The Washington times., 1911-07-29
Continued from First Page.)

(COntlnue0 from E1rSL HaBe.)
about his experiences. He said he wal
informed a week before the election
that Lorimer could win II he were put
forward. Stringer did not know how the
deal was made to put Lorimer over. D
He said there was an especially bitter
feeling toward Hopkins among the Dem.
ocrats.
Much the same was testified by for.
mer Senator William E. Mason. who
also received information long in ad-
vance that Lorimer could win. The
cherubic former Senator had a good
deal of fun on the stand. telling his
experience with "check-book candidateS'
and touching up things generally.
Senator Kern questioned Stringer at
some length. He wanted to know
whether the Illinois Democrats were
pretty well in line with the Bryan ideals
In lSOS,-and whether they regarded Lori
mer as devoted to the same views and
purposes as Bryan.
We'll, regard Mr.. Lorimer as one
OF that class Of politicians that believe
In winning elections" was the cryptic
You say that two weeks or more be-
fore the election 1t was reported that
torlmer could get votes enough to
elect? We're there reports of anything
wrong in that connection?"
No, not at that time. 1t seemed un-
NCA oAoOu mat cpcdhSE OF LOT
inner could get enough Democratic votes
to win: but Shurtleff was understood
not to want II. The last two or three
days before election some of my close
friends came and said there was some
thing crooked going on"
Looked Suspicious.
II came to realize that It had a suspI-
cious look, but the first concrete state
ment was that by Representative Eng
lish on the floor OF the House the day
OF the election"
Stringer said the first corruption talk
he heard was early in the session when
rumors were circulated about a deal to
elect Hopkins. After that" he went
on. Everything was more or less under
Asked what were the particular rea-
sons why Lorimer and Shurtleff were
thought able TO command Democratic
votes. Stringer said:
There seemed from the very begin
ming to be a close community of Interest
between the Shurtleff Republicans and
the Lee-O' Neill-Brown Democrats. They
had Joined to elect Shurtlcff speaker,
and were generally close together. Oc-
ca siOnally you would hear II observed
that whoever gets the Senatorship this
session will have to pay for it."
You campaigned Illinois in 1903 for
the SenatOrship2" asked Senator Ken
yon.
Il should say I did
Have any contributions TO your fund
from big Chicago interests?"
Move Democrats were in a mighty
bad way financially that year"
Yes: every other year, too" laughed
Senator Kern, sottO voce.
Were you surprised that f1fty-three
Democrats in a body went over and
voted for a Republican,"
'No-I had come to be prepared for II.
that Shurtleff and Brown mad
the power to make combination that
would elect any man they agreed on"
No difference what that man stood
,or?"
mo. the situation had got beyond
Of such things"
What do your Illinois Democrats be-
ieve in--Republican or Democratic prin-
ciples?'' ]
''Real Democrats believe in Demo-
cratic principles
Who are your real Democrats out
.here-the ones who voted for Lorimer?"
No, hardly"
Those who voted for you on the last |
BALLOT"
well, yes" replied the witness. with |
an expansive smile II should say that
hose were Simon-pure Democrats
Stringer told about the persistent ef-
'ort to break down his strength among |
he Democrats. Those engaged in this !