The second paragraph of the preamble, beginning with line 13, recites what the investigating committee found, but does not refer to any specific charges theretofore made. The third paragraph of the preamble recites the formal transmission by the governor, of the report of the committees, and the testimony taken by both of said committees.

The first section of the resolution making "resolves" is a concurrence by the legislature in the findings and recommendation of the senate committee as members of the joint committee and of the separate senate committee. The second paragraph of section 1 of the resolution, beginning with line 6, on page 2, provides for the sending of a copy of the report and appendices of the senate members of the joint committee and of the senate investigation committee, together with a copy of the resolution embracing the preamble and section 1, which was to be certified by the secretary of state to the United States Senate for its action thereon and by such resolution the United States Senate is requested to investigate the manner, means, and methods by and through which Isaac Stephenson secured his election to the United States Senate. Section 2 of the resolution is no part of the record intended for the United States Senate, as it plainly speaks for itself.

Coming at the close of my examination, the suggestion from a member of your committee that the governor had transmitted to the United States Senate a copy of the charges filed by me and that the resolution asked the United States Senate to investigate those charges, I deem it proper to transmit to your committee joint resolution No. 10 S, and the substitute amendment No. 1 S, which controverts any such suggestion. I am not advised that your committee so understood the matter, but that the record may be made plain I beg leave to submit the joint resolution finally adopted by our legislature, being substitute amendment No. 1 S to joint resolution No. 10 S, with my statement in explanation transmitted herewith to be a part of your record. I have endeavored to make my statement conform to the record and without making comments aside from what appears plainly upon the face of the resolution and the substitute amendment thereto.

Yours, very truly,

[State of Wisconsin in Senate.

JOHN J. BLAINE.

Substitute amendment No. 1 8, to joint resolution No. 10 8.]

Joint resolution relating to the investigation of the primary and general election of 1908 and the election of United States Senator in 1909.

Whereas the senate committee members of the joint investigation committee, and the senate investigation committee appointed to investigate the manner, means, and methods by which the primary campaign and election of the year 1908 is claimed to have been corruptly and unlawfully conducted, and to fully, fairly, and thoroughly investigate the campaign and election of Isaac Stephenson to the United States Senate, and the campaign of the primary and general election, and the primary election and election of the members of the last legislature, so far as the same in any way pertained to or affected the election of Isaac Stephenson to the United States Senate, have, in accordance with the resolutions adopted for said purposes, made and filed their report with the governor of the State of Wisconsin; and

Whereas the senate committee members of the joint senatorial primary investigation committee and the senate investigation committee have in said report found that Isaac Stephenson did commit acts of bribery and attempted bribery, and did commit other acts in violation of the corrupt practices laws of Wisconsin relating to said matters; and further, that the managers and agents of Isaac Stephenson in said primary campaign and election and general election and senatorial election did, by acts of bribery and attempted bribery and other acts in violation of the corrupt practices laws and penal statutes of Wisconsin relating to said matters obtain for the said Isaac Stephenson votes without which he would not have been elected, and that for such reason the election of said Isaac Stephenson to the United States Senate was null and void, and such election of the said Isaac Stephenson to the United States Senate should be annulled by the United States Senate.

Whereas his excellency, Gov. Francis B. McGovern, on the 17th day of January, 1911, transmitted to the consideration of the Legislature of Wisconsin such report and the appendices accompanying the same, together with a report of a majority of the assembly members of said joint senatorial primary investigation committee, together with the testimony taken by both of said committees.

Section 1. Therefore be it resolved by the senate (the assembly concurring), That the senate and assembly concur in the findings and recommendations of said senate committee members of the joint senatorial primary investigation committee and the senatorial primary investigation committee as by them found and recommended and as above recited: Be it further

Resolved, That a copy of the report and appendices of said senate committee members of the joint senatorial investigation committee and of the senate primary investigation committee, together with a copy of this resolution embracing the preamble and section 1 of this resolution be certified by the secretary of state to the United States Senate for its action thereon. And the United States Senate is hereby requested to investigate the manner, means, and methods by and through which Isaac Stephenson secured his election to the United States Senate.

Section 2. Be it further resolved, That a copy of the report of the senate committee members of the joint senatorial primary investigation committee and the senate primary investigation committee, and its appendices, together with a copy of this resolution be certified by the secretary of state to the district attorney of Dane County with recommendation from the senate and assembly that prosecution be commenced against all persons shown by the evidence in said investigation to have committed perjury.

