Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1919 — FRAUD, CONSPIRACY, CORRUPTION!” [ARTICLE]

FRAUD, CONSPIRACY, CORRUPTION!”

With the help of Senator Newberry’s vote the Republican senators of the sixty-sixth congress organized the senate, selected the chairman and a majority of the members of all committees, controlled and directed the course of legislation and forced the rejection of the treaty of peace and the league of nations.

The methods by which Senator Newberry was chosen a senator from Michigan and a member of the senate’s Republican majority are to be determined by criminal prosecutions which have already been Initiated by the indictment of 134 persons — including Senator Newberry himself. In support of these indictments there has been submitted evidence of fraud, conspiracy, corruption and debauchery without precedent in American history. It. is alleged that not less than $500,000 and perhaps even $1,000,000 was paid for this crime against the ballot. At the beginning of the special session of congress—when the Republican majority In the senate was "packing” committees and preparing to defeat the treaty and the league of nations —there was a general demand that the senate investigate the charges lodged against the managers of Senator Newberry’s campaign. There was even then warrant for action that would either vindicate Senator Newberry and the senate, or punish corruptionists and purge the senate. It was admitted under oath by Mr. Newberry’s managers that they had disbursed in his behalf $176,568, in contravention of the laws of Michigan and the federal statues. But the Republican members of the United States senate made no response to these demands. They made no move to exculpate Mr. Newberry, to preserve the good name of the senate or to protect the rights of the voters. Instead, they accepted the vote and assistance of Mr. Newberry and seem-

ingly welcomed him as the margin of one by which they dominated public and party affairs in the senate for six months' of the special session. At last this Republican majority will have to act. Indictments based on evidence have corroborated public opinion regarding the need of an investigation and have forced the United States senate to determine once for all whether senatorial seats are purchasable. Meantime the nation's attention is focused on the Republican majority which for half a year has refused to question the practices of those who promoted Senator Newberry’s campaign. The disclosures will force a scrutiny of the whole career of this Republican majority during the pendency of the treaty of peace and the league of nations. It will raise the question whether a senatorial vote in furthering a program of obstruction and reaction was more important than the honesty of elections, the sanctity of popular government and the honor of the United States senate. Will the Republican majority—which, by its (preponderance and its command in the senate has the larger share of responsibility— now wait for the courts to decide the fitness or unfitness of a United States senator? Will Republican leaders in the senate take refuge in the excuse that a '4jiry must do what they had a chance, a need, and an occasion to do any time these six months?