Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-05-03
STEPHENSON
PROBE ASKED
Charged With Buying Seat In
the U. S. Senate.
RESOLUTION DEMANDS INQUIRY
Pre- ares sives in the Senate Will Take
Charge of the investigation, Ac-
cordinp to Program-com-
pensation Bill Passes.

Madison, May 2-(SpeciaD-Politi
cally the Wisconsin legislature faces
the climax of the session in a join
resolution reported in by the senate
committee on judiciary charging
Isaac Stephenson, the millionaire lum
herman of Appleton, with buying
his seat in the United States
senate. The resolution calls up
on the United States senate TO In
vestigate into the election Of Mr.. Ste
phenson on the ground that the cleo
ton was gained through bribery and
corrupt practices. This legislature is
distinctly a LaFollette legislature, or,
in other words, an anti-StephensOn
legislature. The venerable represent
alive of this state in the federal sen
ate does not stand alone in the Wis
consin legislature, however, and the
resolution will meet with opposition
but that opposition represents a hope
less minority and there is not doubt
that the resolution will be adopted in
both houses and transmitted to the
"millionalres' club
The charges Of bribery as set forth
in the committee resolution does not
represent the entire committee. Sen
ator Bodenstad of Milwaukee dissent
ed and he is preparing a minority
report. Senator Bodenstad will state
as fact that all of the candidates
for the United States senate spent ire
mendous extravagant sums which tend
ed to debaueh the electorate, but thu
minority report will make no criminal
charges against Mr.. Stephenson.
The resolution by the committee on
judiciary is substitute for a resolu-
ton by Senator Husting, Democrat
After deliberation and careful consid-
Grafton of this matter the Republicans
thought a resolution coming from the
Republicans of the legislature, repre-
senting the majority party, would
have greater weight with the United
States senate than a similar resolu-
tiOn coming from the Democrats OF
the minority party This Is regarded
as peculiarly the affair of the Repub-
Leans. and they intend to take the in
itiative In calling for the investigation
into the political actions of Senator
Stephenson during his campaign for
election. II also was the wish, 1t Is
said, of Senator LaFollette that the
resolution come from the Republican
side. At any rate, that has been the
position taken by the LaFollette PEG.
pie here, and they do not take the lib,
erty of doing big things without the
approval Of their leader
The progressives in the United States
senate, according to the present pro
gram. will take charge Of the Stephen.
son investigator when il reaches
the national body United Statel
Senators tlapp and Borah will be dele
gated 10 tate immediate charge of the
Investigation Senator LaFollette wi J
remain in the background, but, OF
course. will direct eve.y move that il
made
Politically this investigation, regard,
less Of the outcome. is Of much signi-
ftcance. Senator LaFollette is a can,
didate for the presidency in 1912. The
Stephenson investigation will indicate
TO the people of the nation that Wis
Cousin stands for purity in politics
and that 1t is the first to condemn
corrupt practices, no matter whether
the lightning strikes in the Republi-
can or some other party. This will
throw the state and Senator LaFol-
lette into the limelight. 1t is be
lieved that the legislature will dispose
of the Stephenson matter within the
next week or ten days.
= = =
The workmen's compensation act
has passed both houses. and Cover.
nor McGoyern will sign it within 4
few days 1t will 60 into effect Sept
| /, OF this year Now that the bill
one of the measures of largest import
ance before the legislature. has passed
( the senate and the assembly there /,
/ keen speculation as to the men wht
are likely to be appointed to serve OF
the administrative board provided foi
{ AZ tue AT, NlldittS II. AEOWDuart
who directed the senatorial campaign
of Senator LaFollette, of Superior, ant
Professor John r. Commons of tn,
University of Wisconsin, probably viii
be appointed as commissioners t,
serve with Joseph u. Beck, state labo
commissioner Each commissions
will receive an annual salary of s..
600.
/ The system OF compensation Is 10
loss to workmeu as a result of iujur
les. The personal injury cost is sad
died upon the product instead of upoi
employee or directly upon the cmpl ~
er The employer will add the COS
OF hazard 10 he cost of production
The saving is represented IN the lars
sums OF money that are now spent /
litigation and with the result of an
proXimale justice to those Immediate
ly concerned. The injured employ
will be compensated TO the extent {
65 per cent of his average wages fo
temporary or partial disability to fou
times his average wages for permar
ent or ,,.ai disability. In case {
death the dependents OF the decease