The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-01-14
ACCUSE SENATOR
Stephenson Charged With
Buying His Seat.
URGE THAT HE BE OUSTED
Wisconsin Probers Declare He Paid
Large Sums of Money to Win
His Election in the
Legislature.
URGE THAT HE Be OUSTED

Madison, Wis, Jan. 12.-Charges OF
bribery, attempted bribery and other
corrupt practices, both in the senator
lsl primary election and in the cleo
ton Of a United States senator by the
legislature Of 1909 were preferred
against United States Senator Isaac
Stephenson.
The charges are made in a state
ment hled with Governor F. E. Nc
Govern by the committee appointed in
1909 by the state senate to investi-
gate the primary campaign and the
charges preferred while Stephenson's
election was being fought out in the
Joint convention Of the two houses OF
the legislature.
The committee declares that, in its
opinion, both the nomination and elec'
ton Of Stephenson, who is a multi
millionaire iumberman, we're fraudu-
lent and void. It urges that copy OF
the report be sent to the United States
senate. with the request that that body
make a full investigation Of Stephen
sons right to retain his seat.
Senator Stephenson is charged with
violating the statute which requires
that an account under oath OF cam
paign expenditures be filed, and it is
also charged that such violation was
premeditated. 1t is further charged
That he violated the law which pro-
hibits any one from contributing mon
ey to assist a candidate Of the legis-
lature residing outside Of the district
in which the contributor resides.
That the civil service law Of this
state was violated when he caused to
be paid money which the evidence
shows was paid to State Game War
den Stone and l.. b. Dresser, then
president of the board OF control.
That he gave a sum Of money to a
supporter of McGovern for United
States senator, such supporter after
ward switching to Stephenson.
That he paid large sums Of money
70 others, which was afterward used
by them to induce other persons to as
sist In procuring his election.
Aware Of Bribery, Says Report.
"On the whole record, therefore,
the report states, Stephenson is
charged with knowledge Of the manner
In which his campaign was being con
Quoted and the purposes for which
money was being disbursed.
"The failure to keep or require ac'
counts and the practice of destroying
original memoranda by those engaged
in disbursing Stephenson's funds In
the campaign, makes It clear there
was generalization by his managers to
cover up their methods Of conducting
the campaign.
THAT he approved Of these meth.
DDS cannot be doubted. Those manag-
ers, in plain violation of law, gave con-
siderable sums OF money to Levi II.
Bancroft, C. C. Wellensgard, Thomas
Reynolds, John Mulder, F. A. Everett
and w. L. Smith, who then were can
didates for nomination to the assem-.
bly,.
"A large part Of money distributed
In the Stephenson campaign, probably
a sum in excess of $4,000, was used
by Stephenson's managers unlawfully
and corruptly to procure the nomina'
ton and election of Isaac Stephenson
to the United States senate.
Further, Isaac Stephenson was
elected by the legislature to the United
States by a majority of three votes
while the charges Of corruption made
against him were being investigated by
the legislature.
"In addition 10 the several acts ol
corruption and fraud herein referred
to, II should be remembered that The
election OF Isaac Stephenson on Marcl
was possible by three Democrats
who, at the lnstIgation Of the Stephen
son managers agents, walked out o
the joint assembly when II becam'
known that their presence would pre-
vent the election Of Isaac Stephenson
Under the law, II person electe'
clearly participated in any act OF bril-
cry or attempted bribery, he shoul
be denied office. although the resul
of the election was not thereby chant
ed. This, in the opinion OF the con
/ mIttee, Senator Stephenson did"
! The report further recommends tina
: prosecutions be commenced by IN
; district attorney Of Dane count
against all persons shown by the ey
8 dence TO have committed perjury
the investigation, and that like cop
of the evidence be submitted to IN
attorney general. with the recommeI
dalton that he cause to be commence
prosecution against all persons show
bv the evidence to have been guilty Q
corrupt practice or OF perjury.