The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-07-16
Lincoln Club Will Make Investiga-
tion Into Allegations of Cor.
ruption in Kenosha
MAY ASK COUNCIL TO ACT
Club Has Long Conference with District
Attorney and Investigation Has
Already Reen Started-Ad-
nit New Members

The Lincoln Club which made it's
initial bow in Kenosha on Wednesday
night is planning to do some real prac-
teal work in Kenosha and at the. meet
ing of the Directors Club Friday night
a bomb shell was exploded when it was
decided to begin all immediate investi-
cation into allegations of corruption
among the officials of the city which
have been flying thick and fast during
the past few days. The directors of
the club arranged to take up the in
vestigation privately and it is possible
that in the near future they will send
resolution to the Common Council
demanding that that body take some
action to aid in the investigation. Dis
trict Attorney Baker was present at
the meeting Of the directors and one
Of the famous detective' letters was
laid before the body for it's considera-
ton. Some Of the members had pre-
pared resolution to the Council in
which it was stated that the letter
pointed finger of scorn and suspicion
at every member Of the Council and
every official of the city and that for
this reason it should be at once in
vestigated and investigated in a way
that the names of the men not guilty
of official corruption be cleared and
that those who wee guilty, if there
were such, be prosecuted. There was
a long discussion on this resolution, but
it was not passed as the members of
the club directorate did not seem to be
ready to lay the matter before the
Council until after the private investi-
cation had been completed. The mat
ter was left in the hands Of leading
directors Of the club and the district
attorney and they will seek to get a
conference with detective' and have
him lay before the directors of the
club some idea of the evidence which
he may have. 1t is certain that the
club will have plenty of financial back
ing in the matter as offers Of aid for
this work have already been made and
it is certain that if necessary the en-
tire amount demanded by the man can
be raised One thing is certain and
that is that the members Of the club
are desperately in earnest and they will
leave no stone unturned to lay bare
the facts, if there are any facts con-
nected with the letters. The main dis
cussion Friday night was as to whether
or not the Council would have the
right to appropriate any money for
such an investigation. The Council
has never taken up the matter official
ly, but members Of that body have dis
cussed it and 1t is pretty certain that
majority would be in favor Of tax
ing any possible steps OF. a conserva-
tive nature to look into the matter
The appropriation of $4,000 seems to
be considerable, but many OF the mem
bers Of the Council would be willing
to appropriate double that amount if
the man could make good his state
ments.
A large number of members were
added to the Lincoln Club by the di.
rectors Friday night, the number Of
applications being much larger than
had been expected. Between forty and
fifty of the applications were acted up
on Friday night and the new members
come from all parts of the countv