The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-30
STEPHENSON FACES
FIGHT IN SENATE
La Toilette to Lead 0ppOsi-
ton Against Colleague.
SITUATION HOST INTERESTING
Senator'S Divided on Question CT
wisconsin Election, While Many
Hold shat Charges of Corruption
viii Be Brought TO Deprive Mil
Iionaire Member OF HIS Seat.

There is strong probability that the
right o. Isaac Stephenson 10 occupy o
seat in the Senate from Wisconsin Tor
six years from March 1, 1893, viii be
strongly. contested
There are three contingencies under
which the issue may be made: First the
friends Of Mr. Stephenson including
some Of the ADLER lawyers among his col
leagues in the Senate. hold 20 the view
that he was duly elected on the first day
Of the banoting, when he received the
majority vote Of al the legislators
present
he famed 70 receive majority OF al
the votes il TIE legislature, AID his op-
pouents hold under the Federal statute
governing the case it was necessary for
him to receive such q majority.
stephenson to Assert Right.
This question viii become important
Only in case Mt. Stephenson falls TO OBJ
tain the majority Of all on future joint
ballot. If be so fails. he VIII assert his
rieht 20 the seat as The result Of the first
days balioting. when he obtained ths
rnajoritv OF su those voting
IN this view he VIII be sustained bg
many able lawyers in the Senate. includ-
Ing Senator Burrows, chairman Of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections,
and Senator Cummins, Of Iowa This
cIair=.-wIH be openly resisted, and the
question win come before the Senate on
the construction Of the Federal statute.
The second contingency VIII arise Il
M. Stephenson obtains the certificate Of
election. based on the fact that he re-
ceived majority Of all the votes in the
legislature. Charges OF the corrupt use
OF money 20 obtain his election n the
primaries have been made already, and
# there proves TO be any substantial
basis for them. a formal protest viii be
made against his taking the oath, in an
effort 10 exclude him
This plan has already been agreed upon
and It is believed Senator La Toilette
colleague AID former political ally OF
Senator Stephenson, viii make the protest
personally on the Senate floor.
The third situation upon which the issue
may be Joined VIII arise in the event thai
Mr. Stephenson IS admitted 10 his seal
oarh IN thar case a resolution viii be in
trrduced. probably, by Senator La Toilette
10 declare the seat vacant on account q
charges Of the improper use Of money bl
Senator Stephenson 20 obtain his election
The situation is the most interesting
that has arisen in the Senate IN mani
years The primary election law Of Wis
consin requires the publication Of cam
paien expenditures within thirty days AZ
ter election
All the other candidates before tn
primaries made public their expenditure
shortly after the election. Mr- stephen
son has not Yet disclosed TO the pu5lt
what he paid out in his campaign H
saws he IS not compelled 20 do 50 Unit
thirty DAYS after the actual date Of hi
election by the legislature
He cites q precedent in the case o
Senator Ia Toilette who was a Canci
date for President before the Wisconsin
primaries. bur did not file his polItica
expense account until the last day allow
able under the statute. thirty days ate
the primary
Says He Is Not Corrupt.
81 have spent 10 money for corrup
purposes" said Mr.. Stephenson yester
day.
MY statement OF expenditures IS pre-
pared. and has been for some time. wi
not make il public until after 7 hay
been declared formally elected by tn
legislature.
"I have thirty days after the date @
my election in which 10 publish IL
stand upon the claim that I was electe
az the first ballot taken IN the legisls
ture- have the authority OF some OF n
ablest lawyers in the Senate 10 sUstai
ne IN this claim"
Mr.. Stephenson Is reported to have sper
more than S1910o) for campaign expense
in the primaries 10 overcome the L
FCllette faction
He Is nearly eighty years old and
supposed TO be the wealthiest man :
Wisconsin. his property being estimate
IS aggregating about S1Gg008. III
wealth was acquired in the lumber bus
ness ard banking He served two term
in the House OF Representatives year
ago, but had held no other political oflc
until his election 10 the Senate.