ton asserted that there were wide
spread registration frauds In Phila-
delphia. Pittsburgh and other cities,
and that registration lists were pad
ded with the names oc dead men and
women, with the names of voters sick
and In hospitals and with the names
OF minors and former residents in
voting districts.
The petition alec charged that these
methods Of corrupt registration and
| illegal voting were bulwarked by sys-
| tematic and adroit terrorism and in
| timidation" 1t added that "a colossal
political machine exists in Philadel-
| phia and Pittsburgh, with influence
ramifying throughout the State" and
! that 'it is necessary in the interests
of justice that the Senate take appro-
| pirate mea sures" to impound the bal
| lots.
Cooperation Promised.
| With the presentation of the petit
| ton Senator Reed, Republican, Penn
sylvania. told the Senate that both
Mr. Ware and himself would give
whole hearted cooperation OF the Sen
ate elections committee. However,
| Senator Reed and other Republicans
will resist efforts to have the cam
paign funds committee impound the
ballots
Speaking for myself said Senator
Reed, and / am sure Senator elect
Ware would agree TO what I say, we
welcome the reference OF this matter
| TO the committee of privileges and
| elections, and We shall welcome judi.
| cial determination of this question
! which has been beclouded by many
! rash and unwarranted statements"