Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1902-09-25
ExoMERATEs THE GOVERNOR.

Inc "Otn6T size mas Deen tOlu In
she Carey Harvey matter by Mr..
Theodore Kronshage, of Milwaukee,
and it throws new light on that af-
fair and leaves it with the power of
the public to judge as to the merits
and dement's of that much discussed
transactson. In other words both
sides have now presented the facts
and evidence in their possession and
y is now up to the people to act as a
Jury and give its decision Mr. Krnn--
shage, in his statement, freely adj
nits that the so-called independent
book companies did contribute $4,000
to the party campaign fund, but the
details Of the affair were quite differ
ent, accordidg to the statement of
Mr. Kronshage. from those that were
given publicly through the original
charges of Mr.. Buckstaf and his sub
sequent explanatory statements.
Mr.. Kronshage pointedly denies
practically every point in the So
called Buckstatf charges that would
give semblance of corruption to the
transaction which herelates. To be-
gin with, he declares the $1,000 were
not contributed on condition that a
candidate be brought out to defeat
the denomination of Superintendent
Harvey, but because the Independent
book companies approved of the
course OF the governor, and wished
to do something to aid in his renom-
ination. Mr.. Kronshage had solicit
ed funds for the previous state cam
paign, and there is therefore nothing
strange in the fact he accepted con-
tribution coming in regular form, but
he denies point blank that there was
any secret understanding or agree
ment, and also that he ever told Mr..
Buckstaff or any one else that he
had sent this money or any portion
of it to the governor. In this he is
borne out by public statements from
Mr.. Stephenson, OF Marinette, and
Mr.. Flette, of Merrill, who were pres
ent at some of the conferences and
have previously been referred to. He
declares that no portion of the mon
ey was spent to corruptly influence
any person to OF pose the renomina-
ton of Superintendent Harvey, nor
was a dollar of it used in the cam
paign to secure his defeat. The sum
was deposited with other campaign
contributions and drawn on by
checks in favor of Mr.. Rogers of
Madison, who appealed for finds to
help pay the legitimate expenses of
printing and postage incidental to
the regular campaign.
This apparently explains the state
ment of Mr.. Kronshage that he ''sent
the money to Madison," but he de-
clares he never said he sent it to the
governor, and in fact, the latter had
no knowledge of the affair. Mr..
Kronshage also explains that while
he discussed the state superintend-
ency with Governor LaFollette long
before he accepted the contribution
mentioned, the governor refused to
take any parti in the contest for places
on the state ticket, declaring that
legislation was at stake
and that he would be drawn into no
new controversy to its prejudice" All
of this Mr.. kronshage states he told
Mr.. Buckstatf, believing him to be
a personal friend, a good republican
and gentleman"
The discrepancies between the
statements of Mr.. Krorohage and
Mr.. Buckstaff are readily apparent,
and as both are men of integrity and
standing, the most charitable eX-
PLANTATION would be that in their con-
ferences at the time of the state con-
vention they failed to understand
each other. Certainly, however, if
the statements of Mr.. Kronshage are
now to be given credence the affair
was nothing of the character that
Mr.. Buckstaff drew from his infor-
nation. And the one essential fea-
ture in the story as now revealed by
Mr.. Kronshage is the fact that the
governor was not connected with it
in any manner, and is therefore
blameless of what was done by 9TH
ers in the interests of Mr.. Carey