Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-05
TEPHENSON' s
SEAT BOUGHT
SAYS KENYON !
Reckless, Extravagant and
Wrongful Use Of Money
in Senatorial Election AL
legged by Iowa Member.
CALLS IT ORGANIZED
RIOT OF CORRUPTION

RIOT OF CORRUPTION
Methods Employed in Ste
phenson Campaign, Ken
yon Asserts, Would Have
Disgraced Any Contest.
Washington, d. c., Feb. 2S.-"Why
mince words? Every man in this body
knows that the election of Senator
Stephenson was brought about by the
reckless, extravagant and wrongful
use Of money. You may gloss it over,
smile about it, condone it, but the fact
still exists--the seat was purchased"
Senator Kenyon, in scathing de-
nunciation of the methods alleged to
have been used by the veteran Wis
consin senator in his campaign for his
seat, made the foregoing part OF Wig
orous speech in the senate today. The
Iowa senator with Senators Clapp,
Jones, Kern and Lea dissented from
the majority report of the committee
which Investigated the election and
held that charges of bribery and cor
ruption had not been proved. Sen
ator Kenyon denounced the election
as "an organized riot of corruption"
indefensible and "tainted at its foun.
tain"
gThe methods employed would not
have dignifed candidacy for county
sheriff. y he said "The election was the
result or an organized riot of corrup-
tion, debauchery OF the electorate by
treating, employment, purchases OF
newspaper in nfueEca, and other des
spicable methods, creating, BY money.
political enthusiasm and ecuring
political support Such practices
should cease, and cease now. Other
wise the canker of corruption will eat
close to the heart of the republic.
"The only real danger that can ever
threaten this nation In the future is
corruption In the body polite. II is the
child Of avarice and special privilege.
It can exist only when the electorate
Is Indifferent They may be slow to
be aroused, but when once aroused the
American people will drive the money
changers from the temple, and smite
the arrogant demon of corruption
wherever It's vile head may appear"
Senate Not For Highest Bidder.
Seats in the United States senate,
Mr.. Kenyon declared, did not belong
to the highest bidder. If seats were
to be bought and sold as merchandise
then, he foretold the decadence of the
republic.
'If men can be sent here by money"
he continued, Others can be defeated
by money. and there are men in this
chamber who know what it means to
have the purse of great interests
opened to defeat them. We are
marching on; no one need be dis
couraged; the people, not money, are
going to rule in this country. We are
advancing.
.In the Payne case Senator Frye, the
conservative. brainy, and honest SEN
ator from Maine, pleaded with the
senate to investigate the charges that
the Standard Oil Co. had, through
its agents and officers, put it's hands
upon Legislative body, and undertook
to control and elect member of the
United States senate. He could not
secure hearing.
"Old Judge Thurman, with relation
TO the Payne case, said at that time, in
an interview:
1.-THE democratic clock is put back
four years, and corruption Is given a
new lease hold in our land, syndicates
purchase the peoples votes, and honest
men stand aghast.'
# Sees Purchased Seat :.
I'VE at least have had an investiga-
tfon. a thorough one, and as the lid has
been lifted men have been sickened by
the foul odors that came from the
cauldron of corruption. There is no
divinity that surrounds a seat in this
body acquired by such methods, no
reason to talk in whispers concerning
1t, but boldly to brand it, as it is, A
purchased seat.
"Above any other question Is the
great one Of public policy. A man who
turns loose this enormous sum of
money to secure seat here is not, as
q matter of public policy, entitled to
remain member of this body; even
were the election legal he should be
expelled.
1 "The minority offer no apology for
their action. It has been an unpleas-
ant duty. but we have the conscious
ness at least of not voting to approve
methods and practices in an election
condemned by the majority as expendi-
lures In violation of the fundamental
principles underlying our system OF
government
Federal Patronage Question Up.
A thorough investigation to deter
mine whether postmasters are being
coerced in the interest Of any presiden-
tial candidate Is contemplated in res
olution Introduced today by Senatorl
Bristow 6 EA4ssaz progressive re-
publican