And it is further recommended by the senate and assembly that prosecution be commenced in the proper counties of the State by the prosecuting officers thereof against all persons shown by the evidence in the said investigation to have been guilty of a violation of the corrupt practices or bribery statute, or other penal statutes relating to the matters referred to herein.

[State of Wisconsin, in senate joint resolution No. 108, introduced by Senator Husting.]

Joint resolution relating to the investigation of the primary election of 1908. Whereas the senate members of the joint investigation committees and the senate members of the senate committee appointed to investigate the manner, means, and methods by which the primary campaign of the year 1908 is claimed to have been corruptly or unlawfully conducted, and to fully, fairly, and thoroughly investigate the campaign and election of Isaac Stephenson to the United States Senate, and the campaign and election of the members of the last legislature so far as their election in any way pertained to or affected the election of Isaac Stephenson to the United States Senate, have, in accordance with said resolution, made and filed their report with the governor of the State of Wisconsin; and

Whereas the senate members of the joint senatorial primary investigation committee and members of the senate investigation committee have in said report found that Isaac Stephenson did commit acts of bribery and attempted bribery, and did commit other acts in violation of the corrupt practice laws of Wisconsin; and further, that the managers, agents, and workers of Isaac Stephenson, in said primary campaign, did, by acts of bribery and attempted bribery, and other acts in violation of the corrupt practice laws of Wisconsin in conducting his campaign, obtain for the said Isaac Stephenson votes without which he would not have been elected, and that for such reason the election of the said Isaac Stephenson to the United States Senate should be annulled; and

Whereas his excellency, Gov. Francis E. McGovern, on the 17th day of January, 1911, transmitted to the consideration of the Legislature of Wisconsin such report and appendices, together with a report of a majority of the assembly members of the joint senatorial primary investigation committee, and together with the testimony taken by both of said committees: Therefore be it'

Resolved by the senate (the assembly concurring), That the senate and assembly concur in the findings and recommendations of the said senate members of the joint senatorial primary investigation committee and the members of the senate primary investigation committee: And be it further

Resolved, That a copy of the report of said senate members of the joint senatorial investigation committee and the members of the senate primary investigation committee, together with a copy of this resolution, be certified to the United States Senate for its action thereon, with the request that that body investigate the manner and means by and through which Isaac Stephenson secured his election to the United States Senate: And be it further

Resolved, That a copy of the above and foregoing report, together with a copy of this resolution be certified to the district attorney of Dane County with the recommendation that prosecution be commenced against all persons shown by the evidence to have committed perjury in said investigation, and that a like copy be certified to the attorney general directing that he cause to be commenced in the proper counties of the State prosecution against all persons shown by the evidence to have been guilty of corrupt practices or bribery in the campaign investigated.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1911.

FEDERAL BUILDING,
Milwaukee, Wis.

The subcommittee met at 10 o'clock a. m. Present: Senators Heyburn (chairman), Sutherland, and Pomerene. Present also: Mr. C. E. Littlefield, Mr. W. E. Black, and Mr. H. H. J. Upham, counsel for Senator Isaac Stephenson.

The CHAIRMAN. The following witnesses summoned to appear this morning will come forward as their names are called: Levi H. Bancroft, M. C. Ring, Rev. F. J. Eppling, C. E. Brady, and William L. Essman.

(Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Brady, and Mr. Eppling responded to their names and the oath was administered to them by the chairman.)

The CHAIRMAN. You will remain in attendance. Mr. S. L. Perrin will take the stand.

Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Bancroft, who has just been sworn, is the present attorney general. I think he would like to make some suggestion to the committee with reference to the question of his attendance.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be very glad to hear the attorney general.

Mr. BANCROFT. Gentlemen, the only suggestion I wish to make is this: I can remain in attendance to-day and to-morrow, but it would seriously conflict with my business engagements if I were detained longer. I can attend at any time to suit the convenience of the committee if you can not reach me before then; but I should like to be excused in order to attend to other matters.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will so arrange that you may be heard to-day or to-morrow, if that will be convenient to you. Mr. BANCROFT. Thank you.

TESTIMONY OF SOLON L. PERRIN.

SOLON L. PERRIN, having been previously sworn, was examined and testified as follows:

The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation?

