Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-09
NOT UNDER PLEDGE
Candidates Paid Money From
the Stephenson Fund.
CAMPAIGN IN WISCONSIN
individuals Aspiring to Legislature
Given Financial Aid.
THREE OF THESE ELECTED
Witness States, However, They Were
Not Obligated on the Sena-
torial Question.
THREE OF THESE ELECTED

MILWAUKEE, Wis, October 9-Nu-
merous candidates for the Wisconsin leg
islature. which was to elect United
states senator, received money out of the
s1O1, campaign fund of Senator Isaac
stephenson, according to testimony today
before the senatorial Investigating COM
mittee.
rooney Sackett. one of the Stephenson
campaign managers. testified that Thorn
as Reynolds received several hundred
dollars. Levi III. Bancroft received $50
Z. e. Wellensgard received 500 and four
others received similar amounts.
Inc men named were all candidates for
the legislature at the primaries of 1NTS
Reynolds, Bancroft and Wellensgard were
elected. and in joint session they voted
Tor Stephenson for the senatOrship IT
was declared by the witness. however.
that the money was given to the men to
promote not their own campaigns. but
that Of Senator Stephenson.
nat the giving of money to candidates
LOT ONCE by another candidate was a vio-
ia,lon or the state law was the position
taken ny senator George Sutherland.
No Promise Exacted.
Sackett declared that in some instances
AiOs AhOWH THAT the men were
candidates for the assembly, and in no
instance were they to use the money for
themselves. No promise was exacted
from them that they would vote for
stephenson, the witness said
:. Under a sharp cross examination by
Senator Pomerene. Sackett admitted that
rom SiO:OOO to $4,000 out of the Stephen
soh Iuno was given to persons of whose
names no record was kept
Inc
paigh there were made, repeatedly.
charges of bribery and corruption. and
senator stephenson himself was com
planning of the great amount of money
the campaign was costing him." said
o 0uor fomerene. Now, under this
condition. didn't it occur to you that
you were not keeping faith with the
people IN your failure to record in de-
tail the money spent? Did not IL come
70 you that you were likely to face
charges of bribery"
Money Not corruptly Used.
The campaign managers were conf
dent they were wholly within the law"
replied Sackett. mot a cent was used
corruptly.'
The primary at which Senator Stephen
son was nominated occurred in 1908. His
election by the legislature followed early
- Lie Charges or DrtDery upOu
which the present investigation by the
United States Senate is based were being
made while Senator Stephenson's election
was In progress.
In filing the Stephenson CAMPAIGN ex.
Pense account without going into ali the
oetahs as to whom the money was Daid.
0ackett said. the same plan was adopted
as wes followed BY the other Candidates.
including Francis e. McGovern,- now Gov.
ernor OF Wisconsin. No other prosecu-
Iions' based on alleged violations of the
gatlons other than the present one had
been asked for.
Inls testimony was in line with the con.
tention of the Stephenson managers that
the present investigation Is the result of
q p01ucal factional fight between two
sections OF the republican party i'm Wis
consln, one headed by Senator Stephenson
and the other by the followers Of Senator
Robert NJ. La Toilette.
Regards Expenditure as Small.
Senator Stephenson's expenditure Of
$1O7. 793 for the nomination was small.
according to Sackett
How much. then. do you think a man
would have to spend to make a proper
campaign" asked Senator Pomerene.
ITO conduct a campaign for the sem
atorShip In Wisconsin properly would cost
from $3.50 1000 to $20O,OO0" replied Sackett.
'tOne hundred and fifty thousand to two
hundred thousand dollars to get a salary
Of H.5o0?" persisted Senator Pomerene.
1t Is not supposed that a man goes to
the Senate for $500 alone" declared
Sackett.