Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-10
State Senator Landee Before
Lorimer Inquiry Committee.
CAMPAIGN FOR THE SENATE
No Material Deviation From State
ments He Previously Made.
HIS TESTIMONY UNDER FIRE
Attorney Declares He Changed Yer
sion Following Death Of the Col
league He Implicated.

CHICAGO. October 10.-No new evi-
dence was expected at the first sessions
OF the reopening of the United States
Senate investigation into the election OF
William Lorimer today. Eight witnesses.
seven OF them members OF the Illinois
general assembly by which Senator Lori
mer was elected. were scheduled as the
first witnesses. All of these have testi-
fled before. either before the Helm COM
mittee in Springfield or the first United
States Senate committee which investi-
gated the charges OF bribery.
Frank A. Landee the first witness to
be called, a state senator from Moline.
was expected to repeat his testimony re-
garding an offer Of a federal job said to
have been made him by former business
associate Of Senator Lorimer.
No Limit on Testimony.
Senator Dillingham;, chairman of the
committee. announced that the rules OF
testimony would not be sacred In the
coming sessions. I'VE shall continue to
allow all testimony bearing in any way
upon the investigation to be admitted.
regardless Of legal technicalities." he
said. I'VE are determined that there
shall be no possible ground for criticism
because Of the exclusion Of any evi-
dence" go
1t was half an hour after the time set
when members of the committee met In
Judge -Grosscup's courtroom in the fed
eral building. In addition to Senator Dill
lingham, there were present all members
of the committee with the exception or
Senators Gamble, Kern and Lea. John
]. Healy Of counsel for the committee
and Elbridge Hanecy of Mr.. Lortmers
counsel held brief conference before
the first witness was called. Mr.. Lor-
inner was present.
Landee's Statement.
State Senator Frank A. Landee of Mo-
line when he took the stand was Ques-
toned by Attorney Healy regarding the
senatorial deadlock at Springfield.
II would like to call your attention to
an alleged conversation with Charles
Luke" said Healy. 'Ddd you have such
a conversation"
YES" replied Landee. II met Mr..
Luke in a Springfield hotel a month or
three weeks before Mr.. Lorrimer's elec-
ton, l was on my way TO A,pert 80 =;
me he could deliver ten votes provided
conditions were right
II said to him. I thought you were 60
| ing to vote for Hopkinsr
"He said. No. am not. Hopkins won't
come across"
Senator Landee was then questioned
regarding a visit to his home at Moline
in 1909 Of John /. Hughes OF Chicago, q
friend OF Mr.. Lorimer's.
The witness testified that Hughes
urged the candidacy OF Lorfmer.
Urged to Vote for Lorimer.
Hopkins. the man you are voting for
Hughes said to me, is an impossibility.
Vote for Lorimer and 1t will be to your
advantage. Lorimer's name will not be
presented to the legislature until we have
every vote we need to elect him. He will
be elected on the first ballot"
Landee said that Hughes discussed with
him the question of federal patronage at
Moline.
Hughes said it would be to my interest
to be with Mr. Lorimer in considering the
matter Of the appointment OF a postmas-
ter at Moline. he said j,
Landee's testimony in connection with
the alleged visit of Hughes to Moline.
Rock Island and Davenport was much
the same as that given by him before the
state senate committee at Springfield
The witness said that he introduced
State Representative Campbell to Hughes
Witness Criticised.
Attorney Hanecy attacked the testimony
of the witness regarding the alleged
conversation with Charles Luke at the
Springfield hotel.
Didn't you change the testimony You
gave before the Helm committee. because
it will suit the purpose of the people who
are making this attack upon Senator
Lorimer and because Charles Luke IL
dead and can't come here to deny what
you are saying? Why didn't you tell
these things to the Helm committee at
Springfield"
Attorney Hanecy followed by fnQuiring
regarding Senator Landees vote for Foss
and later for Hopkins for United States
| senator.
Piled With Questions.
How well did you know Charlie
Luke" asked Attorney Hanecy. Wasn't
it true that Charlie Luke was dying OF
tuberculosis all through that session and
was drinking heavily because OF that?
Wasn't it true that Luke was under
the influence of liquor practically all or
the time during that session."
Did you at any time take that story
seriously?'
well. no. said the witness to the last
question, the others going unanswere~.
TNITTREn SATTnR SHOWS HpYT