The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-06-04
PROBE GETTING
GRAFT STORIES
SeversOn Lifts Lid and PO-
litical Stenches Fill Air
at Madison.
TOM PURTELL AGAIN

Madison, Wis. E.. - Testimony
purporting to show an alleged attempt
on the part of one George A. Clark,
senate policeman, to influence the vote
of former Senator E. T. Ridgway, Elk
horn, on a tax bill during the 1928
legislative session, was introduced in
the special senatorial graft" investi-
CATION, here late yesterday.
DR.. Ridgway, who so testified, as
serted under oath that Clark, whose
name had previously been mentioned
in the testimony as being one of sew
eral men directly responsible for
"spiriting away Senator Barney Moran
to prevent his vote on the tax bilI' in
that session, came to him with the
proposal that he confer with the gov
ernor in regard to an appointment to
the state board of control, which
Ridgway said he at that time desired.
The witness said Clark told him, he
was confident this appointment could
be brought about. The senator said
the tax bill was mentioned in this
connection.
The witness declared he told Clark
it was no time to talk about the mat
ter and did not go to see the executive.
He admitted he had gone to Governor
Blaine twice earlier in the session
about a place on the state board of
control but the request was not grant
ed. This was before the tax bill was
under discussion, the witness said.
Close Friend of Blaine.
Under questioning of Assemblyman
Charles B. Perry, acting as counsel for
Senator H, j. Severson the first wit
ness in the inquiry and the person d.
rectly responsible for the investiga-
ton, Dr. Ridgway declared he was in
formed Clark was "a very close friend
of the governor and had right to
talk"
Testimony also was submitted by
the witness purporting to show that
Clark so approached him with pro-
posal to get an appointment as county
Judge for George W. Page, an Elkhorn
attorney, friend of the witness.
No testimony was submitted to show
that Governor Blaine knew of any of
these advances by Clark or if Clark
was acting solely on his own respon-
sibility.
The Barney Moran kidnapping Incl
dent" of the session of 1928 occupied
a large portion of the initial session
of the inquiry.
In examination of Senator Severson
and DIR. Ridgway, testimony tending to
show a connection between two sena-
tors, and two senate employees, as per-
sons concerned in a dispute as to who
should pay for the transporting" of
the Moran from the senate at the time
the 1928 tax fight was being waged,
was submitted.
Senator Severson asserted on the
stand he had been approached by Will
liam Becker in the summer of 1928
and asked if he would undertake to
collect the automobile transportation
charges in the Moran incident.
Mr.. Decker, the witness said assert
ed he had not been paid for the trip,
but had been "shunted about from
Senator Carey to Senator Johnson to
Chief Clerk Shoenfeld" in connection
with his pay.
The witness said he declined to act
as attorney for Decker. He added
that he was informed that Decker af-
terward was given a position under
the state civil service and believed
he still held that position.
A document purporting to be a
statement containing the facts of the
Barney Moran kidnapping" was intro
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