Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-22
MINORITY REPORT
ON STEPHENSON
Senator from Wisconsin Not En-
titled to His Seat, According
to Five Members.

Washington, Feb. 1T nited States
Senator Isaac Stephenson of Wisconsin
is not entitled to his seat in the opinion
of five members of the Senate commit
tee on privileges and elections, who
filed minority report with the Senate
to-day. The majority report on the in
vestigation Of Senator Stephenson's cam
paign expenditures was submitted Feb
ruary II. In substance It held that the
charges OF corruption In tho primary OF
1905 were not proven.
The minority report is signed by Sem
atOrs Kenyon. Clapp and Jones, repub-
lcans. Lea and Kern. democrats. 1t
contends that enough evidence was ad-
duced by the inquiry to warrant the Sem
ate In declaring Senator Stephensons seat
vacant.
Referring to the fact that the senator
through his l,eutenants spent 800. 1913 In
his campaign and that candidates for the
state Legislatures spent proportionately
large sums. the report quotes from the
majority report: Such expenditures were
in violation Of the fundamental principles
underlying our system of government
which contemplated the selection Of ca.,-
didates by the electors caH not the Sc
lection Of electors by the candidate.
The minority report then proceeds:
We concur in this statement and it
iustifIes us in opposing the conclusion of
the majority. How scat in the Senate
can be secured In violation OF thu fun.
darental principles underlying our sys-
ten OF government. with the evidence
showing the use Of such a large sun, of
money, and not he tainted by corrupt
methods and practices we are unable to
comprehend.
QUESTION soUARDLY PUT.
THE question now sQuarely before
tho Senate is whether or not methods
and practices in violation of the fun
damental principles underlying our
system OF government shall be de-
nounced by our words and approved
ly our votes"
Quoting again from the majority re-
port. which after summarizing tho
methods OF Senator Stephensons cleo
ton. declared that IL they had been
used by candidate for a State office
In Wisconsin at would be very diff
cult TO justify such conduct under the
laws Of the State" the minority re-
port continues.
This statement we endorse. 1t war
rants our opposition to tho conclusion
OF the majority. 1t IL would be diff.
cult TO Justify a campaign like this by
candidate for a State office. why
is it not equally difficult to justify It
on the part of Senator Stephenson -?
He was not compelled to go into the
primary He elected to do so and he
should be held to the same degree of
accountability as any other candidate
in that primary
III he used methods, and the ma
Jority says he did. that It would be
difficult to Justify in behalf Of a state
candidate. then 1t is equally difficult
Tor the Senate to Justify such conduc,
on the part of a candidate for a sea,
IN this body and preserve It's inteRrjt,
ana honor. In our Judgment II can
| not do It,"
VOTERS PAID TO BE AT POLLS
The report sets forth that the eyfdenc,
showed conclusvely that voters were
p"'d TO be at the polls. that extrava1an,
sums for Entertainment" were expended
records and papers concerning the cam
Ph'gn were shifted from one place I,
another and original records were de-
s'royed IAN this Is admitted" says tn,
report. and We feel We have a right I,
assume from these admitted facts an,
actions that corrupt methods and prac
uces were used In connection with sal,
primary election. To hold otherwise Il
70 establish precedent that would an
thori1e an expenditure Of hundreds O
thousands of dollars to debauch the cleo
torate In order to insure seat in thi
body To do this is to notify the worl,
that we are careless as TO whether or no
seats In this body are to be bought ant
sold as so much merchandise to the ma,
with the largest purse"