Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-03-17
EPP|-IhG WANTED
SLICE FOR COLLEGE
DR.. SMITH TEsTIFIEs DIVINE Ex-
PEcTED $4,000 FOR LUTHER
AN UNIVERSITY.
PERRIN RETAINS $500 FOR SIX
WEEKS SERVICE IN CAM
PAiGN.
Madison, March 13.

Churches came in for publicity at
the investigation yesterday when DR..
w. L. Smith of Neillsville testified
that he informed voters of prospect
of getting $4,000 for the Lutheran
university at WATERFOWL. He received
this information from Rev. Eppling,
interested in that institution and also
a worker for Senator Stephenson in the
last campaign. DIR. Smith was given
$500 from the Stephenson fund for
disbursement, after Rev. Eppling had
engaged him for the canvass.
Did you give your men any instruc-
tions?" the witness was asked.
Nothing much except that if Mr..
Stephenson were elected we might ex-
pect donation of $4,000 for the Luz
theran university at Watertown.'
Scion Perrin, local attorney for the
Omaha railroad at Superior, testified
that he was given $4,000 for the pro-
motion of Stephenson's interests in his
part of the state. 1t was agreed that
he was to have salary, but the
amount was not fixed. He commenced
operations in July, and retained $491.-
rs for his services in the campaign,
which closed September 1. OF the re-
mainder of the $4,000, the sum of
S1,41325 was paid out to persons men
toned by the witness. The sum of
S3,095 Mr. Perrin could not account
for, futher than stating that either he
or his stenographer had spent it on
the campaign in the promotion of
Senator Stephenson's interets.
W. W. Savage, the stenographer in
Mr.. PERKINS, employ seems to have
played quite an important part in the
canvass his employer was interested
in. The witness produced a type
written account of his disbursements
for the campaign. A large number
of the items signify checks cashed
either by Mr.. Perrin or the stenogra-
pher. Mr.. Perrin stated that these
amounts, which varied from S. to
more than 5000, were either spent in
the campaign by his employer or
brought to the witness for the dis
bursement. Mr. Perrin had not had
the list he presented to the commit
tee until he was subpoenaed, when he
made it up from the checks that he had
gathered together. Further than that
he had no memoranda or entries that
he could furnish to the inquisitors.
George H. Gordon of La Crosse re-
ceiyed $500 from Mr.. Edmonds for
the campaign AS he is not we'll &C
auainted with the game himself, Mr.
Gordon testified he hired men of ex-
perience to do the actual work. Asked
for names he stated that he did not
remember many of them. Some OF the
men he had never met before the
canvass, and he did not know their
names even at the time he engaged
them. They came to him recommend
d by somebody or other .'or said they
were recommended He made no
contracts with them, he said further
as to what they should do. The money
he paid was under a general under
standing to work for the success OF
Senator Stephenson. He gave R. B.
Gillette, publisher of the Chronicle
and the Leader Press of La Crosse
5000 for his support. Display adver-
Using seems not to have been includ-
ed in this payment. The witness was
not quite clear on this point. He SAID
the money was given the publisher
for additional copies of the papers
sent out and for good work.
Morning Session.
At the opening of the session, at
torney Richmond announced that Mr.
Stone is confined to his bed. He read
a certificate from DIR. c. A. Harper
saving that the witness was not IN
condition to leave the house.
George H. Gordon was called to the
stand. He was given $1,000 OF the
Stephenson money for La Crosse work.
His decision to support Senator Steph-
enson, he stated, was formed before
he met the managers of the candidate.
I'VE decided to support him." he said,
because we thought he would make
most trouble The money was spent
for general campaign purposes. Men OF
previous experience were engaged BY
him to do the actual work. They
would go out and spend the money.
When they would run short of funds.
they would come back and get some
more He kept no account OF his
disbursements. The Chronicle and
the Leader Press received $500 from
Mr.. Gordon. This was given for adj
ditional copies of the papers and for
good work" R. B. Gillette, the pub
Usher. received the money personally
Mr.. Gordon paid out the money in &C
cordance with instructions from the
the Milwaukee Office. The amount
was left to the discretion of Mr.. Cor
don.
This was given in lump sums.
Il mean you gave the money
not for limited amount of space, but
for general purposes?''
Eyes, something like it.