The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-20
Is Begun by a Special Committee
of the U. s. Senate.
THE FIRST WITNESS
Is Mccormick, President of the
Harvester Trust.
A Report Is Promised Before
the Session Ends.

! Washington, June 20.-Iittle but
hearsay evidence was brought out to-
day when the senate Lorimer investi-
eating committee held its initial hear
ing in the inquiry that is to go deep
into the charges of corruption in the
election of the junior senator from
Illinois.
Cyrus H. Mccormick. president of
the International Harvester company,
was before the committee to tell what
he knew of the collection of a $780,
600 fund alleged to have been used in
LorimerS behalf. He testified that
Clarence S. Funk. general manager of
the company, had told him Of activity
| in behalf of Lorimer ard that their
corporation had been invited by Ed
ward Hines OF the Hines Lumber COM
pany to contribute to the election
fund.
William J. Hynes, personal counsel
for Edward Hines, objected to the
line of questioning He was over
ruled.
what did Mr.. Funk say to your"
asked John H. Marble, one of counsel
for the committee. MIR. Funk came
to me in my Office" said Mr.. McCor-
mick, "and said that Mr.. Hines at the
Union League club in Chicago had ap-
preached him on the subject of our
company making contribution. The
/ OBJECT was TO OBTAIN a cCnITlDQlIOn TO
a fund which he understood was to
be made to recoup expenditures in
connection with the election of Senator
Lorimer. MT. Funk told him his sug-
gestion could not be considered. I
told him I was glad that he had de-
clined and that practically ended the
incident"
Mr.. Marble took the lead in ques-
tioning MI Mccormick.
"Are you a relative of ATediH Nc
Cormick of the Chicago Tribune?" he
asked.
sYes. Mr.. Mccormick is the son of
a cousin of mine. We are good friends
but are not relate in business or po-
litical affairs
Never Met LoIimer
The witness said he had never met
Senator Lorimer and when questioned
as to difficulties about taxes, admitted
that he had had some, but had not
connected Lorimer with them.
Asked if Mr.. Funk had mentioned
any other persons in correction with
the collection of the fund, Mr.. Nc
Cormick replied that he had brought
in the name of Mr. Tilden of the Ma
tional Packing company.
AS to the editorial in the Chicago
Record-Herald concerning the alleged
| fund of 100000 in behalf Of Senator
Lorimer the witness said that at about
the time the article appeared Mr.. Funk
H H. Kohlsaat, the editor of that pa
per, and said he had advised that Mr..
! Kohlsaat be relieved from his pledge
of secrecy. q did not think that Mr..
Kohlsaat would go to jail" said Mr..
Mccormick, land consequently advised
that he be authorized to give the
source of his information
Mr.. Mccormick said Funk had told
him of a second interview with Hines
and that Hines had sought him out to
f111 hi 1,o4 l.,
his suggestion of the 100000 contribu-
tion should be taken seriously.
Il felt rather indignant and so did
Mr. Funk" replied Mr.. Mccormick
when asked If he had been shocked by
Mr.. Funk's revelations. Mr. McCor-
mick said he had heard of the tack
pot' fund of which there had been
common talk for years. His company
had never been called upon to con-
tribute to the fund, he added, although
it had had various applications to con-
tribute to such funds in other states.
He said his knowledge concerning
the Jackpot was not hearsay.
No Preference for Senator.
Replying to questions of Senator
Fletcher the witness said he had n
preference for any senatorial candidate
in the election of 1909 Recalling the
testimony of Mr.. Funk before the Hi
nois senate Mr.. Mccormick said he un-
derstood that Hines had told Funk
that it was important that the men in
the 1000 pool should have man at
Washington who would properly rep
resent them.
Harvester company had a legislative
agent, Mr.. Mccormick admitted tina.
he and Mr. Funk both gave attention
to legislative matters when necessary.
He said the company had had no rep
reSentative aat Springfield in 1909 and
had taken mart in tho ;o~%
in connection with the Payne-Aldrich
bill. Under cross-exanination by Mr.
Hynes concerning his understanding %
the conversation between Funk and
Hines, the witness declared Hines had
said it was important that we should
put Lorimer over" and that fund Of
100000 was necessary to accomplish
that purpose.
Mr.. Hynes sought to bring out the
fact that there had been a disagree
ment between McCormick's company
and Lortmer concerning the closing OF
the Chicago river near the Harvester
plant The witness said that the clos
Ing of the river would have benefited
his company but he had never known
Of Lorfmer endeavoring to keep the
river open.
To Accommodate Mccormick.
Washington, June 20.-The second
investigation by a senate committee of
the circumstances surrounding the
election of Senator William Lorirner OF
Illinois, scheduled for today promised
to take far wider range than the one
Of last winter which after a bitter fight
resulted favorably to Mr.. Lorimer. The
new committee appointed by resolution
of the senate had not expected to be-
gin its hearings until Thursday the
22nd, but the desire of a material wit
ness to get away to Europe brought
about decision to begin the taking of
testimony today with Cyrus H. McCor-
mick, president Of the International
Harvester company. as the first occu-