The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-11

The committee recommends a copy Of
the report be submitted to the United
States senate and that body investi-
gate Mr.. Stephenson's election.
Senator Stephenson is charged with
violating the statute which requires an
account under oath of campaign ex-
penditures to be filed, and it is also
alleged that such violation was pre-
neditated. 1t is further charged that
he violated the law which prohibits
candidate for the legislature residing
outside of the district in which the con-
tributor resides.
That the civil service law of this state
was violated when he caused to be paid
money 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
supporter of McGovern for United
States senator, such supporter after
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.
"On the whole record, therefore"
the report states, Stephenson is
charged with knowledge of the man
ner in which his campaign was being
conducted and the purpose for which
money was being disbursed.
Says He Knew All About 1t.
1.-The failure to keep or require ac-
counts and the practice OF destroying
original memoranda by those engaged
in disbursing Stephenson's funds in
the campaign makes it clear there was
premeditation 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
cannot be doubted. Those managers,
in plain violation of law gave sums of
money to Levi H. Bancroft, c. c. Well
ensgard, Thomas Reynolds, John
Mulder, 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 sum
in excess of 1000 was used by Steph-
enson managers to unlawfully and
corruptly procure the nomination and
election of Isaac Stephenson to the
United States senate. Further Isaac
Stephenson was elected by the legisla-
ture to the United States senate by
majority of three votes while the
charges of corruption against him
were being investigated by the legisla-
ture.
I'm addition it should be remem-
bered that the election of Isaac Steph-
enson on March 4 was made posi-
BILE by three Democrats who. at the
instigation of the Stephenson man
ayers ana dg0IllS, Wd1h0Q Oub VI IlAC
Joint assembly when it became known
that their presence would prevent the
election of Isaac Stephenson.
1.-The findings of the committee are
that the nomination in the primary
and the election to the United States
senate by the legislature of Isaac
Stephenson of Wisconsin is null and
void on account of attempted bribery
and corrupt practices bv himself and
by his campaign managers agents and
workers and of violations of the laws
of Wisconsin defining and Furnishing
offenses against the elective fran
chises.''
The report further recommends that
prosecutions be commenced by the dis
trict attorney of Dano county against
all persons shown by the evidence to
have committed perjury in the investi-
cation and the attorney general also
proceed against those under suspicion.