Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-07-27
ALDR|CH DENIES
hines TAFT TALE
Says President Said Lorimer
Was "Not Objectionable"
"D!D NOT SEEK ZIMMERMAN"
Former Senate Leader Refutes Many
Statements Made Before Investi-
eating Committee Concerning
Senatorial Election.

shington.-Former Senator Mel
son W. AIdrich of Rhode Island was
the star witness before the Lorimer
investigation committee of the
senate Mr.. Aldrich confirmed some
statements made by Edward Hines,
the Chicago lumbernan, regarding the
part played by President Taft and
himself in Senator Lorimer's election
and repudiated others.
In substance, Aldrich's testimony
was to the enect that Hines ap-
preached him and asked him what the
administration thought of Lorimer,
and Aldrich informed him that Lori
mer was mot Objectionable" to Pres
ident Taft
Later in the day a cross-examina-
ton brought an admission from G. F.
Wiehe, brother-in-law of Hines, that
the mysterious Robert Shields of
Superior, Wis, who travels the coun-
try over refreshing the memories of
witnesses prior to their appearance
here, has obtained for his own agency.
81 900 900 of insurance on the Hines
Lumber company's properties, has
'1obbied" for the concern and its
branches in the Wisconsin legislature
and was active in the election of Sen
ator Stephenson of Wisconsin.
This is what former Senator Aldrich
accomplished during his short ap-
pearance on the witness stand:
Denied that he sent for Edward
Hines in the spring Of 1901.
Denied that he asked Hines to see
Congressman Lorimer and impress on
him that the administration was
very anxious to have a Republican
senator elected in Illinois as soon as
possible"
Denied that he told Hines there
were several important tariff SEIZED
uIes coming up in the senate for the
passage of which it was very i'm
portant to have every available Re-
publican vote.
Denied that he again sent for Hines
and asked him to accompany him to
the White House to discuss the Illi-
nois situation with the president.
Denied that he told Hines the pres
ident and he (Aldrichl thought Lori
mer could be elected and again asked
Hines to urge on Lorimer the neces-
sity of becoming a candidate and do
ing all he could to be elected at the
earliest moment possible"
Denied that he sent any message
whatever either to Lorimer or to
Governor Deneen concerning the cleo
ton
Mr.. AIdrich thought he had par
ticipated in three conversations with
Hines. The first one was early in
April, 1909. He had not sent for
Hines.
ington.-Senator Boies PEN
rose, Republican leader of the
United States senate, corroborated be-
fore the Lorimer committee of that
body the evidence given by Edward
Hines, so far as he had been named
in the testimony Of the Chicago lum-
herman. The senator told without
hesitation the story Of his participa-
ton in the election of Senator Lori
mer of Illinois, Of his conferences
with Mr. Hines, of hts urging the lat
ter to aid in seeing that a Republican
was elected by the deadlocked legisla-
ture and of his final desire that Con-
gresham Lorimer, whom he found to
be the only man upon whom the war
ring Republican factions of Illinois
could unite, should be given the sena-
torship.
Senator Penrose had been casually
mentioned by Hines in his testimony
regarding the interest shown by the
administration in LorimSrs election.
PenrOse voted for Lorimer at the con-
clusion of the first investigation into
the election Of senator from Illinois.
In his testimony Senator Penrose
said that Hines testimony about his
interest in the election was substan-
TALLY correct. He went further and
said that he believed Hines was work
ing only for the good of the Republi-
can party.
Penrose told of Hines great interest
in the preparation OF lumber SEIZED
ule in the tariff bill Of 1909. He
told Of their first meeting, when Hines
interviewed him about the schedule
They naturally fell to talking about
the deadlock in Illinois.
Il probably urged Mr.. Hines, as a
citizen of Chicago, to use his best eff
forts to bring about result. l was
in favor of Mr. Lorimer's election.
Mr.. Hines reported to me continually
as l met him in the tariff discussions
Il don't recall any one asking me
to send a message to Illinois. It
might have been, and l might have
done it, admitted Penrose.