The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-29
Urged This in Order to
Obtain Vote for
Tariff Bill.
DEALER
GIVES EVIDENCE
Declares Also That Aldrich and
Penrose Discussed Matter With
Him. and Insisted on Early
Action by Illinois Legis1a-
ture-Inquiry Begins
at Springfield.

Springfield, ILL.,. March 2s.-That
President Taft and Senator's Aldrich
and Penrose urged the election Of VIII
nam HLorimer as Senator from ILL.,
nots, In order to obtain a vote for the
Payne tariff bill, was the burden of
testimony given to-day by Edward
Hines. q Chicago lumber dealer, before
the Senate investigation committee.
which to-day began an inquiry into
aliesed bribery in the Illinois Leeisla-
ture at the time Senator I,ortmer was
elected Senator.
Mr.. Hines was the first witness. He
testified that President Taft and sena-
~ Alurich were uneasy about the c
atorlal deadlock at Springfield. and
that they had urged him to do his ut
most in bringing ABOUT Senator Lori
.ners election. Mr.. Hines declared
Imat PRESIDENT Taft was anxious that
lilinois should elect n senator without
delay. in view OF the then pendina
tariff bill. "
Mr.. Hines said:
Testimony of Hines.
Il. thlnk along in April, 1909. Sena.
= cn.ose asked me whether a United
states Senator would be electaa f.o.s
illinois. | told him that I did nor ,.nom,
Stnin about the situation. IN.
CURED Of several Congressman Con.
sressman Lorimer did not know anv-
.hinR more about it thar any othax
man In Washington.
h, senator Aldrich asked me- ah,nt
me matter, and I told him what Cnn
sresstnaIl Lorfmer had stated. T think
VI. i-orlmer went back to Sprinraa1d
asaln IN a few days and returned 7
60, MN whether he could not be-
80 q uandldate; whether the differ
cit conflicting interests could ro+ 49,
eiue upon him. He said no: he va not
q candidate. and had not. been p % MAJ
date. Do q caHul
incn Senator A1drich calne 70 40
ny 'oid me that the President waa
F.. desirous OF Mr.. orimer.s NJ
coming a candida tc. and ~ AZ al, ~.
could to be elected at the "a rIiast :
Possibie. that the tariff bill. +ba 80
caiied Payne tariff bill, was thar :,
- ne senate and showed a very strong
PROBABILITY of being unable To nass
II there was not a Senator iron, II,;A
nois. On liz
/ y very short time prior to Mr..
formers election Senator A1drioh
cdine 10 ME again and stated tbs Pras,
ueHt was very nervous about tho sitI-
atloh IN Illinois,; that he was arrsI.
tnat the Legislature would a5io,,rn
wi'hout eiecting a United States San.
aeoI' lhey asked me to take a train
hhu come to Springfield.
u telegraphed Congressn,s 7
VINO was In Springfield at the tima,
.nit was leaving Washington FOR
springfield via Chicago. T arrivad ~
cnlcago on the morning Of tba a..
ne was elected. teIephoned hin, :
was gong on to Springfield to see
PRESIDENT, to impress upon those ~
springfield that the administration
wanted Mr.. Lorimer 10 he e1.atss
ahited States senator at the e%arlies,
moment possible"
NJ fiines denied that he had sem
an asent OF any character to members
or the Legislature for the purnosaa -
aiulhs MI. Lorimcr's candidacy.
y" Question or Money.
nc witness declared that the cues.
non OF financial aid for Mr.. Lortmer
was never brought up, either in WASH
inSton, Chicago or elsewhere thai ha
knew Of. 20 ~
John J. Hughes. stockholder and
director of the LaSallc Street Nat4onai
sank, which is known as Senator 7 nri
!neTS pank In Chicago, the only othe,
witness to-day, also denied the ,,se ~
money. M
When questioned pointedIy, Hughes
dehied the suggestion that he had
nlada Offers OF money or no1itt.ar
patronage in exchange for votas 80
MI. Lorimer. =
Curing his examination Mr.. Hughes
persisted IN praising Senator T.oriner
"ho' he declared, was athe greatest
man since the time of Christ"
Offered Patronage.
At to-night's session of the Se,a.a
Bribery Committee. state senator
frank a. I~randes, OF Moline. decIaredd
mat hughes came to his home ana
ohered MIN patronage and told him
70 would be to his interest otherwise"
10 vote for Senator Lorimsr. He ala