Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-02-20
MINORITY REPORT
SAYS STEPHENSON
RETAINS NO SEAT
Wisconsin Senator's Props
Are Knocked From Under
Him by Negative Opinion
Filed in Senate Monday
CBy Associated Press.)

kBy Associated EIeSssJ
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1s-United
States Senator Isaac Stephenson. of
Wisconsin. is not entitled to his seat
in the opinion OF i've members OF the
senate committee on privileges ana
elections, who filed a minority report
with the senate today. The majority
report on the investigation of Senator
Stephenson's campaign expenditures
was submitted February II. In sub
stance it held that the charges of cor
ruption in the primary Of 1908 were not
proven.
The minority report Is signed By Sem
ators Kenyon. Clapp and Jones. Repub-
licans, and Lea and Kern, Democrats. It
contends that enough evidence was ad-
duced by tho inquiry to warrant the
senate in declaring Senator Stephen
sons seat vacant.
Referring to that fact, the senator.
through his lieutenants, spent S107.-
1913 in his campaign, and that candi-
dates for the state legislature spent
proportionateIy large sums. the report
quotes from the majority. report:
Such expenditures were in violation
Of the fundamental principles underly-
ing our system of government, which
contemplated the selection OF candi-
dates by the electors and not the selec-
ton of electors by the candidate"
UNABLE TO COMPREHEND"
The minority report then proceeds:
we concur in this statement, and it
Justifies US in appealing the conclusion
OF the majority. How a seat in the
senate can be secured in violation CT
the fundamental principles underlying
our system Of government" with the
evidence showing the use OF such =
large sum OF money, and not be OBJ
tanned by corrupt methods and prac-
tees, we are unable to comprehend The
question now squarely before the sem
ate is whether or not methods and prass-
tees in violation of the fund anental
principles underlying our Of
government shall be denounced y y r.
words and approved by our votes.
Quoting again from the majority re-
port. which, after summarizing the meth
DDS Of Senator Stephenson's election
declared that If they had been used ~
candidate for a state office in Wis
consin, at would be very difficult 70
justify such conduct under the laws -
the state" the minority report con
tinues:
".This statement we indorse. II wars
rants our onposiHQn- 70 the -eo11e - -
/ OF the majority II it would be q 81
1 to Justify a campaign like this BE a
candidate for a state Office, why is il
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 accountable
| ity as any other candidate in that prl-
mary.
CHARGES VOTERS WERE PAID
'iIf he used nethods-ard the majors
itv saws he did-that 1t would be difl-
cult to justify in behalf OF a state cam
didate, then it is equally difficult for
the senate to justify such conduct on
the part Of a candidate for a seat in
this body and preserve its integrity ana
honor. In our Judgment 1t cannot do
it,
The report sets forth that the evi-
dence showed conclusively that voters
were paid to be at the polls, that ex-
travagant sums for entertainments
were expended. records and papers con-
corning the campaign were shifted from
one place to another and original rec
ords were destroyed.
"AII this is admitted" says the re-
mort ~and we feel we have right 70
assume from these admitted facts and
actions that corrupt methods and prac-
tees were used in connection with said
primary election.
''To hold otherwise is to establislf =
precedent that would authorize an ex-
penditure of hundreds Of thousands OK
dollars to debauch the electorate IN or
/ der to secure a seat in this body. To
do this is to notify the world that We
are careless as to whether or not seats
a. tbjs bodv ara to be bought and sold
ss so much merchandise to the taan
with the largest purse"