Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-23
Loser in Long Deadlock
Shows Belief in Bri-
berry Story.
BUT Is NOT Definite
BIameS ShurtIeff for Defeat of
the Voters Will Shown in
Primaries.

Washington, June 23.-To escape
the heat and noise the session OF
the Lorimer investigating committee
today was held in a room in the
basement Of the senate Office build
ing. Former Senator Hopkins. who
was defeated when Lorimer was
elected, was the first witness. Hop
kins told of efforts to keep his force
in line on the memorable day when
Lorimer was elected. One of the
men he went to see on the floor Of
the house was Representative Lawr-
ence.
PREDICTED SCANDAL.
when he told me he was going to
vote for Lorimer, / told him if he
did, he would not be able to con-
vince the people he had not been
purchased" said Hopkins. HE said
he would sote for Lorimer, but did
not admit he was purchased"
WAS UNsCRUPULOUs.
Hopkins declared he knew of no
man who could put a finger on cor
: rupt means used In Lorimer's cleo
ton" He declared the day Lorimer
was elected rumors of the use of
money were in the air. Il under
stood Lorimer was using any instru-
ment to defeat me-" said Hopkins.
Witness reiterated statements
made to the Illinois senate commit
tee detailing incidents surrounding
the senatorial deadlock when Lori
mer was elected. Hopkins showed
irritation when questioned-'ubout
sfaewspaper article of alleged plans of
Hopkins men to purchase democratic |
votes.
REsENTs IMPUTATIoN.
"I denied that before the Illinois |
committee, ] deny II here. l resent |
your repeated inquiries" said Hop
kins. Witness said former Speaker |
Shurtleff OF the Illinois legislature
caused a split in the republican |
ranks and endangered the chances OF
getting the solid republican vote for
senator. Lorimer, he added, aided |
Shurtleff's election, and so the
speaker was under obligations to |
Lorimer. I
YATES INNOCENT.
Washington. June 23.-Former Gov
ernor Yates of Illinois, who once ac-
cused Governor Deneen of playing him /
false in politics and sent communi- /
cation to him through Senator Lorimer
that he was liar STILL" denied yester-
day on the witness stand before the
senate committee to investigate the
Lorimer election that he had ever
heard of the use of money in that cleo
ton until more than year afterwards.
Both he and George w. Hinman, edi-
tor and publisher of the Chicago Inter
Ocean, the only other witness. pro-
fessed the greatest friendship for Mr..
IIorimer Mr.. Hinman expressed the
belief that there had been a Jackpot"
or general corruption fund in the
Springfield legislature for many years,
but he pointed to Mr.. Lorimer's enc
mics as the probable contributors.
NO TALK WITH HINES.
Mr.. Yates emphaticalIy denied he
ever had any conversation with Ed
ward Hines OF Chicago over the long
distance telephone on the day Senator
Lorimer was elected regarding a cor
ruption fund for Mr.. Lorimer's, or re-
garding any other fund. He was asked
IL he had any political differences with
Senator Lorimer. He said he had. In ,
regard to the governorship he said he ,
and his friends nominated Governor
Deneen. His feeling toward Governor ,
Deueen was more explicitly described
In a Letter which Mr.. Yates said he
wrote from Florida 10 Senator Lorimer
in 1909 advising that the newspapers
said Lorimer was going to elect Deneen
governor. 81 told Senator Lorimer af
ter he had elected Governor Deneen
TO call him aside and tell him he is
liar STILL and that am the man who
says So"
Senator Kenyon expressed a desire
to know II he had told that 10 Gov :
eruor Deneen face to face. He said
be had. =
LoRIMER WAS CONFIDENT
Coming 10 the question of the Lori
ner election. Mr.. Yates said that Mt. .
L.orimer told him personally that he
was likely 10 be elected, and that he i
lid what he could for I,orimer in that h
contest. but never heard anything of I
money until long after tNe election. il
Mr.. Yates said the viii Of the major d
ty was not thwarted by he defeat of n
Senator Hopkins becauf he had only
riumphed by a plur lity vote over S
nen who had not mad> long vigorous V
light against him Z
THE democrats 'lad no chance of b