Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-07-27
Brother of Louis R. CLAWS Men.
toned in LOrimer Case.
GOT $3.50 FROM CHICAGO PAPER
Was to Buy Books of Lobbyist Firm
and Prove Thereby that Lorimer
Accepted Fee from Chi
cago Magazine.

Washington, July 26.-That the Chi
cago Tribune had been "defrauded"
out of $3.50 by George O. CLAWS, a
brother of Louis r. CLAWS, formerly
field agent of the general land office
at Seattle, Wash, and one of the prin-
cipal witnesses in the Ballinger-Pin-
chot row, was told by James Kelley.
general manager and editor of the
Tribune, to the members of the SEN
ate committee Investigating the cleo
ton of Senator Lorimer of Illinois:
Mr.. Kelley, who was cross-exam-
ined by Judge E. G. Hanecy, counsel
for Senator Lorimer, said that CLAWS
came to him and told him he thought
he could purchase the books of firm
Cf lobbyists which, CLAWS said would
show that Senator Lorimer while a
member of the house of representa-
tives received 25 per cent of $4,000
fee for his services before the postof-
fee department in obtaining the
privilege of the second class postal
rates for the Fire Proof Magazine, a
Chicago publication. CLAWS also told
Mr.. Kelley the latter said, that for
mer Representative James A. TaWney
of Minnesota, also was mixed up in
the transaction.
Mr.. Kelley said he advanced CLAWS
500 to pay the expenses of locating
the documents. Later, Mr.. Kelley tes-
titled, CLAWS informed him he had pur-
chased them for the Tribune and the
sum of $3.50 was then paid TO Mr.
CLAWS. But wi en- Mr. Kelley de
marded the papers he could not get
them and then swore out a warrant for
CLAWS arrest for embezzlement. CLAW
is was arrested in Chicago and
brought to Washington for trial
"What did you want with these
books and papers?" asked Judge
Hanecy.
81 intended to investigate their ac-
curacy," replied Mr.. Kelley. of they
showed evidence of crime | intended
to lay them before the district attor-
ney, and if they showed that Senator
Lorimer had been involved as CLAWS
charged, I intended to lay them before
this committee, which is investigating
Mr.. Lorimer's election. Later, at the
proper time, | intended to print the
story"
do you know the name of the firm
of lobbyists whose books were to be
purchased by Claws" inquired Judge
Hanecy
"Glavis said it was the firm of Street
& Smith in the receipt which he signed
when we gave him the money" an
swered Mr.. Kelley THAT is ap-
parently a fictitious name. | think we
were gold-bricked, but something has
happened since l came to Washington
which has made me change my mind
about it. CLAWS was too smart for
me-"
Mr.. Keeley's story of how the Trib-
une had been "stung" was amusing to
the members of the committee. Judge
Hanecy and Senator Lorimer who were
listening to the testimony also laughed
at several features of the story. Mr..
Kelley at times Joined in the laughter.
Mr.. Kelley did not explain the oc-
currence which, he said, recently hap
pened in Washington which made him
think he had not been gold-bricked.
At the afternoon session Judge Han
ecy spent several hours in vigorously
cross examining Mr. Kelley. Consid-
cradle time was devoted to the activi-
ties of reporters Of the Tribune whom
Mr. Kelley sent out to investigate the
confession of Charles A. White, a Dem
ocratic member Of the assembly
printed in the Tribune Of April 3d.
1910, in which White admitted having
received money to vote for Lorimer.
"You sent reporters and detectives
out to corrohorate the White confes
sion, did you not?" asked E. G. Han
ecy.
NO" replied Mr.. Kelley, eve wished
to investigate it, to verify it's accuracy