Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-12
Alleged to Have Failed to Turn in
Expense Account.
Discussed FUNDS ILLEGALLY
Asserted to Have Had knowledge Of
Improper Proceedings.
ACCUSED OF VIOLATIONS OF LAW
Report Says His Election Was se-
cured by Illegal Means and
Asks United states senate
to Investigate.

MADISON, Wis. Jan. 1l-United States
Senator Isaac Stephenson is charged with
a number Of violations Of the laws OF
Wisconsin in a lengthy statement filed
with Governor McGOvern today by the
1903 state senate committee IN its report
on the investigation Of the primary in
vestgation and the election Of Senator
Stephenson.
The committee recommends that a copy
Of the report be submitted to the United
states senate and that body investigate
Stephenson's election
Senator Stephenson is charged with vio-
iating the statute which requires an ac-
count under oath of campaign expenditures
to be filed, and it is also alleged that such
violation was premeditated.
II is further charged he violated the
law which prohibits any one from CON
tributing money to assist candidate for
the legislature residing outside of the dis
trict 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 Warden Stone and l.. b.
Dresser, then president Of the board Of
control
That he gave a sum Of money to a sup
porter OF McGovern for United States SEN
ator, such supporter afterwards switching
to Stephenson, and that he paid large sums
of money to others which were afterwards
used by them to induce other persons to
assist in procuring his election.
what the Committee Says.
"On the whole record, therefore" the re-
port states, Stephenson is charged with
knowledge Of the manner in which his
campaign was being conducted and the
purposes for which money was being dis
bursed
The failure to keep, or require accounts
and the practice of destroying original
memoranda by those engaged in disburslnR
Stephenson's funds in the campaign makes
It clear there was generalization and
method on the part of Stephenson and his
managers to cover up their methods OF
conducting the campaign.
That he approved of these methods can
not be doubted. Those managers in plain
violation of the law gave considerable sums
of money to Levi II. Bancroft, c. c.
Wellensgard. Thomas Reynolds. John MuI-
der e. A. Everett and w. L. Smith. who
then were candidates for nomination to the
assembly.
"A large part OF the money distributed
In the Stephenson campaign probably a
Stephenson's managers unlawfully and cor
ruptly to procure the nomination and cleo
tion OF Isaac Stephenson to the I-nitad
States senate
Democrats brought In.
Further Isaac Stephenson was elected
by the legislature to the United States
senate by a majority Of three votes while
the charges Of corruption against him
were being investigated by the legislature.
In addition to the several acts of cor
ruption and fraud herein referred TO Il
should be remembered that the election of
Isaac Stephenson on March was made
possible by three democrats, who. at the
instigation OF Stephenson managers and
agents, walked out OF the joint assembly
when 1t became known that their presence
would prevent the election Of Isaac stepb-
enson.
Under the hw, IL a person elected
clearly participates In any act OF bribery
or attempts bribery. he should be denied
office, although the result Of the election
was not thereby changed. This. I'm the
opinion Of the committee. Senator steph-
enson did.
Election Pronounced Void.
THE findings of the committee are thai
the nomination in the primary and the
election to the United States senate by
the legislature of Isaac Stephenson of wis
consin is null and void on account OF ar.
tempted bribery and corrupt practices by
! himself and by his campaign managers
agents and workers, and Of violations OF
the laws OF Wisconsin defining and nun.
ishing offenses against the elective fran.
chiss.
The committee recommends that a eopy
/ Of this report be certified to the United
States senate by the governor and IN,
legislature, with the request that that bod,
| investigate the manner and means nv and
through which Isaac Stephenson secured
his election to the United States senate .
The report further recommends thai
prosecutions be commenced by the distrtc,
attorney OF Dano county against all Der.
sons shown by the evidence to have com.
mitted perjury in the Investigation. apt
that like copy OF the evidence be sui
mitted to the attorney general. with IN,
recommendation that he cause 10 be com
-. -