The Milwaukee Leader

SEN. SEVERSON DEFIES BLAINE: WON'T APPEAR

Continued From Page One.

But, the order will be in vain; because I will not under any circumstances appear before him.

Blaine Orders Showdown.

MADISON, Wis.—Gov. John J. Blaine Saturday ordered Senator Herman J. Severson to substantiate his charges of official corruption in the state capitol under oath at a hearing in the executive office next Thursday, at 2 p. m., or be removed from his office as a member of the free library commission.

Besides being a state senator, Severson holds the commission post under appointment by Blaine.

Order Sent to Solon.

The governor's order sent to Severson at his home in Iola, Wis., is as follows:

"Whereas, beginning on or about June 13, 1923, and ever since then you have pruriently maligned scores of men and women in the state capitol and through insinuations attempted to besmirch their righteous conduct and good service, alleging that women have been assaulted in the capitol, and,

Whereas, you have, by insinuations and innuendo charged malfeasance in office by state officials pointing out the malfeasance you allege or the officials against whom you make the charge, and,

"Officials Are Accused."

"Whereas, you have repeatedly insinuated misconduct on the part of officials, without specifying the alleged misconduct and without naming any officials and,

"Whereas, it has been repeatedly demanded that you make specific the names of state officials and the time and place of any alleged offense with reference to any and all your insinuations, as to any charge of imputation, and,

"Whereas, you have failed and refused to make definite and specific such charges, or to name any official, and,

"Besmirched State Officers."

"Whereas, you have basely and mendaciously attempted to besmirch and defame, by loose and sweeping insinuations, elective and appointive state officers, both men and women, and,

"Whereas, it has been and is now your duty to bring before the governor any information or facts which you claim to have in relation to any of the charges you have made, by innuendo and insinuation or otherwise, and,

"Whereas, you hold a public office, namely a member of the free library commission, under a commission issued by me as governor,

Hearing Date Set.

"Now therefore, it is hereby ordered that on the 11th day of September, 1924, at 2 o'clock, in the afternoon thereof, at the executive office in the capitol at Madison, you appear and under oath or otherwise divulge any information or facts that you claim to possess in connection with any state official, state employe or state agent; and,

"It is further ordered that at such time and place you show cause why you should not be removed as a member of the free library commission for misconduct and for failure to make specific and definite and all or charges heretofore made by you with respect to any public matter, and for your failure to present the information, evidence or testimony that you have or claim to have in relation to the above matters."

JOHN J. BLAINE.

Blaine to be Judge.

George B. Clementson, Grant county prosecutor, suspended from office for defiance of the governor's orders, must conduct his fight to retain the post he has held for four terms with his accuser as judge.

Clementson will appear at the hearing in the executive offices next Tuesday at 2 p. m., to show cause "why the order of suspension should be set aside." Gov. John J. Blaine will be the tribunal. The hearing will be public so far as the limitations of the executive offices permit.

"Case Is Prejudged."

Clementson, Saturday, notified Gov. John J. Blaine that he did not expect to get justice at the hearing next Tuesday to determine whether he shall be removed from office.

"The case is prejudged," Clementson declared in a letter to the executive.

Clementson admitted sending disrespectful telegrams in answer to demands for arrest of Klansmen who held a parade in Blaine's home town, but added that the demand was insulting.

"If I overstepped the bounds of propriety in my answer to your telegrams," Clementson said, "my excuse must be the natural resentment I felt that you should assume to substitute your judgment for my own."