The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-10-11
STATE SENATOR BLAINE, WHO
ACCUSED STEPHENSON, BASED
CHARGES ON HEARsAY.
ON WHAT HE'D BEEN TOLD
On Stand at Hearing in Milwaukee,
the Aceuser Admits That Hs Knows
Nothing Of Money Spent corruptly
by tho Wisconsin Senator to Procure
Hie Nomination.

Milwaukee, Oct 1o.-Charges that
United States Senator Isaac Stephen
son of Wisconsin procured his election
through bribery and that he spent
sl07.1ss corruptly to influence voters,
were today put by the United States
senate investigating committee
squarely up to John ]. Blaine, a state
senator, who brought the charges
As result Blaine admitted that he
had no information personally known
by him to be true upon which to SUBJ
stantiate his charges.
He admitted the charges were based
largely on newspaper editorials, po-
lltical speeches and hearsay.
And upon such information you
were willing TO make allegations which
might jeopardize a United States SEN
ator and which. II proved true. might
send him to the penitentiary--is that
true?" asked Senator W. B. Hepburn,
the chairman.
Blaine made no answer more than
that he thought he was performing
public duty by having an invests
cation of what he said was current
report
do you think II public Jury to
bring charges against a United States
senator without facts to substantiate
them?" asked Mr.. Hepburn.
Il thought So replied the witness.
Blaine was on the witness stand
virtually all day.
IN ha .athn
In the legislature, where two investi-
cations were held, one resulting ia
vorably to the senator and one ad-
versely.
The Charges.
Blaine's charges, purporting TO give
10 specific instances wherein the law
had been violated were that prior TO
his nomination at the primaries in
1908 Senator Stephenson corruptly
spent sl07,793 to encompass his elec-
tion.
The first three OF the charges per-
tained to the giving to T.. A. Ed
monds. campaign manager, "a sum
In excess of 100000 and approximate
Ing $250000" II was developed that
$107703 was the correct amount.
How do you know this money was
given to Edmonds to commit bribery
and to accomplish other corrupt ends?"
Blaine was asked.
Il had EdIhonds' word that he re-
ceived certain sums for campaign pur-
poses. The words 'corrupting and
bribing electors were put In to meet
the requirements OF the law In maxi
ing specific charges In such In
stances"
Two charges that money was ais
tributed unlawfully, first to voters in
Grant county ard then to voters In
the entire state, Blaine said. were upon
Information given him by l.. II. Stevens
and o. a. Eastman, but no facts as
to the amount of money were OBJ
tained.
All Hearsay.
The witness said he did not know of
any democrats to whom Stephenson
money was paid. He did not know
that the charge was true. His charge
that Stephenson money was spent to
purchase the editorial support OF
newspapers. Blaine said was based on
Information given him by an editor
at Lancaster, Wis, but the witness
had no facts that any money was paid
for such purposes.
Blaine's charge that Stephenson Of
fered Lester Tilton of Neillsyile, Wis
$500 to run for the assembly and II
elected to vote for Stephenson for sen :
ator. was then read. Blaine said this
charge was based upon what he had
read of political speeches by demo-
cratic candidates.