Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-02-19
It Declares His Election 10
Senate is Violation Of Fun
damental Principles Of Our
Government.
SENATORS KENYON,
CLAPP AND JONES SIGN
They Find That Seat Ought
to Be Declared Vacant Be-
cause of Expenditures Of
$107,0 900 by Lieutenants.

Cny EveRIag Herald a. y. Leased wtrey
Washington. y. c.. Feb. t9.--Unlt-
ed states senator Isaac stephenson OF
Wisconsin Is not entitled to his seat.
IN the opinion Of five members Of the
senate committee on privileges and
elections who filcd a minority report
with the senate today The majority
report was presented to the senate
February ~. In substance II held that
the charges of corruption In the prl-
mary OF 1908 were not proven.
a minority report is signed by Sem
ators Kenyon. Clapp and Jones. Re-
publicans; Lea and Kern, Democrats.
II contends that enough evidence was
adduced by the inquiry 10 warrant
the senate In declaring Senator Ste
phensons seat vacant.
Referring TO the fact that the sem
ator through his lieutenants spent
over si07, 900 in hts campaign and
that the other candidates spent pro-
portlonately large sums the report
quotes from the majority report;
"such expenditures were in viola
ton OF the fundamental principles
underlying our system OF government.
which contemplated the selection OF
candidates by The electors aud not the
selection OF tho electors by the eau
aidnto."
,p,, ..i.,.,i.,. ...,.,f 49,, ,.,,..,1s.
I'VE concur in this statement and
Il justifles ~ IN opposing the conolu-
sion of the majority How a seat IN
the senate can ne secured IN viola
tion OF the fundamental principles
underlying our system OF govern
ment with the evidence showing the
use of such a large sum OF money
and not be tainted by corrupt methods
and practice. We are unable to COM
prehend
The question now squareiy before
the senate " whether methods and
practices in violation of the iundG-
mental principles underlying oar sys-
tenn OF government shall be- de-
nounced by our words and approved
by our votes"
Quoting again from tho majority
report which. after summarizing the
methods OF senator stopheuson's elec-
ton. declared that n they had been
used by candidate for a state office
IN Wisconsin 1T would be very diff
cult 10 justify such conduct under the
laws OF the state" the minority re-
port continues:
rrhls statement We endorse. IL
warrants our opposition TO the con-
clusion of the majority. n II would
be difficult TO Justify a campaign Ike
this by candidate FOR state office.
why ls II not equally difficult &C. JUS
iify it on the part OF Senator stephen
son. He was not compelled 20 go
into the primary. lie elected 90 do
so and he should be held 10 the same
degree of accountability as any other
candidate Ia that primary.
III he used mothods-and the ma
iority says he did-that Il would be
difficult TO Justify IN behalf OF a state
candidate. then Il IL equally difficult
for the senate 10 justify such conduct
on the part OF n candidate for a seat
in this body and preserve its integrity
and honor In our judgment u can
not do g."
The report sets forth that the evi-
dcnCe showed cOnclusiTely that Not-
ers were paid 20 be- "a the polls, that
extrnvaEant sums for entertainment
were expended and that records and
papers concerning the campaign were
shifted from enc place 10 another ana
orlglnal records were destroyed
can this Is admitted" SAYS the re-
port. "aud we feel We have a right 20
assume from these admitted facts and
actions that corrupt methods ana
practices we're used in connection
with said primary election. TO hold
otherwise is to establish a precedent
that would authorize an expenditure
Of hundreds OF thousands OF dollars
20 debauch tho electorate In order 20
secure a seat In this body To do this
On 20 notify the world that we are
carelea as 20 whether seats in this
body are Go bo bought and sold as 80
ruurh merchandise 10 the man with