The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-02-09
JACKPOT HELD
AS LOR|MER AID
Senator Jones Lays Scandal to
Corrupt System.
DECLARES MONEY WAS USED
Fletcher of Florida, Warmly Defends
Illinois Colleague Against Bribery
Charge-Puts onus Of Trou-
BILE on Accuser White.

ley l.. Jones of Washington charged in
speech in the United States senate
that the Illinois legislative Jackpot
fund was used to purchase votes in
the election of William Lorimer to the
senate.
He contended that the animatine
purpose behind the use of the Jack
pot" was the defeat for reelection of
Albert j. Hopkins, then senator, rather
than the elevation of Mr.. Lorimer to
the senatorial office.
Discussing the Jackpot" in detail
Mr.. Jones said:
The committee finds that there
was a jackpot fund that was used
for or against legislation. 1t had been
in existence for years. 1t had be,
come q well-known appurtenance of
the Illinois legislature"
Holds Promises Not Necessary.
This, the senator thought, threw
much light on the testimony of the
witnesses who confessed that they
were paid money after the election,
but that no promise had been made to
them before it that they were to re-
ceive any money, and also that when
they did receive the money they asked
no questions.
1T was not necessary to promise
any money" added the senator; 1T
was not necessary to ask why the
money was paid. This was a part of
the system.
so under the system it is doubt
less true that il a member was indict-
ed for bribery in connection with leg
islation he could say that he had not
been promised dollar to support or
oppose such legislation, and that he
had not received any money in con-
sideration of his vote thereon, and
that nothing had ever been said to
him in regard to it,"
Brings in Hopkins.
Surmising that the fund" had been
contributed from various undcter-
mined sources, Mr.. Jones said that
its existence had been generally
known and relied on for certain lines
of service in the legislature. Coming
to the use of this money and possibly
of additional funds in the senatorial
contest, the Washington senator
brought Mr.. Hopkins name into the
controversy, saying:
There was bitter and determined
opposition to the reelection of Sena-
tor Hopkins. There was strong oppo-
sition to him in the Republican ranks:
il also appears that among the Demo
Gratis there was very intense hostili-
ty to him especially, and this opposi-
ton had something behind it besides
the personal opposition of the mem
bers of the legislature, and if there
were interests outside the legislature
that habitually contributed to the
jackpot fund to control legislation,
it takes no stretch of the Imagination
to believe that here were outside in
terests that would be perfectly willing
to contribute to the Jackpot fund for
the purpose of defeating Mr.. Hopkins
Says Money Was Used.
Money was used to defeat him, and
this money was put in the hands of
the same person who handled the
jackpot fund, If it was not put into
the fund itself,
THE money was not money to elect
Lorimer: it was money to defeat Hop
kins. II could be used to elect anyone
they could elect. so it was not Hop
kins.
This is the reason why Browne
was so insistent that his men should
not vote for Lorimer until he was sure
that there were enough votes to put
Il over"
Fletcher Defends Lorimer.
Senator Fletcher of Florida, a men,
Der of the committee on privileges and
elections, addressed the senate in sup
port of the committees report ex-
onerating Mr.. Lorimer. Mr.. Fletcher
would not admit that -four of the
members of the legislature had testi-
fled to receiving money as consid
eratic.n for their votes" as stated in
the report of the committee.
81 called attention to that clause
and said that did not so understand
the testimony" he said. but stated
that while they testified to receiving
InOneys 6dCn WI IHeIH Sdlu lie NOI6Q LOT
Mr.. Lorimer without consideration of
any kind being paid or promised.
understood the chairman and the COM
mittee to agree with that: and the
chairman to state he would have the
wording corrected. find that Ian
guage carried into the report and
think 1t Ia mistake" .w.
CAN the trouble" was traced to
Charles A. White by the Florida sena-
tor. who denounced that member of
the Illinois legislature as "the limit"
In many "disreputabie directions"
Mr.. Lorimer was stoutly defended
against the charge of knowledge of
any bribery that may have been prac-
ticed. as he was against all plotting
with Browne or others in connection
with the senatorship.
May Operate for Abscess.
Senator Lorimer has been suffering
for the past day or two with a pain
full abscess in one ear. An, operation
may prove necessary. He has gone tol
Chicago to consult specialist.