The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-07-21
GOVERNOR DENEEN
ON LORIMER CASE
Illinois Legislature a Fertile
Field for Corruption.
for Senator Lorimer, Puts the
Questions to the Executive
of the Prairie State.

Evidence of "jack-pots" or cOrrup-
ton funds raised for the benefit OF
recalcitrant legislators was sought
from Governor Deneen of Illinois
when he resumed the witness stand
before the senate Lorimer investiga-
ting committee in Washington.
The governor analysed the Illinois
legislature with a view to demOnstrat-
ing the existence of fertile field
there for corruption.
After a discussion of the legislative
organization, Governor Deneen was
turned over to Elbridg2 Hanecy coun-
sci for Senator Lorimer. for cross-eX-
animation Mr. Hanecy sought first
to show that Senator Lorimer was in
strumental in making Mr. Deneen
states attorney of Cook county, Hi
nois position where the witness
testified he procured about 100000 in
salary and fees in eight ,ears.
Sena or Jones said he did not see
wrat bearing that had On the case.
and Mr.. Hanecy then took up another
line OF examination.
Governor Deneeen said Mr.. Lorimer
supported aim for states attorney.
He declined to give the senator all
the credit for his nomination, either
for the first or second time
Mr. Hanecy led Cove nor Deneen by
q long series of questions to give a
rating to the political standing of
most of the Republican leaders in
Chicago for several years.
The political leanings of Chicago
newspapers also were discussed.
During the testimony the previous
day, Governor Deneen declared that he
declined to become a candidate for the
senatOrShip because he had fostered
the direct primary law under which
the people of Illinois had declared in
favor of the reelection of Former Sen
atOr Albert j. Hopkins and he thought
he ought to stand by the choice of the
people under this law This Lorimer
coalition of Democrats and Repub-
leans in Illinois politics, the governor
said, was known as the "holy alliance"
while later they became known as
the "Black Hand" Governor Deneen
said that his followers were known as
the Band of Hope"
The liquor people, the railroads, the
gas and electric light companies were
the Interests named by Deneen as op-
posing him Governor Deneen denied
that he had aided in Lorimer's cleo
tion. He had heard of a jackpot
fund" at Springfield since 1897. The
probable contributors to this fund.- he
said, were the railroad companies, the
gas and electric light companies, the
stock yards and elevator companies,
and the Pullman company
Governor Deneen emphatica1ly de-
nied the testimony of Edward Hines,
president of the Edward Hines Lum-
Der company of Chicago, in regard to
his telephone conversation with Gov
ernor Deneen from Chicago. Gov
ernor Deneen said that Mr.. Hines
called him Up from a Chicago bank
and asked him if he had received a
message from President Taft asking
him to use his influence toward the
election of Mr.. Lorimer
Il told Mr.. Hines" said Governor
Deneen, that | had received no such
message and asked him how the mes
sage was TO come to me. Mr. Hines
replied that it was from Senator Aid
rich and would be delivered to me
through George Reynolds, president of
the Continental Commercial National
Bank of Chicago. Mr.. Reynolds never
delivered such a message 10 me-"
Governor Deneen said that before
the publication of the alleged White
confession James Keely of the Chi
cago Tribune suggested to him that a
special session of the legislature be
convoked to consider the Lorimer
case. The witness said tnat, probably
after the publication. he tentatively
wrote a message proposing a special
session. At a consultation with his
advisors, however, the conclusion was
reached that the investigating commit
tee probably would consist of the men
who were guilty. and the special SEES
sion was not called.
The governor told of being in the
office of the Tribune the night the
White story was printed. He said he
read probably the first copy printed,
and walked out with it hidden under
his vest He explained that he had
beer warned that every one leaving
the building that night would be
searched.