The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-11
.BLA|NE'S CHARGES
 ARE UNFOUNDED Has no Personal Knowledge
 of Corruption ARE BASED ON RUMORS Testifies Before Investigating COm- mittee That He Thought He Was Performing Public Duty in
 Filing Allegations
 
ARE BASED ON RUMORS


 Milwaukee October 1o.--Charges that United States Senator Stephenson se- cured his election through bribery and that he spent $107,793 corruptly to in fiuence voters, were today put by the United States Senate investigating com mittee squarely up to John J. Blaine, A state senator who brought the charges.
 Blaine admitted he had no facts or in- formation personally known to him to be true upon which to substantiate his charges. He admitted the charges were based largely upon newspaper edi- torials, political speeches and hearsay.
 And upon such information you were willing to make allegations which might send a United States senator to the penitentiary, is that true?' asked Senator w B. Hepburn, chairman.
 Blaine made no answer other thas that he thought he was performing a public duty by having such an investi- gation of what he said was current re- port.
 DO you think that public duty is to bring charges against United states senator without facts to sub stantiate them?" asked Chairman Hey burn.
 "I thought so," witness replied.
 "So. when the investigation is be- gun tou have to give to this commit tee. no facts whatever which could be admitted in 8 court of law as proper and pertinent to challenge the validity either of Senator Stephensons nomina- tion or of his election?"
 .None of my own Knowledge
 It was Mr. Blaine who originally brought the charges in the Wisconsin legislature. where. two investigations were held. one resulting ,favorably to the senator, and the other adversely.
 Blaine charged Senator Stephenson, who was a candidate to succeed himself, corruptly spent s1o7,793 to encompass his election. The first three of the 16 charges pertained to the giving by Sen ator Stephenson to E'A Edmonds' his campaign manager, of ''aisum in, excess of s1o6, 900, and approximating $2oO,- 0O0." 3-.. ;
 "How do you know. that this money was given to Eldmonds to commit abrib- cry and to accomplish other corrupt ends?" Blaine was asked. E t
 dI had Fdmonds' word that he re- ceived certain sums for campaign pur- noses. Fireworks 'corrupting and brih-. inc. electors were put in to meet the rettuirements of the law in making specific charges in such instances.
 "You had no facts of your personal knowledge upon which to base them?'
 "None
 "why were you trying to work up snaci6c charges against Senator Ste- phensono" Chairman Hepburn asked. i Ut was necessary under the law, to get an Investigation
 Why did you want an investigation? Merely in answer to clamor.'
 ..The bribery was everywhere talked about, and I deemed it my duty to cause an investigation.'
 Tn the primaries who were you sup porting for the Senate?"
 .W. H. Hatton.'
 For his charge that 5000 was paid to Roy Morse of Fond du Lack to be used wfully Blaine said he read an edi- torial published in a newspaper at Apple ton, Wis. "e
 That's a pretty severe charge to bring against a senator, merely basing it on an editorial you had read" Chairman uevburn said DO you think any oc- casion is serious enough to justify you in making charges that might put man in the penitentiary without making an investigation?'
 "Yes, sir: think sometimes it would be justified.
 You say in your charges that money 
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