The Daily Banner

FORD FILES CONTEST

Will Ask Recount of Michigan Senatorial Ballots-Sends Petition to The Senate.

Washington, Jan. 6.-In a petition received today by Vice-President Marshall and laid before the Senate, Henry Ford, Democratic candidate for United States Senator, who was defeated on the face of returns by Truman H. Newberry, Republican, gave formal notice of a contest of the Senate seat and asked for a recount of the ballots.

Excessive use of money in Newberry's campaign, intimidation of voters, improper rejection of ballots, "flagrant violation" of Michigan election laws and many other charges were made by Mr. Ford in his petition.

The petition was referred to the Privileges and Elections Committee after being ordered printed. The committee recently voted against an investigation of the Michigan election, holding that the present Senate had no jurisdiction over the membership of the next Senate.

"Upon a fair and lawful recount of the ballots at said election, your petitioner would be decided to be duly and lawfully elected Senator from Michigan," the petition stated. Expenditures of $176,000 by the Newberry primary campaign committee, were admitted, it stated, adding that "upon information and belief, it would be proved that Newberry secured the appointment and selection of the committee and was directly responsible for all acts, and that he was in constant communication with it and its members and knew of and approved its large expenditures of moneys and participated in its work."

This money was spent, Mr. Ford charged, in part by "the hiring of workers and other illegitimate expenses and contrary to law," and through expenditures support was obtained from many persons, papers and periodicals which materially influenced the election.

The petition set forth that nearly all of the 2,200 election precinct boards were composed wholly of Republicans, including intense partisans of Mr. Newberry. The Democratic candidate also alleged that at least 10,000 ballots were unlawfully counted for his opponent and that many ballots cast for him were unlawfully rejected by the election boards.

In many election precincts, the petition stated, the count by the election officers was illegal, false and fraudulent, and that the sanctity and secrecy of the ballots, especially in upper Michigan, "were flagrantly violated."

Mr. Ford also charged that employees of certain corporations were intimidated and unlawfully coerced by employers into voting for Newberry.

The Senate, Mr. Ford said, was the only body under Michigan laws which could control a recount and order