Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-06-01
ACTION BEGUN
in COURT CASE
SUMMONS TO APPEAR IN
JUDGE SMALLEY CUSTER.

G. F. Clifford of Green Bay, special
prosecutor for the state of Wisconsin.
ex rel E. H Edwards, VS. Sherman
Smalley, was in Lancaster last Thurs
day.
On the same afternoon a summons
and complaint was served upon Mr..
Smalley, citing him to appear to de-
fend himself within ten days of service
of same
The summons and complaint allege
violation of the corrupt practices act
and involve removal from Office if the
charges are proven and verdict rend-
cred against Mr.. Smalley. The case
will be tried here before an outside
judge within q very short time.
Mr. Edwards, tax payer and resi-
dent of Richland Center, contends
that Mr.. Smalley through his agents
and campaign committee caused to be
circulated literature and documents
tending to influence voting at the April
election which failed to bear upon the
face thereon the name and address of
the person causing same to be publish
ed and circulated That these actions
were in violation of the state laws re-
lating to campaign matter. 1t is also
charged that Mr.. Smalley and his COM
mittee knowingly made false state
ments in relation to Judge Bancroft.
The complaint also cites one Ada
James of Richland Center, and Pearl
E. Lincoln, attorney of the same city,
as agents of Mr.. Smalley who know
ingly caused to be issued literature
which failed to bear the name and adj
dress of the author. That the same
parties knowingly made false state
ments in regard to Judge Bancroft.
The complaint also states that the said
literature, issued illegally, did influ-
ence and affect the voting at the afore-
said election.
The specific document upon which
the complaint is based is as follows:
Why Judge Bancroft Should not be
Elected Circuit Judge.
Men and women who believe in
democracy and who desire to pre-
serve and perfect democracy for flu
ture generations, insist upon knowing
all that it is possible to know of q
candidates public record. Judge Ban
croft is a candidate for Judge OF the
fifth judicial circuit. A synopsis of his
record follows.
Richland County is Mr. Bancroft's
home county and a Republican strong
hold but in 1910 when he ran for At
tOrney General he received but 247
votes, while his Democratic opponent
received 1853 When Assistant At
torney General, he returned to Rich
land Center,-his home town,-to as
sist in defending a notorious liquor
outlaw, whom the District Attornty
was prosecuting. One year ago he ran
for mayor but was defeated.
When his name was suggested to fill
the vacancy created by the death of
Judge Clementson, a petition protest
ing against his appointment was sent
to Governor Philip signed by ma
jority of the Richland County Board
of Supervisors, as we'll as other Coun-
ty and City officers The last time
Judge Clementson held court in Rich
land Center he fined Mr.. Bancroft for
contempt of court.
In 1907 when Levi H. Bancroft was
a member of the state legislature, the
tax-paying women of Richland Center
sent him a petition and requested him
to present it to the legislature. He did
not present the petition. Upon inquiry
scratches from the old hens. Later
he could not recall having made the
remark: but if he did, he said it was
only joke. Unfortunately the local
Federation of Women's Clubs did not
so regard it and in an effort to rein
state himself he claimed he was in
favor of women voting Knowing Mr..
Bancroft they presented a suffrage
;oI, he nnaIi1xy Gle TIxyO
years later he voted against women
suffrage in the legislature. In 1911
and 1912 during the suffrage campaign
he bitterly fought the acknowledgements
of women.
Once upon a time Levi H. Bancroft
was prohibitionist and eloquently
pleaded for this reform but after the
liquor interests got such firm grip
on the politics of our state he appear
ed time and time again before the leg
islative committees and denounced and
ridiculed the "drys," as only Judge
Bancroft can.
The Progressives of the state can
remember when Judge Bancroft was
their prodigy. This was at the time
the big fight was being made to abol-
ish passes and free the legislature
from the DOMINATION Oh the Td1lfOduS.
And 10! it was found that Mr.. Ban
croft himself was riding on a pass.
After this there was nothing for Mr..
Bancroft to do but become a Stalwart
and denounce the Progressives as
s'muckrakers." The press then quotes
him as saying, "The insurgents are
like rebels" when a man gets SO
big in his own eyes he thinks he is
bigger than the majority of his party,
he ought to be kicked out of that
party" He is so conceited he doubt
less thought the party would kick La
Toilette out.
Mr.. S. E. Smalley, who is also a
candidate for Circuit Judge, was a
member of the Wisconsin legislature
in 1901 and 1908. The records show
that he supported all the measures
drawn in the interest of the people
and democracy including the Primary
election law, the needed change in
railroad assessment. Woman Suffrage
and National Prohibition. We have
not been able 10 find anything incon-