Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-02
Senator Hepburn Presiding Over
Senate Subcommittee.
COUNSEL OUTLINES DEFENSE
Claim Set Up That Election Oc-
CURED Prior to Date of
Alleged Frauds.

eicCtiOH MaTcn 4, 19US- He app cared
as witness at the opening of the in
vestigation begun by subcommittee of
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions of the United States Senate.
Claims Legal Election.
In answer to questions, Senator Ste.
phenson declared he was legally elected
to the Senate January 26. 1909, by sep
arate vote of the two houses of the Wis
consin legislature.
Did you spend any money in your
campaign asked Senator W. E. Hey
burn, chairman.
Yes said Mr.. Stephenson, Il spent
s1O7. 1873"
In what way did you spend it?''
Il gave it to f. A. Emunds, my cam
paign manager, in various sums in 1908.
also gave various sums to j. \. Van
Cleave, banker of Marinette, my home
town. to conduct the campaign there.
paid money to newspapers, to J. II. Pue-
licher. Milwaukee banker, and to 9TH
ers, all for the purpose of carrying on my
campaign for the nomination in the pri-
marles in 1905
Mr.. Stephenson's testimony relative to
his campaign expenses was similar to
what had already been brought out in
previous legislative Investigations.
The charges against Senator Stephen
son are:
That he kept secret many of his dis
bursements in the primary campaign
for nomination in 1908; that, whereas
he admitted having expended $111,3S5,
his campaign managers accounted for
only S107,793, and that a large part of
his fund was improperly used.
That fraud connected with his primary
campaign contributed directly to his
election.
That he distributed money to state
officials TO further his campaign.
That he spent money in legislative
districts to strengthen his support in
the legislature.
That he was elected only after two
month deadlock, and then only after
three democratic COMMUNICATIONS
+. Ramsey, now dead: John L. Farrel
and SiiaS A. Towne-apSented them
Selves, and SO insured his election.
Senator Hepburn Presiding.
Senator w. b. Hepburn of Idaho. chair
man of the investigating committee. open
ed the inquiry. Former Representative
Charles T.. Littlefie!d of Maine. who. with
w
sci for the defense announced Sena-
tor Stephenson was ready to testify. The
other members of the committee here are
Senators George Sutherland, republican,
OF Utah, and Atlee POmerene, democrat,
of Ohio. About five witnesses are to be
examined daily, and as some of the sew
enty-five men who have been supoe-
naed have announced they would be un-
able to come to Milwaukee, Chairman
Hepburn said the committee probably
would hold sessions in other parts of the
state.
The charges against Senator Stephenson
were presented in declaration by John
J. Blain of Boscobel. Wis.
In his declaration Mr.. Blain charged
Senator Stephenson with having paid to
Z. \. Edwards $1G7.1G; to be used in Sen
ator Stephensons primary campaign for
the nomination, and that the money was
used corruptly. He asserted that va
rious sums were paid to electors of the
state corruptly and unlawfully.'
T.. NJ. HyZer, an attorney. then connect
ed with a railroad. he charged had offer
ed his services 20 work for the senator S
campaign.
Mr.. Littlefeld's Statement.
At the beginning of the inquiry Mr. Lit
tlefiald said on behalf of the senator:
AT the outset we wish to state tina,
senator stephenson II now III HIS elSHty
third year Through extraordinary bust
ness ability he has acquired what is
called a large private fortune. His char
acter so far has been without spot or
blemisiI. Any result which may come
from this investigation. therefore. is of
vital interest to him. If the result is adj
verse it would send him from the United
States Senate in hum liatiOn, disgrace
and shame. 1t is essential that we should
see what is to be investigated.
Senator Stephenson was elected to the
Senate on January o6. 1909, by the Wis
consin legislature. when both houses
voted separately. He received a majority
vote I'm the house. In the senate he re-
ceived twelve votes out of seventeen.
At that time sixteen other senators voted
present. but it requires something more
than that response to constitute a vote
on the election.
1T is. therefore, a fact of record that
Mr. Stephenson was elected January 20.
which is some weeks before his election
by the joint legislature March I. 1909.
The charges upon which this investiga-
ton is based refer to the election OF
March 4. whereas we contend that Sena-
tor Stephenson legally was senator be-
fore that joint session election"
Mr.. Littlefield argued that the charges
related to the primary nomination, where
as the present committee was authorized
by the United States Senate to inveSti-
gate only the election Of Mr.. Stephenson
Any investigation into any phase of thu
subject other than that which bore direct
ly on the election, he said, would be
gratuitous on the part of the>Senate and