Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-06-29
HOPKINS SAYS He
HEARD RRIBE TALK
Former Senator Is Heard in
L0Timer Quiz.
HINTS AT POLITICAL TRICKS
Declares He Was Told He Gould H.va
Ten Democratic Votes if He
Would "Do the Right
Thing"

$4,000 was put on State Senator
McCormick's vote if it should be cast
for Senator Lorimer and how ten
Democratic legislators were offered
TO him in job lot at an unnamed
price were related to the Lorimer sen
ate investigating committee by Al
bert J. Hopkins, the defeated candi-
date for United States senator in the
famous session Of 1909.
Hopkins said his private secretary
told him on the day Lorimer was elect
ed that Mccormick had acknowledged
the tender.
The former senator also shed some
light on political methods in Spring
field in 1909 concerning the making
and breaking of promises. His testi-
mony caused Senator Kenyon to re-
mark:
Evidently that was not the place
for an unsophisticated man"
Did Mccormick vote for Loriner %
the witness was asked when the al
legged offer OF money was under con-
sideration.
Not until after Lorimer had enough
votes to elect him." said Hopkins.
The former senator said that he did
not go to Mccormick because the sec
rotary reported that Mccormick was
going to remain loyal to him.
Hopkins then told of efforts to keep
his force in line on the day when Mr..
Lorimer was elected. One of the men
he went to see on the floor of the
house that day was Representative
Johnson Lawrence.
He had always voted for me, and
when he told me he was going to vote
for Lorimer," said Mr. Hopkins, 81
told him if he did he would not be
able to convince his people he had
not been purchased. He said he would
vote for Lo?tmer, but did not admit
he was purchased"
Mr.. Hopkins said he heard that two
other members he was going to lose
were Logan and Durfee. Both of them
had been at his hall at II O'Clock the
night before the election, the witness
explained
And ate my apples and smoked my
cigars, MI. Hopkins added.
Where did they go after they left
your roOm?"
My friends told me they went to
Senator L0rimer's room"
The witness said that when he
asked Logan why he was going to
change, Logan responded that he
(L0n1zincA
that Lori1neF was going to be elected
and that he was going to vote for
him.
Senator Johnson asked Mr.. Hopkins
if Governor Deneen was with him in
his fight before the legislature.
He professed to be my friend"
Did you accept his profession?"
asked Senator Gamble
We'll, l treated him as such"
1t was at this point that Senator
Kenyon made the remark about thu
Illinois capital as no fit place for the
creduIous.
The witness repeated his testimony
before the Helm committee that about
four or six weeks before Lorimer's
SlSCLlOn SSudLOI LduQS0 DdQ COlO MN
that Representative Luke, now dead,
had said that ten Democratic ~otes
could be had for a money considera-
ton.
What did you say?'
Il said l was a candidate for the
senate, not the penitentiary," replied
Mr.. Hopkins. Il thought if l could
keep my Republican followers to-
gether, would ultimately be elected"
He added that he did not believe
Landee meant to suggest that he buy
the votes.
Mr.. Hopkins said he knew of mo
man who could put his finger on cor
rupt means used in the election of Mr..
Lorimer, but he added that rumors of
the use Of money were "in the air" the
day LOrimer was elected. He heard
talk Of Lorimer's possible success two
or three weeks before the election.
Il felt Lorimer was trying to defeat
me, and my understanding was that
he would use any instrument to de-
feat me-" said Mr.. Hopkins.