The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1908-09-19
AFFIDAVIT IS MADE PUBLIC
Was Published in tho Illinois State
Journal in 1892.
Truthfulncss of the Man Who Made
the Affidavit is Vouched for
by Citizens of Wood
ford County.

After lapse of sixteen years evil
dence is again offered that Adlai e.
Stevenson, Democratic andidate for
governor was a member of a disloyal
secret society during the trying days
of the civil war. From the chambers
Of memory comes the accusing evil
dence that the standard bearer of the
Illinois Democrats w2s not a true blue
union man but was a member of that
"copperhead" secret society, The Sons
of Liberty.
This organization, branch of tha
Rebel order known as Knights of the
Golden Circle and organized for trea'
sonable conspiracy against the federal
government, fOUrished among the
Democrats of the north in the dark
days of '61-6J. The mere mention of
the names, Sons of Liberty or
knights Of the Golden Circle" to
men who were the blde and answered
the call of "Father Abraham" re.
calls to then bitter memories of the
time when they fought real rebels in
the south and suffered the machina-
tions CT "copperheads" at home.
Evidence that Adl2i e. Stevenson Of
Bloomington, now Assuring to the gov
errors chair on the re nCcratic ticket,
was a member Of this reasonable or
ganization is offered the form of an
affidavit by William B. Whiffen, a
former newspaper publisher at Meta
mora, Woodfor1 county. Reputable
citizens of Woodfcrd county vouch for
the truthfulness Of Whifen, who at
the time was associated with Steven
son in the Democratic party.
The affidavit which was published
in The Illinois State Journal July 2,
1892, when Mr.. Stevenson was a can
didate for the vice-presidency is as
follows:
Estate of illinois, Mclean County
SIS. William B. Whifen, of the county
and state aforesaid, an oath depose3
and says that he was a resident of the
county of Woodford, in the state Of
Illinois, from August, in the year 1851,
to February, 1866, and during that
time was EDITOR and proprietor of The
Woodford Sentinel, newspaper pub
lished at Eetamora in the state Of
Illinois and county of WOOdfOrd, and
during all of that time was personally
acquainted and politically associated
with Adl2i Z. Stevenson; that a1iant
was present at the organization Of
the MetamOra lodge or circle of the
order CT American Knights or Sons
Of Liberty, il the southeast lower
room of tie court house in Meta
mora, by w. G. Ewing, special agent
Of the state organization of the same;
that A. e. Stevenson was present, and
with t4%C~s was duly initiated and
took the required oath3 and received
the grips and passwords; that afiant
was also present at the county organ
ization of the American Knights or
Sons of Liberty held in the court room
of the court house and that the said
Adlai E. Stevenson was present AMI
assisted II pertectlng the same; i-a
further swears that he was sent at
a state council of the said Knights or
Sons of Liberty held il the city CT
Springfield, H., on the 1Gth and 18th
days of June. 1864, and that Adlai E.
Stevenson was delegate to said state
council from the lodge or ord er Of the
same from the county of Woodford;
that the said Adlai e. Stevenson
vouched for afIiant, by which he OBJ
tanned admittance to said council; that
it was in this council that the %
planks of the Democratic platform of
that year were adopted and agreed
nrcr: - liant further AYERS that