The Washington times., 1911-07-20
ALDRICH SAYS He
y TALKED To TAFT
ABOUT LOR|MER
Former Senator Confirms
Midnight White House
= Conference
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CONTINUED from First Page.)
boss so cordial. Senator Dillingham; al
most dropped his palm-leaf fan when
Mr.. Aldrich greeted him with a hearty
shake and
"Well, old fellow, certainly am glad
TO see you
1t was a fine reunion all around. If
the ex-chieftain was no so very en-
thusiastic in greeting the new Senators
all insursents-it only gave added
zest to the real heartiness of his ex-
pressions for those Of the safe and
sane persuasion, who always knew how
to vote on the roll-calls, because the
name of Aldrich, like that of Abou eBn,
le dali the rest.
The days business began with an eX-
ecutive session of the committee to de-
icde what to do about investigating the
election of Stephenson to the Senate
from Wisconsin. The Wisconsin legis-
lature has passed resolution, saying
It thinks Stephenson bought his toga.
and asking II the Federal Senate will
not investigate.
Yesterday the Stephenson scandal and
the Lorimer case got mixed up because
the name of the notorious Bob"
Shields was brought out as a. fXer of
witnesses and tetimony for the Lorimer
side Of the case. Bob Shields lives
at Superior, Wis, and all Wisconsin
knows him as a 'grip-sack carrier -
that Is, a person who lugs greenbacks
around and puts them where they will
most effectively inspire support for the
candidate who at the moment Is en-
listing the Shields promotion talents.
Who Shields Is.
He did all that in the campaign to
elect Stephenson; later he did IT in 1910
in the fight to defeat La Toilette, when
the anti-Follette crowd swore to spend
ing SII7,OOO against the pompadoured
statesman without carrying a single
county and, finally, he is now brought
forward as the man who has been get
ting testimony organized for Lorimer
and Hines.
enson case, and decided that the Sena-
tors who are on the Dorimer subcom-
mittee cannot be expected to take on
the Stephenson affair. too. SO Chair
man Dillingham; was instructed TO name
a subcommittee of five to look into 1t
and see whether there ought to be re-
ported a resolution directing an inves-
tigation.
Wisconsin Legislature, to be studied,
Il is unlikely this subcommittee will re-
port at the present session. Senator
Clapp is likely to be chairman of the
Ssenator Aidrich tactfully admitted
that his name was Nelson w. Aldrtch,
and his recollection coincided with that
of the lawyer that he had been Sen
ator many years. He first knew Hines
early in 1909, when Hines came with
letter Of introduction from George NJ.
Reynolds, the Chicago banker.
Did you become interested IN the
election of a Senator from Illinois,
"As a Republican, with some respon-
sibilities for the organization OF the
Senate, anxious for a Republican TO De
elected, ] did. I held three or four
early in April. 1 can't say at whose
instance the first was held. Mr.. Hines
thought Hopkins could not be elected
and asked how the President telt. L
said the President wanted Republic
an, and was friendly to Hopkins. but
would take no steps to further the can
didacy Of any particular man.
Did you send for Hines. or he Tor
"As to the first talk. I do not re-
Did you tell Hines. that important
schedules were coming up and II was
important to have all the representa-
tives possible?''
Il certainly did not say that at any
time. The second time we talked Hines
asked me to learn II the President
would be satisfied II Representative
Boutell be elected.
Il saw the President. and reported to
Hines that the President would be salts
fed with Boutell.
''The next talk was about May q or
% Hines said Boutell could not be
elected, but Lorimer might be. and he
wanted me TO learn how the President
would view II. That same evening l
reported to him that Mr.. Lorimers can
didacy. would not be objectionable to the
President. He asked II would say
that to anybody inquir1ng. and 1 said l
would
when did this talk take placer"
The first part at the Capitol or some
where else the last part at my nome IN
Massachusetts, avenue
Recalls Meetings.
.'Do YOU remember meeting Hines
after a session of the Finance Com
mittee. and your taking him to your
house IN your automobile, to walt
while YOU went to the White House?'
81 don't recall where the first meet
ing was, or about the automobile;
do remember the two conversations
that day"
SDid YOU suggest that Lorimer be
elected, or send to Lorimer any mes
sage urging him to do all possible to
be elected?"
"Did YOU urge Hines to call up
Springfield and make, the situation
q did not. I said that the Presi-
dents attitude was as l have Just
might be referred to me. did not
send any message to Governor Deneen
through Hines"
"Did you know Lorimer at. that
timer"
81 may have had a speaking ac-
ouaintance, as with many members
Of the House and I am inclined to
regard him as a very good Republi-
can"
"Did you ever talk to Hines about
the close division on certain sched-
ules and the need of gettinga Senator,
elected from Illinois?"
81 did not. We were better off. If
there was no election, than IL there
was, because without an election there