The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-19
FINDS HIM GUILTY.
Minority Files Its Report on the
Stephenson Investigation:

Washington, Feb. 19.-United States
| Senator Isaac Stephenson (Wis.) is not
entitled to his seat, in the opinion OF
five members of the senate committee
on privileges and elections, who filed i
minority report with the senate today.
The majority report on the investlga-
ton of Sen9to Stephenson's campaign
expenditures was submitted February
Il. In substance it held that the Charge
of corruption in the primary of 1903
were not proven.
The minority report is signed by
Senators Kenyon. Slapp and Jones, Re
publicaps; Lea ard Kern, Democrats
1t contends that enough evidence was
adduced by the inquiry to warrant the
senate in declaring Senator Stephen
sons seat vacant.
Referring to the fact that the sena-
tor through his Heutenants spent $1O7,-
793 in his campaign ana that the Can
didates for the state legislatures spent
proportionately large sums, the report
quotes from the majority report:
Such expenditures we're in violation
of the funda mental principles unoerly-
ing our SYST EN- of government, wnlch
contemplated the selection of candl-
dates by the electors and not the Sc
lection of the electors by the candi-
date"
The minority report then proceeds:
1--WE concur in this statement and 1t
justifes us in opposing the conclusion
of the majority. How a seat in the
senate can be secured in violation IF
the fundan. entail principles underlying
our system OF government WITH inc
evidence showing the use OF sucn
large sum of money and not be tainted
by corrupt methods and practices, we
are unable to comprehend.
Question Before the Senate.
"Tbe question now squarely betore
the senate is whether methods and
practices in violation of the fundamen-
tai principles underlying our system or
government shall be denounced by our
words and approved by our votes
Quoting again from the majority re-
methods of Senator Stephenson's cleo
ton. declared that if they had been
used by a candidate for state office
in Wisconsin, ''it would be very d1fh-
cult to justify such conduct under the
laws Of the state" the minority re-
port continues:
THE statement we indorse. 1t war
rants our opposition 20 the conclusion
cf the majority If 1t would pc olIh
c1llt to Justify a campaign like this by
n candidate for state Office, why is
it rot equally difficult to justify 1t on
the part of Senator Stephenson2 He
was not compelled to go into the pTl-
mary. He elected to 40 so and ne
should be held to the same degree Of
accountability as any ether candidate
in that primary
IF he used methods--and the major
i+v savs he did-that it would be diff
cl1lt to Justify in behalf of a state can
6idate. then it is equally difficult for
he The senate to justify such conduct on
the part of a candidate for seat in
his body and preserve its integrity
and honor. In our judgment II cannot
~ The repor sets forth that the evt-
dance SLOWED conclusively that :.
ers were paid to be at the polls, that
r+rax-a cant sums for entertainment
go e1r51entIed and records and papers
eoncernlng the campaign were shifted
froT7o one place to another and origi-
,1a1 records were destroyed.