Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-03-10
POLITICAL SHOTS
FIRED OVER TABLE
MARSH SAYS EFFORT WAS MADE
TO SUSPEND STEPHENSON
INQUIRY.
HAMBREcHT MAKES OBJECTION
TO CHURCH coNTRI5u-
TIoN QUIZ.
SENATORS ACCUSED OF PLOT
TING AGAINST MEMBERS U.
LOWER HOUSE.
Madison, March 4.

FOR the reason Lhat the parties
who have spent Mr.. Stephenson's
money had not been reached by the
committee and for the reason that
there seems 10 be a determined effort
to suspend the investigation while
the balloting is in progress, l vote
No on the question of calling Mr..
HattOns witness at this time" This
came from Senator Marsh at the in
vestigation as great relief to the
spectators and audience Of mysterious
checks marshalled in by number.
The monotony OF check No. CS1;
Il now show you check No. $50; !"
look at check No. esq., of the quiz
continued all morning until Miss Mary
Stringham, private secretary of the
Marinette candidate, was excused.
The question of Who next?" was
resucitated as soon as the Stephenson
witness left the chair and a dfgres-
sion was made to hear the lieutenant
governor explain that he did not
have anything to do with campaign
funds further than transmit a check
from Mr.. Dick to Mr.. Perry whose
initials we're not known to the Hatton
manager.
The propriety of dragging in
private matters" also helped to make
the proceedings dramatic. This
was worked il when Senator MARSH
attempted to do some undertaking.
The chairman perceived some tainted
money in contributions to churches
from the check book of Senator
Stephenson. He piled his many
toothed questions into the testimony
of the witness, but was stayed with
objections fired from across the ia
Bile.
The quiz was conducted in accord
ance with the understanding reached
on the preceding day that checks
should be referred to by number un-
til the names of the payee is con-
nected with the campaign. Cheek
after check was introduced and
quizzed about and marked as "exhib-
it," 1t began to look as if spending
100000 is an unsolvable mystery to
the laity.
The inquisition was declared on
forbidden ground when the chairman
began TO uncover contributions to
churches Assemblyman Hambrecht
exploded an objection the first shot
out. Senator Marsh stood firm. AS
semblyman Bray closed in with a
personal attack at the end, out the
results did not seem fatal
Il object to exposing private con
tributions to churches" demonstrated
Assemblyman Hambrecht There is
no evidence that they were illegal
and corrupt use of money l believe
it is possible even for politicians to
give money to churches as matter of
conscience. It is a shame that i'm
proper motives should be attached to
nearly everything that the committee
finds It is quite serious to air the
private business of an individual
The chairman stated that it is in
the evidence that Senator Stephenson
said he was reputed to have an inter
est in every steeple in hrs congress
sona3 district. When this did not
quiet his opponents ne said it is com
monty known that churches get busy
before campaigns He fired a final
shot that he would produce witnesses
who viii testify that money was given
10 churches solely for increasing the
activity in congregations.
The senatorial minority of the com
mittee made an effort to continue
the Investigation of Senator Stephen
sons campaign. They wanted to
clear Up his case in view of the fact
that balloting for a congressional
senator depends upon it The as,
sembly membership would not con
time with Senator Stephensons wit
nesses because. they said there is
little time left between now and the
18th Of the month. If this case is
70 look into the expenditu~ es of the
other candidates.
Mare Chuch Contributions.
Miss Stringham continued her tes-
timony at nine o'clock yesterday
morning. Her first prominent state
ment was that Mr. Stephenson paid
out 81 900 TO II. L. Ekern to defray
the expenses Of the Wisconsin delega-
ton TO the Chicago convention. The
check is dated May IA, 1908. Senator
Marsh referred TO a page in the sec.
fetary's book designated t'contrlDu-
tons. He asked the witness if all
contributions were included under
that head. The witness said all ex-
cept tha check to Ekern for the dele.
cation, which was under his per.
sonal account The journal, or Miss
Strinsham's memorandum book. Sen.
ator Marsh said. shows that the do
nations TO churches during July and
August is greater than in preceding
months. Senator Marsh asked If his
observations we're right. The wit
ness admitted that they were AS
semblyman Ham5recht objected Il
tine testimony on the ground that II
was immaterial. Senator Marsi
thought that Il perhaps was best &c
put the committee on record with ref
"renes TO admitting evidence about