New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-04
SENATOR ALWAYS GAVE Up
Stephenson Never Turned Deaf
Ear to Call for Money.
SENATORSHIPS EXPENSIVE
Witness Says Poor Man Had
Better Keep Out Of
Politics.

Nnwaukec. oct. aside from hearing
testimony that followers OF Senator Robert
NJ La Toilette In Wisconsin are known as
"halfbreeds" and tina, they are the polit-
cal foes cf Senator isaac Stephenson, tho
senatorial committee which is investigate
ing charges tnat Senator stophensoa's cleo
ton was secured through bribery today
devoted its attention 10 digging into cam
pagin expense accounts
Much Of the necessity for expeuding an
amount as great as siO77sS to get the NOM
ination for Mr. Stephenson at the pri-
r,ar.es IN 1905 was declared By witnesses 10
be due 20 opposition exerted by Senator Ia
Fonette's followers. To organize each OF
the 900 precincts in the state it was nee
essarv To spend the money literally they
said But all four Of the stephenson cam
paien u1anagers-E A. Edmonds. Of Apple
ION. / r. puelicher. Of Milwaukee, J. A
Van Cleve. of Marinette, and Rodney SACK
EFT. OF Beslin. Nis.-testifed that the tuhu'
were legitimately used.
senator Stephenson's political slogan.
often repeated 20 his managers when ne
gave the money. according TO their tesu-
mony. was: Keep within the Jaw, what
ever you do
While the entire amount expended ny
Senator Stephenson in the primary cam
paign which resulted in his election ny tna
Legislature of 1909 was declared TO De slU''-
Te3. no one Of the witnesses admitted nav
ing handled the entire amount
"A man has 10 be ready 10 spend coupis
Of hundred thousand dollars 20 get the sem
atorial nomination in this state. Isn't thas
sou asked Senator George Sutherland.
Well If he hasn't got the money ne u
better keep out OF politics" responded Ed
monds It was pointed out that IN some
counties Senator Stephenson spent an
amount equal 10 s. a vote.
Puelicher said ne merely was custodian
If the fund and the extent Of his respon-
s,nuitv was 10 pay il out when acquisitions
were made.
Van Cleve testified he remained At 'iA'
Motto Senator Stephenson's home town ana
when calls came from Milwaukee ana otner
nlaces for more money he went 70 see the
Senator. In this way, he sah' ne hai'u''N
e.. 500 but he did not know what was uono
with It beyond that it was sent 10 the
Stephenson headquarters TO be eXpehueo
for campaign purposes.
whenever a call came from headquar-
ters in Milwaukee Tor money you went %
senator Stephensons office and told MIN
about il. was that it, asked senator w.
3 Hepburn the chairman Dlh the Seha
TOR readily give up the money
Yes" replied Van Cleve. he al"a'S
gave il I'D. Sometimes he asked what they
were doing with all that money, as the
campaign was costing him two or uree
times as much as ne had thought II "oud.
His only comment was that he wanted
then, 10 keep within the law. Not dollar
was spent corruptly.'
Records Of Disbursements Gone.
Rodney Sackett, who is a clerk in the
United States Senate, testified ne WORKED
in the Milwaukee headquarters ana had
the handling Of about $4,000. He spent
money in paying salaries and travelling
expenses Of workers who were sent over
the state TO boom Senator Stephenson
candidacy He kept card index record OF
the expenditures, but after the campaign
finding the cards had been badly worn, ne
destroyed them. after making copy OK
the amounts spent
Il WAS while Edmonds was on the stanu
that Senator La Follette's supporters were
referred to as "half-breeds." Senator Hey
burn Immediately wanted to know wnas
the term meant.
"yVbv" said Edmonds. 1T is we'll known
in Wisconsin When man is hepuoh-
,,., but not regular. he is a follower OF
senator La toilette and is called half
breed The half breeds were opposed 10
Senator Stephenson. who is a regular.
The announcement from Madison, WIS.,
that Governor McGOvern decided not 10
appoint counsel for the state in the invesu-
cation. IL was said here, might be followed
tomorrow by an effort Of certain members
of the Legislature to have themselves ac-
cepted as counsel for the state, in opposi-
tion To Senator Stephenson.