New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-21
TAFT NOT FOR LOR|MER,
ALDR|CH TEST|F|ES
Ex-senator FIatiy C0ntradiCtS
the Statements Made by
Hines.
PRESIDENTS HANDS OFF
His Only Interest in Illinois Elec'
ton, Witness Says, Was to
Have Republican Sen
ator Chosen.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau. J

washington July 20-Ex-Senator Nell
son w Aldrich, TO whose leadership Sena-
tor Lorimer paid tribute in his speech in
his own defence in the last Congress, to-
day fatty contradicted the story Of Edward
Hines. the Chicago lumberman, before the
Senate investigating committee, and con-
hrmed in every particular the statement
that the President refused TO take any part
IN the Illinois election.
He denied the statement Of Hines that
he and the President were anxious 10 have
Iorimer elected Senator. He denied that
he had sent for Hines and made him the
bearer of message TO Springfield that
lorimer's election was desirable. The only
basis for Illness story regarding the Presi
dents interest in the election, Mr.. Aldrich
showed was that in response to Illness
request and after he had consulted tho
President he had said that Lorimcr's can
didacy was mot Objectionable" When,
on discrimination. the Lorimer attor-
news sought to show that he might have
used the word acceptable Mr.. Aldrich
declared emphatically that he had meant
exactly what he said and no more
Mr.. AldriCh also testified that ne had told
Hines no more than that the President de
sired
while naturally friendly TO senator Hop
kns because he had received The primary
vote. he had refused 10 do anything 10 in
fuence the election. Later, when Eepresen-
tative Bouten was suggested. the President
had said that ne was satisfactory, but re-
fused 70 aid him I'm any way, and when
Iorlmer's name was mentioned he haa
said. maintaining the same attitude that
he was not Objectionable.
The testimony of Mr.. Aldrich supple
ments the statement made by the Presl-
dent IN letter as far back as last sep
tember. I'm which he said that the report
that he had in any way lent the support
or influence of the administration TO the
election Of Lormer was untrue. II was
also Endorsed by a statement made by Sen
ator Penrose. denying the Hines story.
The testimony Of Hines, which has been
contradicted I'm other particulars by various
witnesses. was to the effect that about
Nav /. 1909. Aldrich had sent for him, and
pafter repeated conferences, had asked him
70 urge Lorimer to become a candidate. He
said that. after a night conference al the
White House. Mr.. Aldrich had met him at
his home and told him TO inform Gov
ernor Deneen that the administration was
anxious 10 have a Senator elected and 10
say that II believed Lorimer would be sue
cessful. A further message, according 10
Hines. was TO have been delivered through
George NJ REYNOLDS, A Chicago bank pres
ident. Governor Deneen testified That he
had received no such message, and Mr..
REYNOLDS said he had not been directed to
deliver any The testimony Of Hines has
therefore. been contradicted by almost
every witness who figured in Y.
Aldrichs Talks with Hines
Mr. Aldrich said he had three or four
conversations with Hines about the Illinois
election. -Hut could not recall on whose
initiative they were.
Mr.. Hines continued the ex-senator
"said az the first conversation that, in his
Judgment. Hopkins could not We elected
and he asked me what the attitude OF the
President was 7 said the President was
dssirous OF the election OF Republican
and while naturally he was friendly 20
Fopkirs because Of the primary result and
re-raps other reasons, still he did not in
tend 70 take any active part in trying to
influence tho election OF Hopkins or any
other candidate
Did YOU say there were several sched-
rfss coming up I'm the Senate. and that II
was very important 20 have every Repub-
u-ar vote possible To assist I'm the passage
~ trerio' asked Mr. Marble. counsel for
liz committee. reading from Illness iesu-
morv.
u dg MOI, think that I said anything to
lm about schedules" replied Mr.. Aldrlch
Mr. Ndrich said their next talk on the
Illinois situation was when Hines came 10
linn with tho statement that there seemed
20 be n possibility 81 agreeing on Henry :
TogteU. thcn q Representative IN con-
-ress for Senator. Hines said he was
anxious 90 know what the Presidents atti-
iude was toward Boutelrs candidacy
Hines. -svcordins TO Mr.. Aldrich, said he
was dssFreUs that the man elected shonld
b- agreeable 10 tho President.
Later Mr Aldrich continued. Il re-
ported TO Mr. Hines that the President
would ba agreea1Ie-thst nc was only anN-
ious TO have a Republican elected. and
ths, no was satisfied with Boutell's Re
pubIcari sm."
President Took No Part.
The reyt conversation. Mr. Aldrich said
vas about MAY ~ Mr. Hines then told
No." ha testified that It was impossible
% agree on Boutell and that he believed
there ,vrs possibility Of agreeing on
I.o-iwer He was anxious 10 know inc
attitude NJ the President toward Mr.. Lori
uer Z told him J would give him an an
sVer ster Later IN the day | told MIN
Nr. LWimers candidacy would not he on
,ecfiorsbla 20 the President. Then MT
Hines asked mo II would say that ~ any
ono who inquired Of me. / told him that
would saw that Mr. Torimers candidacy
was not objections bic 10 the President
said that the President occupied The same
position that he had that he did not m
~srd 20 take any part in the election ana
that Mr Lor.mer's Republicanism vas say
isfactory 10 the President
asked about Hires's testimony that MI
Aidrich said Iorimer was The only man
Who could ne elected. tho ex-senator sal' +.
could not have said that because
knew nothing about tho Illinois situation.
he had no recollection Of Hines coming
10 The Senate Office building ~ see MN
ln regard % Lorimer's candidacy, nor OF
asking Hines 20 20 20 the White House
With him. nor - taking Hines 20 his mousse
70 wait unul he saw the President lines
haa testified 20 All these points.
ar Alorich said that after his talk WIN
"e President about Lorimor Hines was
NFhI TpE