The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-26
REvELRY OF CRIME
AND CORRUP ton
Wisconsin Primary Con-
test Of Barrel" and
Long Green. y
THUS DESCRIBED
BY SENATOR REED
While Being Excoriated, Ste
phenson, Aged Millionaire, Sits
in Rear of Chamber, Occa-
sionally Wiping Tears From
His Eyes-Vote to Gust
Him Will Be Close.

Washington March c5.-Isaac Ste
phenson. the octogenar!an millionaire
lumbeEman and banker of Wisconsin,
to-day was formally placed on trial on
charges involving tho validity of his
entire session was taken up by Senator
Reed, OF Missouri. with a speech in
opposition to Senator Stephensons re-
tention of his seat.
Though final action must be taken
on the Legislative day OF March %.
that parliamentary expression permits
Indefinite discussion by substituting
rccesses for adiournments. and It isl
expected the final vote will be reached
about Wednesday.
Friends of the Wisconsin Senator say
they expect safe majority for him.
but admit the loss of one or two of his
former adherents. His opponents con-
tend that the vote Will be close some
even claiming that the result would be
against Mr.. Stephenson If his colleague,
Senator La Toilette. who has been
away for weeks, should return and
vote in the negative.
All through the debate Senator Ste
phenson. the first to enter the Senate
chamber. saS quietly back in the rear
tier OF seats, occasionally applying a
handkerchief to his moIstcncd eyes as
the charges of political corruption were
fired across from the Democratic side
Close by him sat Senator Lorimer, of
! Illinois, giving close attention. Mr.
! Lorimer's election is similarly under
fire.
There was a large attendance of SEN
ators and the galleries were crowded.
! Senator Creed declared that if the
I Senate acquitted Mr.. Stephenson, I've
ought to be brave enough to hang on
the door of the Senate the legend,
/ Those who have the money can enter
here"
| Mr.. Reed said that Mr.. Stephenson
| was not the political novice that he
mad been represented to be. Mr.. Reed
denounced the use OF money IN the
| Wisconsin primar !es as the open door
10 wholesale fraud, an appeal TO cupid
ity and not to reason"
The main effort to-day was 10 con-
trovcrt the theory that Mr. Stephenson
was innocent of wrongdoinE because
he had not violated anw Wisconsin sta
tutes and Mr.. Reed stamped as absurd
the claim that the Senate could not go
back OF the Legislatures action He
commended that tho violation of n speci
! flo law was not necessary to invalidate
an election. Hc was not willing 10 ac-
cept any such contention that unless
a man has qualified, himself for the
penitentiary he has nos disqualified
| himself for the Senate" for that
brought tho Senate and the prison
too close together for comfort or re-
spectability."
This was not an election" he added
ut was a revelry of crime and corrup-
| ton. n campaign In which the barrel
was the controlling figure. contest OF
dollars, contest OF the long green"
Arnold Takes Responsibilities.
Joseph 4. Arnold. editor-in- chief of
| the Division of Publications of the
| Department of Agriculture, to-day as
sumcd responsibility for the suppress
sion of the much ialked-ot report on
the feasibility OF retaining the Esor-
Ida everglades.
Mr.. Arnold told the Moss committee
that he had recommend that the re-
| port he suppressed, and had voiced
that opinion to Secretary Wilson In
June. 1910.
Why did you oppose the publIca.
, ton of this report?" asked Chairman
| Moss.
because OF the obvious irreconcil-
able differences between the engineers
of the department and tho conflict OF
| opinion outside the department." an
swercd Mr.. Arnold. at was apparent
| to me that no report could be issued
| with the unanimous approval of the
| department. thought that It was
time to excrcts" caution and pruda nce.
recommended. therefore. that no re-
| tort be issued at all
"a bulletin from the department
| should be the last word from the da-
| oartIneat. and I did not think Il fair
| 20 the people OF the country TO give
:hem any bulletin which was not In
| iorsed by the department The sec
| 9etary agreed with me-"
| Mr. Arnold admitted that he had
so1l ar hn r---o IA
| S-ho had interests in them. lie said
chat many persons called a the de-
oartment to talk about the everglades
| edo you know OF any one approach
| ing either yourself, the Secretary of
| Agriculture or any other official of
| the department. improperly In this
| natter" asked Representative Sloan.
member of the committee.
Absolutely no one. sir" replied Mr.
! Arnold
Would Hurt Constituents
| The witness described an interview
ne had with Representative Frank
| Clark. OF Florida. whose charges as 10
the departments conduct In the ever
| kladcs survey brought on TIC present
| investigation He said Mr.. Clark called
aith couple OF friends.
He said that MIR. Clark declared
that If the everglades report was very
favorable 81: would hurt some OF his
constituents who owned Florida land
outside of the everglades that was
| Just as good as the everglades"
| Mr.. Arnold said tho publication OF
the circular letter on ihe everglades,
which was said II. have hurt the sale
OF the lands. was very irregular and
unusual
This letter was mailed out to inquir-
crs from the department. until Senator