Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-29
Gov. Deneen Denies
Entering Into Conspiracy

SPRINGF1ELD, H., May 2s.-Gov.
Deneen today issued the following, state
ment in reference to the speech in the
United States Senate in which he was
attacked by Senator Lorimcr:
While the reports of Senator Lorimers
speech obtained by me today have been
meager, / understand he charges that
have entered into a conspiracy with the
Chicago Tribune to have published the
confession of Representative White.
This charge is without any foundation
of fact. The facts are as follows: About
midnight of the day before the story was
published representative of the Chicago
Tribune met me at the Union League
Club and Informed me that he had been
waiting two hours to see me: that the
editor OF the Tribune was exceedingly
anxious to interview me about matter of
great Importance, and that they would
have to go TO press within a few minutes.
Accordingly l went to the Tribune office
nearby.
"A statement was there made to ME
Of Mr.. Whites confession and An inter-
view was requested. \ brief interview
was given by me in which I stated in
be made of the assertions contained in
the confession. ] expressed no opinion
regarding the truth of the charges.
MIR. Whites confession was in type
at the Tribune Office. This was the first
lintimation received that Mr.. White had
confessed or was in any way implicated
in charges of bribery Regarding the
deadlock over the senatorship: After
the p imaries / stood for the election
Of Senator Hopkins and did not know
that Mr.. Lorimer, AIR. Shurtleff and
their friends were against MIN until
minority of the republican members who
were in harmony with MIR. Lorimer and
Speaker Shurtlen had effected an organi-
cation of the house with the aid Of demo-
cratic members.
Sought to Restore Harmony.
After the deadlock had existed some
time Mr.. Lorimer called upon me re-
peatedly. l had assumed from CONVERSE
tions we had at these times that it was
entirely with view of effecting a rec
onciliation between republican factions;
and Notwithstanding that l felt I had
suffered Injustly by reason of attacks
made upon me by him and his friends,
both in the preceding legislature, the
preceding primaries, the preceding cleo
ton, the preceding organization of the
house and in the effort to unseat me and
scat my opponent as governor-Still 1
felt that | should lay aside all personal
feelings and interest in the hope Of bring
Ing about harmony in the party.
mir. Loriner informed me that his
! friends would not under any circum-
stances vote for Senator Hopkins, and
1T was impossible to elect sena tor by
republican votes without the votes of
his friends. l stated that they should
go to. republican caucus to select a
Candidate. who could secure the
majority of the caucus, and thereafter
the full vote of the party in his cleo
ton to the senatorship.
This is the view taken by repub-
licans throughout the state, and a
number Of names had been mentioned
candidates, among them being Col.
Frank Lowien, Representative McKin-
ley, Mr.. A. G. Bartlett. W. A. Roden-
berg. and number of others, among
them being Roy o. West.
Opposed to Caucus Plan.
Mr.. Lorimer was opposed to the plan
of nominating by caucus. Later 1 was
informed by him and his friends that
could be elected senator / refused
to consider it, Nevertheless, shortly
before his election. an effort was made
by MIR. Loriner and his friends i'm the
general assembly to elect me. l called
together in my Office republicans who
had supported me in the senate and
who had gone into republican caucus
in the house, and stated to them that
this movement was without my ap-
proval, and that l would not accept the
Office If elected.
Shortly before Senator Lorimer was
elected. and after the deadlock has
a - cod nm, 20 he