The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-06-22
MCCORMICK OPENS /.
L0RIMER HEARING
Senate Committee Begins Work
at Washington.
STORY OF 100000 RELATED
Harvester Official Repeats Statement
of Clarence S. Funk Concerning
Request for Company to Con-
tribute to Election Fund.


tribute to Election Fund.
Washington; June 2o.-cyrus H. Nc
Cormick, president of the lnternation-
al Harvester company was the first
witness at the initial hearing for the
special committee of eight which has
been ordered by the United States
senate to investigate the election OF
| Senator William Lorimer of Illinois.
Mr.. Mccormick swore that Clarence
| S. Fund, general manager of the COM
pany, had told him his corporation had,
been invited by Edward Hines, presi-
dent of the Hines Lumber company,
to contribute to a 100000 fund used
in the election of William Lorimer.
William ]. Hynes, who requested
permission to appear as personal coun-
sci for Mr. Hines, objected to the line
of questioning. He was overruled.
What did Mr.. Funk say to you?"
asked John H. Marble, one of the
counsel for the committee.
Mr. Funk came to me in my Office"
said Mr.. Mccormick, land said that
In Chicago, had approached him on
the subject of our company making
contribution. The object was to OBJ
| tain a contribution to a fund which
was to be made to recoup eXpendi-
! lures in connection with the election
of Senator Lorimer. Mr.. Funk told
him that his suggestion could not be
considered
Il told him | was glad that he had
declined, and that practically ended
the incident"
Brings in TiIden's Name.
The witness said he never met Sen
ator Lorimer. When questioned as
to the difficulties about taxes he ad-
mitted that he had had some, but had
not connected Lorimer with them.
Asked If Mr.. Funk had mentioned
any other persons In connection with
the collection of the fund Mr.. Nc
Cormick replied that he had brought
in the name of Edward Tilden, presi-
dent Of the National Packing COM
pany. Mr.. Mccormick then told Of
subsequent interviews with Mr.. Funk.
AS to the editorial in the Chicago
RecordHerald concerning the 100000
| fund, the witness said that about the
time the article appeared Mr.. Funk
told him he had given the facts to II.
H. Kohlsaat, editor of that paper. He
| said also that he had advised that
Mr. Kohlsaat be relieved of his pledge
OF secrecy.
Il did not think that Mr.. Kohlsaat
should go to JAIL" said Mr.. McCor-
mick and consequently advised that
he be authorized to give the source of
his information"
Mr.. Mccormick said that Funk had
told him Of a second interview with
Hines, and that Hines had sought him
out to tell him that he had not meant
that his suggestion of the $4,000 con-
tribution 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 revelation.
Heard Of Other Funds.
| do you not think that you should
have given the information in the
previous inquiry?" asked Chairman
Dillingham;.
The witness replied that while he
considered the case important. he had
not felt impelled to testify.
1T did not seem to me to be my
duty to go before the committee" he
said; Il did not follow all the details"
Then your only interest was in
keeping Kohlsaat out Of Jail"
mo, but the gravity Of the situa-
ton was such that | felt we should
interfere in Mr.. Kohlsaats behalf. |
had heard of other funds in connection
with political elections and l had sup
posed that there would be plenty Of
evidence
Mr. Mccormick said he had heard
among others of the Jackpot" fund,
of which there had been common talk
for years His company had never
been called on to contribute to the
fund, he added, although 1t had appli-
cations to contribute to such funds in
other states. He said his knowledge
concerning the Illinois Jackpot" was
hearsay
Explains Why He Delayed.
Pressed for his reasons for not max,
ing public his information during the
previous hearing; Mr.. Mccormick said
he had been absorbed by his business
and by the time he had analysed the
situation the committee had ceased
its work"
Replying to questions asked by Sen
ator Fletcher, the witness said he
had no preference for any senatorial
candidate In the election of 1909.
Recalling the testimony of Mr.. Funk
before the Illinois senate committee
Mr.. Mccormick said he had under
stood that Hines had told Funk Il
was important that the men In the
100000 pool should have man al
Washington who would represent
them properly. ~