The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-18
DEMOCRATS FELL
FOR STEPHENSON
CORRUPTION WAD
Three Members of the Leeis.
lature Charged With
Selling Out
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MAKES
SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS
Edward Hines Put sss.oo0 Into Jack.
pot OF lake Amount of Senator Ste.
phenson to Secure the Absence of
"a jagh Democrats to Elect,


phenson to Secure the Absence of
"a jagh Democrats to Elect.
Milwaukee. Wis, Oct. 18.-Purport-
Cd statements Of others that Edward
Hines. the lumberman, helped to put
over" the election Of United States
Senator Isaac Stephenson and that
buted $4,000 to a pot Of $4,000 to
secure the absence Of Democratic
members from the Wisconsin legisla.
ture o nMarch 4, 1903, so that Sem
ator Stephenson might be elected,
formed the basis of sensational testi-
mony given by Thomas Morris. lieu
tenant governor Of Wisconsin, before
the senatorial investigating committee
this afternoon. Norris declared that
the information. was given to him
chiefly by Mr.. Cook of Duluth, who
figured prominently in the first inves-
tigauon Of Senator William Lorimer
and that Cook said that Robert ].
Shields Of Superior, Wis, also men-
toned In the Lorimer case. was paid
$7,600 for his services in putting the
deal through.
Before testifying, Lieutenant Cow
ernor Morris stipulated that his state
ments were to be taken as second
hand" information, as they were bas-
ed on what others had told him, but,
he said, as a high official Of the state
he deemed 1t his duty to divulge what
he knew. Under this condition. Sem
ator W B. Hepburn. the chairman.
instructed him to proceed. and the
testimony was made part Of the COM
mittees record.
The substance Of what Lieutenant
Governor Morris testified as given to
him was:
That after charges were made in a
legislative committee, concerning the
manner Of Senator Stephenson's NOM
ipation at the primaries in 1908 and
u lie his election was still pending in
went to Senator Stephenson at Wash
ington and told him because Of the
charges the senator could not be re-
elected; that at his suggestion 1t was
then agreed they each would raise
$55,000 to put the election through.
That R. j. Shields was employed to
carry on the work: that subsequently
cured from Senator Stephenson a
check signed In blank and that later
Shields appeared in Madison with q
lavish 6isplay- of. unonsy.- ..44-..> .,s-.
That although there had been q
deadlock in the legislature for weeks
It suddenly announced that on a Ger.
tain day the election Of Senator
specified day but it did take place a
week later. on March 4. 1909; that
on that day three Democratic mem-
bers absented themselves. thus giving
Stephenson a majority.
That Shields paid the bill for a
special train to take from Milwaukee
to Madison legislator who was fav-
orable to Stephenson.
That the legislative investigating
committee endeavored to secure
Shields as witness but left the state.
That Shields demanded $4,000 for
what he had done. but Stephenson
and Hines after having a dispute over
the amount. gave him $500.
Morris testified that Cooks state.
ment were made to him in a lawyers
office in the Rookery building in Chi
State Senator Paul o. Husting. For
mer Assistant Attorney General A. c.
Titus, both Of Wisconsin: Morris said
w. H. Kittle Of Madison had given
him the information about Shields go
Ing to Washington and getting the
blank check. Morris further said that
c. H. Crownhart of Superior of the
state industrial commission had told
him that detective named Saunder-
son In Milwaukee had secured much
information about Shields.
Chairman Hepburn Immediately is-
sued subpoenas for the appearance of
all those named. The committee was
informed that Shields was in Chicago.
awaiting to be heard as a witness in
the Lorimer case. He already had
been summoned to appear in Milwau-
kee.
Senator Stephenson was not present
when Norris testimony was given as
he was excused several days ago to
return to his home at Marinette.
Charles e. Littlefield. counsel for
Senator Stephenson. protested against
the Introduction Of Morris testimony,
but he was overruled.
According to the report Of the leg
islative investigating committee, the
three Democratic assemblymen who
absented themselves when Stephenson
was elected by joint ballot were
Thomas F. Ramsey, now dead, John
T Farrell and Silas A. Towne.
Hearsey Evidence.
Morris apparently had completed
his testimony, under questioning by
Senator Hepburn, when Senator Atlee
Pomerene. the Democratic member Of
the committee. asked: Have you any
other information which has not yet
been disclosed?"
IT think shall have to answer
yes to this, said Morris
go on and state what It is."
II want to say in the first place.
however. that 1t Is not first ahnd in.
formation"
Senator Pomerene said: ITO en-.
able us to pursue the investigation
II there is anything you can give us,
We will be glad to have It,"
Morris then said: II have been
told by Mr.. Cook-1 do not recall
his initials at this moment but he
he is a partner Of Mr.. Hines. the lum-
berman--that a few days before the
election in the legislature. sum Of
money approximating 100000 was
raised by Mr.. Hines and Mfr. Steph-
snson and placed in the hands OF a
1ozen men. one Of whom was Robert
Shields Of Superior. and that this
money was used in the legislature
during the election. I was also in
formed that Mr.. Shields went to
Washington just before the election
yn the legislature and saw Senator
Stephenson and came back with a
sum Of money. which I understand
was in the form Of check. drawn
N blank-that is the amount was