Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-28
Charged IL Democrats
Were to Have Been Of
fered $4,000 Each
TO VOTE FOR SENATOR
Speaker ShurtIeff, 1t Is Alleged.
Blocked Deal and Election
of Lorimer Followed.

Chicago, July 2s.-The Tribune OF
this morning uncovers another sensa-
ton in connection with the election of
a United States senator by the session
of the legislature that chose William
Lorimer 1t puts the Hopkins cam
paign management in much the same
light as Lorimer's. The Tribune says:
EARLY in the session of the last gen.
eraI assembly-in January. 1909
within the week following the first fu-
tile efforts to elect United States SEN
ator, an attempt was made to purchase
II democrats to vote for Albert ]. Hop
kins, then occupant of the seat which
is now in the uncertain possession of
William Lorimer.
'Thirty-five thousand dollars was the
fund supposedly available for the pur-
chase; $4,000 a head was the price
agreed to; the sales agents for the
democrats were two members of hard
ly more than minority Importance on
the minority side-their names not be-
ing known-and the block of necessary
votes had been selected and was ready
for delivery.
Friends Unknown.
LAS In the case of Mr.. Lorimer later,
so then in the case of Mr.. Hopkins
the philanthropists who in the one case
did and in the other case were to fur
nish the money remain unknown. 1t
is asserted that Mr.. Hopkins did not
know his friends or of their plans.
"The menevho more than all others
made the purchase possible were Roger
C Sullivan, democratic national COM
mitteeman for Illinois; Speaker Ed
ward d. Shurtleff, and William Lori
mer.
"Mr. Sullivan may have been stirred
last Monday at the Midday club by
some recollection of his part in the
transaction when he asked the execu-
tive committeeman of the Legislative
Voters league why they had been idle
while the friends of Albert J. Hopkins
were busy in Springfield.
THE purchase of democrats for Hop
kins was stopped because Speaker
Shurtleff, learning of the plan to de-
liver, threatened a complete exposure
and beause Mr.. Sullivan, gathering the
democrats for a lecture in the st. Mich
olas hotel, told them that he would
put an end politically to any democrat
who dared vote for the republican jun
ior senator.
Intoxicated Member Talks.
"The scheme was disclosed to the
anti-Hopkins republican organization
and to the democratic leaders, it is
said, by the alcoholic babblings of
democrat whose vote had been negotia-
ted and who, in his cups, was rejoicing
that some easy money was in sight.
Word was carried to Shurtleff and Lor-
inner, who had been successful in pre-
venting the election of Hopkins in the
separate balloting of Jan. 10 and in the
first joint session of Jan. 20. 1t also
was telephoned to Mr.. Sullivan in Chi
cago.
'Shurtleff sent for the two democrats
who were reported to him as being the
manipulators of the delivery and Sui
livan took the $50 Chicago & Alton
train for Springfield.
''The day, as nearly as it can be fixed,
was Thursday, Jan. 81, when seven in
effectual ballots had been taken and
when, by agreement, further balloting
had been postponed Mr. Hopkins, on
the 18th ballot of the series, the one
which ended the days attempts, had
S3 votes, lacking 20 of the necessary
majority. Their were, however, ab-
sentee republicans who could be as
sembled and who ould be counted for
Hopkins, and it was figured that from
Is to II democrats would be enough to
elect.
Shurtleff States His Course.
"Mr. Sturtleff, being informed and
having asked two of the democrats to
visit him. told them in his room at the
st. Nicholas hotel that their plans were
known. He said that he and his friends
regarded such an attempt as prejudi-
cial to the best interests of the repub-
lican and democratic parties, SO preju-
dicial as to make him certain of the
course it would be necessary for him !
to pursue.
''He said it would not be pleasant,
but nevertheless it would be necessary
for him to stop the roll call at the pre-
else moment when the first democrat
voted for Albert ]. Hopkins
Sullivan in Denial.
Roger Sullivan to reporters denied
all knowledge of the story. Shurtleff,
who arrived here from Springfield, de-
clined to comment.