River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-02-04
Fails in thursdays Vote


Madison. Isaac Stephenson was
again a vote short Of election at
the joint ballot of the two houses of
the legislature for United States SEN
ator at noon Thursday All the mem
bers were present except Senator
HazelWood (Dem). While Stephen
son gained in some directions, he lost
in others and as was the case
Wednesday, fell vote short of cleo
ton But the assembly mas
adopted a Joint resolution for an
investigation of the senatorial pri-
mary and if the senate agrees to this
it is possible there may be no cleo
ton until the proposed investigation
committee reports.
The vote Thursday was:
McGovern, ]; H. G. Martin, /; J.. H.
Bancroft, l. A. W. Sanborn, /; g. M.
Webb, / l.. Lenroot, l. Tom Morris,
1; j. H. Stout, / S. A. Cook, 3; w. H.
Hatton, 8; E. A. Morse, /; H. M. Lock
rey, /; J. H. Davidson, 1; John
Strange, 2; w. D. Hoard, 2; John J.
Esch, 8; H. A. Cooper, 8; w. c. Owen,
s. Jacob RUNNER, 4 Neal Brown, 20;
Isaac Stephenson, sc.
Dramatic incidents marked the TAX
ing of the vote. The senate came in
just in time to prevent the assembly
voting on the resolution for an inves-
tigation, so this had to be deferred
until after the senatorial vote. AS
soon as Lieut. Gov Strange called for
the vote, Senator Hudnall again made
his protest of Wednesday, that Isaac
Stephenson had been elected and fur
ther proceedings were unnecessary.
The chair refused to recognize the
protest
Senator Husting then called atten-
tor to what he calls the "perniciOus
activity" of people on the floor not
members of the house, against one of
whom, he said, specific charges had
been filed, meaning State Chairman
Edmonds
Mr. lie Roy reminded the chair that
former members are entitled to the
floor, which the chair accepted, but
admonished them to remem ber that
they are permitted as spectators onlv.
The vote then proceeded. Before the
result was announced Senator Hust,
ing announced to the chair that in
spite of the admOnition of the chair,
spectators were interfering with mem
bers, mentioning Henry Overlook, a
Stephenson manager. Mr.. Cleary re-
marked that Overlook was a former
member of the house and not doing
anything unSeemly, but Senator Hust-
ings declared that Cleary could not
see what was going on behind him.
Shortly after converting, Senator
Husting, in speaking to the joint res
olution to investigate the senatorial
primary, said: Can you use the cloak
Of the primary to debauch the elector-
ate?" 1t was a matter of common
knowledge that nothing but money en-
tered into the election campaign last
summer and that money won, he said
On top of Senator Hastings TRADE
came Senator Blaine with the filing of
16 specific charges accusing Senator
Stephenson of the improper use of
money in the primary, naming the sum
as in excess of 100000 and approx
mating $250,000 Senator Blaine fol-
lOWSu TIE presentation VI HIS Cucl SSS
by speaking to the subject, The Pur-
chase of a United States Senatorship,"
and he proposed to show that it was
purchased by corruption, bribery and
fraud. He cited the case of former Uni
ted States Senator Clark of Montana,
saying that Clark had no other claim to
office than his millions and that Ste
phenson's claim was the same He fol
lowed his attack by Offering a substi-
tute investigation resolution in place
of the Husting measure, which differed
in that it provided immunity from ar
rest for all who may testify to the
committee of bribery, but not immuni-
ty for perjury. 1t was adopted.