New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-29
GOV. DENEEN'S DENIAL
Was Not Concerned in Publlca-
tion-a Mediator.

Springfield, ILL., May Ex-Governor Deneen
issued the following statement to-day In
reference to the speech in the United
States Senate in which he was attacked by
Senator Lorimer
while the reports of Senator Lorimers
speech obtained by me to-day have been
meagre, l understand he charges that L
have entered into 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 a representative of The chi
cago 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 few minutes.
Accordingly 1 went to The Tribune or
flee. nearby.
"A statement was there made to me or
Mr. Whites confession and an interview
was requested a brief interview was
given by me, In which l stated in substance
that a full examination should be made of
the assertions contained in the confession.
I expressed no opinion regarding the truth
of the charges.
Mr. Whites confession was in type and
was on the press when L arrived at The
Tribune office. This was the first init
nation | received that Mr.. White had con-
fessed or was in any way implicated in
charges of bribery.
The Deadlock.
Regarding the deadlock over the Sena-
torshp: After the primaries l stood for the
election of Senator Hopkins, and did not
know that Mr.. Lorimer. Mr.. Shurtleff and
their friends against him until a
minority of the Republican members who
were in harmony with Mr.. Lorimer and
Speaker Shurtleff had effected an organiza-
ton of the House with the aid of Demo-
cratic members.
After the deadlock had existed some
time Mr.. Lorimer called upon me repeated
w. / had assumed from conversations we
had at these times that it was entirely with
a view to effecting reconciliation between
Republican factions, and notwithstanding
that 1 felt had suffered un1ustly by rea-
son of attacks made upon me by him and
his friends, both in the preceding Legis-
lature. the preceding primaries the proceed
ing election, the preceding organization OF
the House and in the effort TO unSeat ME
and seat my opponent as Governor-stili L
felt that | should lay aside all personal
feelings and int, est in the hope OF prlng-
ing bout harmony in the party
Mr. Lorimer informed me that ms
friends would not under amy circumstances
vote for Senator Hopkins, and as II was
impossible to elect Senator by Repupllcah
votes. without the votes of his frlenos'
stated that they should go to RepuDilcan
caucus to select a candidate VINO couiu
secure the majority of the caucus anu
thereafter the full vote of the party IN MS
eletion to the Senatorship.
.sThis was the view taken by Republicans
throughout the state, and a huinpei VI
names had been mentioned in this conhec-
ton by friends of various cahuiud,e''
among them being Colonel Frank Lo"oen'
congressman Mckinley. A C. Bartlett. W.
A. Rodenberg and number OF oIhers'
among them being Roy 0. West
senatorship Offered Deneen.
MIR. Iorimer was opposed TO the plan
Of nominating by caucus. Later 1 was in
formed by him and his friends that couId
be elected Senator. I refused to consider
It, Nevertheless, shortly before his cleo
ton an effort was made by Mr. Lorimer
and his friends In the General Assembly
to elect me. / called together in my office
Republicans who had supported me in the
Senate and who had gone INTO Republi-
can caucus in the House and stated TO them
that this movement was without my ap-
proval and that l would not accept the
office II elected.
Shortly before Senator Lorimer was
elected and after the deadlock had dragged
on for months it became apparent that he
- F-=a d.
whom he mentions In his speech. called
upon me, and / advised them strongly
against voting for him, even though he
could get minority of the Republicans to
aid the Democrats in electing him. All of
these facts were published as the contest
went on and were at that time familiar 10
the public.
While l am surprised at the character
of the statements made by Senator Lori
mer. | am at a loss to know what possible
relation they bear to the charge now uu-
der investigation-that his election 10 the
United States Senate was procured by
90 A-tlx