Mr. PERRIN. Attorney at law.

The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside?

Mr. PERRIN. Superior.

The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided there?

Mr. PERRIN. Sixteen years.

The CHAIRMAN. Did you take an active part in the primary campaign of 1908, at which Senator Stephenson was a candidate for nomination?

Mr. PERRIN. Somewhat active.

The CHAIRMAN. Did you carry that forward to the campaign before the legislature after it was elected?

Mr. PERRIN. I did not.

The CHAIRMAN. Whatever you had to do with it was during the primary, was it?

Mr. PERRIN. Entirely.

The CHAIRMAN. Did you support Senator Stephenson at that primary?

Mr. PERRIN. I did.

The CHAIRMAN. Were you well acquainted with him?

Mr. PERRIN. Not very well acquainted with him prior to his election to the Senate the first time. I had known of him for a great many years.

The CHAIRMAN. Did you receive any money from Senator Stephenson, or from those who were acting for him as his campaign managers, during that campaign?

Mr. PERRIN. I did.

The CHAIRMAN. How much?

Mr. PERRIN. $5,000.

The CHAIRMAN. When did you receive that amount?

Mr. PERRIN. It was paid to me at three different times, as I remember it now. The first payment, I think

The CHAIRMAN. Was it July 30?

Mr. PERRIN. I think that was the date.

The CHAIRMAN. From whom did you receive it?

Mr. PERRIN. From Mr. Edmonds.

The GHAIRMAN. In what form?

Mr. PERRIN. Either a check or a draft.

The CHAIRMAN. You cashed it, did you?

Mr. PERRIN. Yes; I had it cashed.

The CHAIRMAN. And disbursed or used the proceeds of it?
Mr. PERRIN. I did.

The CHAIRMAN. That was $1,000?

Mr. PERRIN. That was the first.

The CHAIRMAN. On August 4 did you receive another sum?

Mr. PERRIN. About that time, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. By draft?

Mr. LITTLEFIELD. What was the first date that the chairman gave? The CHAIRMAN. July 30.

Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Do you find that in Exhibit 49?

The CHAIRMAN. I get it from pages 1918 and 1919 of the testimony. Mr. LITTLEFIELD. Oh, yes; that is the testimony of Mr. Perrin before the legislative committee?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes. I have that before me.

Mr. LITTLEFIELD. There is so much of this matter that we had an abstract made; and our abstract is shy $1,000 on the amount paid Mr. Perrin, as I find when I come to look it up.

The CHAIRMAN. There are three items. I will disclose them in a moment.

You say that on August 4 you received $1,000 from Mr. Edmonds by draft?

Mr. PERRIN. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. On August 15 did you receive $3,000 by check from Mr. Edmonds?

Mr. PERRIN. Check or draft; I am not sure which.

Senator POMERENE. You say the second item was $1,000?

The CHAIRMAN. The second item was $1,000; the third item was $3,000. You will find them on pages 1918 and 1919.

Senator POMERENE. Yes; I have them.

The CHAIRMAN. I refer to the pages of the testimony because they are officially before us. For what purpose was the first sum of $1,000 given to you by Mr. Edmonds?

Mr. PERRIN. To electioneer for Senator Stephenson.

The CHAIRMAN. What do you mean by the word "electioneer"? Mr. PERRIN. I mean furthering his cause.

The CHAIRMAN. What acts did you do that furthered his cause? Mr. PERRIN. I procured assistance to disseminate information in regard to the reasons why we thought he should be returned to the Senate.

The CHAIRMAN. Did you retain all of that money, or pay out part of it?

Mr. PERRIN. Are you speaking of the first thousand dollars?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes.

Mr. PERRIN. I paid that all out.

The CHAIRMAN. Did you file a statement showing the manner of the disbursement of that money?

Mr. PERRIN. I presented a statement to the joint investigating committee of the legislature, showing the disbursement of that money so far as I was able to at that time.

The CHAIRMAN. I want to turn to your statement, Exhibit 107, page 1923, and extending over to page 1924. I find in this testimony

a statement marked "Exhibit 107" which undertakes to account for $4,508.25 of the amount. How do you account for the unexpended balance? Did you keep that for your own services?

Mr. PERRIN. I did.

The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with this statement?
Mr. PERRIN. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. We will transfer it to this testimony.
(The statement referred to is as follows:)