Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-01-14
ACCUSE SENATOR
OF BUYING SEAT
Stephenson, Of Wisconsin,
Charged With Bribery.
WANT CONGRESS- TO ACT

United States Senate.
Charges of bribery, attempted brib-
cry and other corrupt practices, both In
the senatorial primary election and in
the election of United States senator
by the legislature of 1909 were pre-
ferred against United States Senator
Isaac Stephenson at Madison. Wis.
The charges are made in state
ment filed with Governor +. L. 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 cleo
tion Of Stephenson. who is a multi
millionaire lumberman. were fraudu-
lent and void. II urges that a 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 1t is
also charged that such violation was
premeditated. Il is further charged:
That he violated the law which pro-
hibits any one from contributing mon.
ey to assist 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
to others. which was afterward used
by them to induce other persons to as.
sist in procuring his election.
e,
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 1t 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. L. 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 majority of three votes,
while the charges OF corruption made
against him were being investigated by
the legislature.
In addition to the several acts Of
corruption and fraud herein referred
to, II should be remembered that the
election of Isaac Stephenson on March
4 was possible by three Democrats.
who. at the instigation OF the Stephen.
son managers agents. walked out of
the joint assembly when IL became
known that their presence would pre-.
vent the election OF Isaac Stephenson
Under the law, II person elected
clearly participated In any act of brib.
cry or attempted bribery. he should
be denied Office. although the result
OF the election was not thereby chang.
ed. This, in the opinion of the COM
mittee, Senator Stephenson did"
The report further recommends that
prosecutions be commenced by the
district attorney of Dane county
against all persons shown by the evi.
dence to have committed perjury in
the investigation. and that like copy
of the evidence be submitted to the
attorney general. with the recommen-
dalton that he cause to be commenced
prescott. on against all persons shown
by the evidence to have been guilty of