New-York tribune., 1911-01-12
SENATOR STEPHENSON
ACCUSED IN WISCONSIN
State Senatorial Committee
Finds That He Was Elected
Through Bribery.
Il. S. SENATE INQUIRY ASKED
Aged Lawmaker Charged with
Spending Many Thousands
Corruptly - State Pros
ecntions Recommended.

Madison. Wis. Jan. 1.-The nomination
ir the primary and the election to the
United states Senate by the Legislature
of Isaac Stephenson are null and void on
socour, Of attempted bribcries and corrupt
practices ~ himself and his campaign lead
s-s agents and workers and Of violations
or the laws OF Wisconsin defining ana
furnishing offences against the elective
franchise"
This is tho EIst Of tho findings Of
special senatorial investigating committee
in its report submitted 70 Governor Francis
r. NcGovern to-day. The report is signed
~. Lieutenant Governor Thomas Morris
and Senator Spencer ". Marsh (Repuoli-
cans and Senator Paul Husun Democrap
The two Republican members Of the COM
r7itfso are members Of the so-called Pro
r-essive wing Of the Republican party
and Senator Husting calls himself Pro
sressive Democrat
Early IN the legislative session 81 ~"
resolutions were introduced I'm both houses
calling for an investigation Of the sena-
,orial urinary election The resolutions
we're particularly pointed at United states
- his report. fled with the Secretary OF
stare expended $4,000 IN the campaign.
Sneaker Bancroft of the Assembly
named a committee composed Of a majority
of Stalwart Republicans. and Lieutenant
Governor John Strange, who then presided
over the Senate. named Senator'S Marsh.
Morris and Husting. The committees met
in ioin- session for several weeks. Then
Al a1~tTr Trra
decided 70 60 no further
One Committee Cleared Stephenson.
The Assembly members Of the committee
rendered report recommending the
enactment Of a law regulating campaign
ezpenditures and stating that there was
no evidence OF corruption on the part Of
Senator Stephenson.
Following this a special resolution was
zdopted bv the Senate making the three
Senator'S named a special investigation
committee to inquire further into the
primary election. To-day's report and find
ings are the result OF this committees
work
The three senate committeeman signed
-re report as members Of the Senate on
me Joint legislative committee as well as
members of the special Senate investigat-
lng committee.
Having been signed by members Of the
sont committee. IT may technically be
called a minority report. On the other
hand. as the result Of the work of
special committee, fl is also an independent
report.
The Assembly members Of the Joint in
vastgatinE committee are criticised bv the
Senate committee for their alleged failure
20 assist in a thorough investigation OF the
Stephenson nomination and election.
Among the statements in the report on this
point Is one saying. throughout the IN
vesuEation the Assembly members of the
committee persistently endeavored to pre-
vent the investigation Of Isaac Stephen
son
The report was submitted to Governor
McGovern about ten minutes before Sena-
Tor Marsh's term as State Senator expired.
Mr. Morris. while no longer a Senator. hav-
ing res iGned his seat TO become Lieutenant
Governor. signed the report as member
of the investigating committee.
The committee recommends that copy
Of the report be certified 10 the United
States Senate by the Governor and the
Legislature with the request that that body
investigate the manner in which stephen
son procured his election.