Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-05-05
EDMONDS CITED
FOR CONTEMPT
AFTER LONG DEBATE SENATE
VOTES CHARGE AGAINST
STATE CHAIRMAN.
FAILURE TO HONOR SUBPOENA
OF INVESTIGATING COMMIT
TEE is CAUSE.
Madison, May 1

E. A. EdmondS, chairman of the re-
publican state central committee and
manager of Senator Stephenson's
primary election campaign, was yes
terday held to be in contempt by the
Wisconsin state senate.
AT once, upon the introduction OF
the resolution declaring Mr. Edmonds
in contempt, long and strenuous de-
bate enSued but at the conclusion OF
the controversy the senate supported
the view of the investigating commit
tee that Mr.. Edmonds was in contempt
and it only remains for that body to
fix the penalty which may be served
but in all likelihood will not be, as it
is understood that Mr.. Edmonds is
disposed to treat the committee fair
ly and will do so on his return from
Washington.
Text of Resolution.
The resolution declaring Mr.. Ed
monds in contempt is as follows:
Resolved, that the neglect and
failure of E. A. Edmonds to appear
before the senate committee on inves-
LEGATION composed of S. NJ. Marsh,
Thomas Morris and Paul o. Husting,
in compliance with the mandate of the
writ of subpoena of this sentence
served upon him on the seventeenth
day OF April, A. d., 1909, OF the city of
Appleton. Outagamie county, Wis, as
fully appears by the said writ of sub
poena and the affidavit of service en-
dorsed thereon and as further ap-
pears from the report and certifcation
OF the said senate committee on in
vestigation, be and the said neglect
and failure, is hereby declared a con-
tempt of the same
Brazeau Asks Delay.
When the resolution came up, Sen
ator Brazeau asked that action be de-
ferred until next Tuesday SO that Sen
ator Hudnall, who was absent. might
be heard. Senator Marsh opposed the
motion. 1t was the feeling of the
committee that it should be acted up
on at once 1t wanted to know if
it's subpoenaes were TO be respected.
If not, the investigation might as
we'll stop. Mr. Edmonds has given
no reasonable excuse for failure to
come and the committee is hampered
by his absence, he said. Edmonds was
the manager of the campaign. If the
senate wished to approve OF such
proceedings the committee should
know It now Senator BreZeau
contended that Edmonds should have
a change to be heard by his friends,
Senator 1usting said there was no
reason why E, 4, Edmonds should not
he amerahhiie to the same laws as
other people. The committee has
been too ienient-it allowed perjury
to go by the boards; its subpoenas
had been ignored, witnesses had LETT
the room without permission and oth-
ers who had promised to appear, had
gone to Europe or elsewhere. Others
like Stephenson and Sackett, had re-
fused to appear a second time. II
the senate had any respect for itself
or for the committee. it should
stand back of the committee and comN
matter what their station.
Hustinq Is Outspoken.
Senator Brazeau asked if the senate
tried TO act as Judge, jury and execu-
toner. to which Husting replied:
'.Yes. that is the practice OF courts
in such proceedings He said Ed
monds was fit man to be made an
example of. man who gave suspicion
of bribery and corruption. Senators
Bird. Lehr and Fairchild argued for
delay. They said it was not fair to
hold man in contempt without
hearing Senator Bird said there
were mitigating circumstances in the
present case Senator Sanborn ar
gued what Judge Hastings would do
in a similar situation. The men who
would ignore a subpoena would be
brought up with such a sharp turn he
would never forget There would
be no debate This was a familiar
situation-the committee was in eff
feet a court Senator Brazeau could
see no reason for this feverish haste
to railroad this through when next
Tuesday would do as well.
Not a Matter of Courtesy.
Senator Owen held this a question
much higher than one of senatorial
courtesy. The committee was a court
and its powers should be recognized
and enforced. The absentee was
plainly in contempt in ia cling TO
come. Senator Bishop not only IA
vored the resolution, but would send
the sergeant alarms to Washington
10 bring Edmonds back Senator Bird
ruled the resolution to go over until
Tuesday and on roll call this was de-
feated-I4 to s. as follows:
Aves-Bird. BoGenstab. Brazeau,
Burke. Fairchild. James. Lehr, 1nom-
ass
Noes Bishop. Blaine. Browne. DON
aid Fridd. GAYLORD. Husting. Klecz-
ka. Lyons Marsh. Martin. Morris,