The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-10-05
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Stephs nson Admits Usigg Over One
Hundred Thousand Dollars
in PRIMARY ELECTION

United States Senate as Senator
from Wisconsin, Yet He Swears He
Does Not Know How the Money
Was Spent.
On the witness stand at Milwaukee.
Wis, before the senatorial inve
eating committe for three hours
answer charges that bribery and
rupt use of money had contrib;
to his election, United States Sen; =,
Isaac Stephenson Monday swore that
although he spent $107,793 in his
campaign, he had little knowledge
as to just how it was expended, ex-
cept that it was net used in violation
of the law
The details, he said, he had left to
his campaign managers. AS an in
stance of his ignorance of just where
the money went he cited an item of
S11, 900 for postage.
Now" declared Senator Stephen
son, "I am president of more than a
dozen active industries in this State,
and l have in my employe more than
1000 men, some of whom have been
with me for so years. In them I
have every confidence.
Il do not pay any attention to the
details of these industries. Just so,
when my campaign for nomination
by the primaries in 1908 came up. I
could not lay awake nights, trying to
figure how the postage was used. I
gave sums Of money to my managers
and told them to carry on vigor
campaign and. do everything to e
me, except that they must keep W.
in the law. cautioned them not
violate the law in any particular.
far as / know, they obeyed me-"
Citing proportionately large eXpen-
ditures for advertising, buttons, lith-
graphs, advertising in newspapers and
travelling expenses, the witness tes-
titled, he frequently asked where so
much money was going, but on being
told it was close fight, and the State
had to be Systematically canvassed to
elect him, he questioned the matter
no further.
Two points; as being the position
Of the defense" in the inquiry which
is being conducted by sub-commit-
tee of the senate committee on privi-
leges and elections, were made known
by Charles E. Littlefield, counsel for
Mr.. Stephenson-one was that the
committee had no authority to inves-
tigate the primary campaign of 1908
at which Mr.. Stephenson was nomi-
mated but must conflne itself to ques-
tioning whether the senator actually
expended money for his election by
the State legislature in 1908.
He asserted that all the money was
spent in the nomination and not
dollar went to the election. Anott
| declaration was that Mr.. Stephen
was elected by the legislature W
both houses voted separately Jaur
26, 1909, and that the subsequ
election by the legislation jointly
March 4, 1909, when three Demo-
cratic members absented themselves
and so gave Mr.. Stephenson a ma
jority was not necessary.
The committee announced that at
present it would net confine itself to
any of the limitations Mr.. Stephen
son declared he had given money
for campaign purposes to men who
afterward became candidates for the
Legislature and some Of them were
elected but he was not aware Of their
candidacy when he gave them money.
THE record shows that you paid
to your managers one day $4,000
and short time afterWard gave them
| SIS, 900 more" said Senator w. B.
ask them what they were doing with
all that money!.
mo, only in general way"
In October, 1908, more than a
month after the election, you gave
one Of your managers several thous-
and dollars. Did you inquire as to
what he wanted it for?"
NO. | supposed it was for some
bill. They did not always present
bills promptly. In the same way, I
gave ]. Earl Morgan, my son-in-law,
$2,500 for compaign expenses"
Didn't you pay three Democratic
members or any one for absenting
themselves from the legislature on
March I, 1909, so that you could have
L majority
NO. | never knew of any men,
Der having absented himself except
as read it in the newspapers.
E. A. Edmunds, another election
manager, testified he knew Of no
money having been illegally used in
Mr.. Stephenson's election. The bill
for advertising, he said, amounted to
$4,000. A check of 2, 500 had been
paid to J. w. Stone, State game war
den, on Mr.. Stephensons instruc-
cions, he declared, but he did not
hnow to what use the money was put.
Ir previous legislative investigator
It was brought out that stone dist
buted money to deputy wardens.
The committee will resume