Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-02

Senator Hepburn Presiding Over
Senate Subcommittee.
COUNSEL OUTLINES DEFENSE
Claim Set Up That Election Oc-
Cured Prior to Date of
Alleged Frauds.


consin took the witness stand today to
answer charges that bribery and other
corrupt use of money contributed to his
election March 4, 1909. He appeared
as witness at the opening of the in
vestigation begun by subcommittee of
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions of the United States Senate.
Claims Legal Election.
In answer to questions, Senator Ste
phenson declared he was legally elected
to the Senate January 26. 1909. by a sep
arate vote of the two houses of the Wis
consin legislature.
Did you spend any money in your
campaign asked Senator w. E. Hey
burn. chairman.
Yes" said Mr. Stephenson, Il spent
s107, 793''
In what way did you spend it?"
Il gave it to E. A. Emunds, my cam
paign manager, in various sums in 1903. l
also gave various sums to j. y. Van
Cleave, banker of Marinette, my home
town, to conduct the campaign there.
paid money TO newspapers, to j. II. Pue-
licher, a Milwaukee banker, and to 9TH
ers, all for the purpose of carrying on my
campaign for the nomination in the pri-
mares in 1905
Mr.. Stephenson's testimony relative to
his campaign expenses was similar to
what had already been brought out in
previous legislative Investigations.
The charges against Senator Stephen
son are:
That he kept secret many of his dis
bursements in the primary campaign
for nomination in 1905; that, whereas
he admitted having expended s111,3S5,
his campaign managers accounted for
only S1o7,793, and that a large part of
his fund was improperly used.
That fraud connected with his primary
campaign contributed directly to his
election.
That he distributed money to state
officials to further mis- campaign.
That he spent money in Legislative
districts to strengthen his support In
the legislature.
month deadlock, and then only arter
three democratic assemblymen-rhomas
+. Ramsey, now dead; john L. farrel
and Siias A. Towne-apsented them
selves, and SO insured his election.
Senator Hepburn Presiding.
Senator W. b. Hepburn of idaho, chair
man of the investigating committee, open
ed the inquiry. Former Representative
Charles T.. Littlefield of Maine. who, with
w L. Black of Milwaukee, acts as coun-
sci for the defense" announced Sena-
tor Stephenson was ready to testify. The
other members of the committee here are
Senators George Sutherland, republican,
OF Utah, and Atlee POmerene, democrat,
of Ohio. About five witnesses are to be
examined daily, and as some of the sew
enty-fve men who have been supoe-
naed have announced they would be un-
able to come to Milwaukee, Chairman
Hepburn said the committee probably
would hold sessions in other parts of the
state.
The charges agains; Senator Stephenson
were presented i'm a declaration by John
J. Blain of Boscobel. Wis.
In his declaration Mr.. Blain charged
Senator Stephenson with having paid to
+. ~ Edwards $1OI. 1G; to be used in Sen
ator Stephenson's primary campaign for
the nominal alton, and that the money was
used corruptly. He asserted that va
rious sums were paid to electors of the
state corruptIy and unlawfuIly."
T.. NJ. Hyzer. an attorney. then connect
ed with railroad. he charged. had offer
ed his services % work for the senator's
cdmpa ign.
Mr.. Littlefeld's Statement.
At the DeSlnnlnS or the inquiry MI. Lit
tlefiald said on behalf of the senator:
At the outset we wish to state that
Senator Stephenson is now in his eighty
third year. Through extraordinary busi
ness ability he has acquired what is
called a large private fortune. His char
acter so far has been without spot or
blemisi,. Any result which may come
from this investigation. therefore. is of
vital interest to him. If the result is ad-
verse il would send him from the United
States Senate in hum atiOn, disgrace
and shame. 1t is essential that we should
see what is to be investigated.
Senator Stephenson was elected to the
Senate on January 26. 1909, by the Wis
consn legislature. when both houses
voted separately. He received a ma jority
vote I'm the house. In the senate he re-
ceived twelve votes out of seventeen
At that time sixteen other senators voted
present but it requires something more
than that response to constitute vote
on the election.
1T is, therefore. fact of record that
Mr.. Stephenson was elected January 26.
which is some weeks before his election
by the joint legislature March 4. 1909.
The charges upon which this investiga-
tion is based refer to the election of
March 4. whereas contend that Sena-
tor Stephenson legally was senator be-
fore that joint session election
Mr. Littlefield argued that the charges
related to the primary nomination. where
as the present committee was authorized
by the United States Senate to investi-
Any investigation into any phase of the
subject other than that which bore direct
ly on the election, he said, would be
sratuitous on the part of the Senate and