Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-11
Said to Have Wanted to
See Governor Elected
Senator.
TELLS BRIBE STORIES
Hears, He Tells Lorimer Com
mittee. of SIS, 900 Demand by
AbrahamS, ''ICe Breaker"

Chicago. Nov. l1-Fred 2. SterIfnG
one of the editors of a newspaper AI
Rockford, H.. who had testified he
heard high prices" were being paid
for votes to secure the election of LoT
inner IN May. 1909. was cross examined
before the senatorial committee today
Attorney Hanecy. counsel for Lorimer
sought 10 show Sterling was opposed
TO Lorimer because of a desire to pro
mote Governor Deneens senatorial
prospects. Sterling admitted having
criticised Senator Cullom because he
voted to retain Dorimer in his seat. but
denied calling Cullom a traitor.
FIRST HEARD OF TT.
Senator Jones: Your testimony
here is the first time it has been
brought out that one member OF the
assembly spoke before the election
about another member having receiv-
ed money for his vote
Sterling, answering questions. told
Of meeting held in Rockford after
the United States senate had voted in
favor of Lorimer. Speeches were made
denouncing both Borimer and Cullom
and resolutions of the same tenor
adopted Also that at that meeting
mourning badges were distributed. ana
al its conclusion a church bell tollcd
80 times to indicate the number ul
votes cast in favor OF Lorimer retain
ing his seat
-.- a6o0O EroR ~up-T r. xs-u,Tsryuru - 49,
Chicago. Nov 11-Stories alleged 20
have been current at Springfield that
Emanuel NJ. Abrahams. a member Of
the legislature referred To as a bell
wetber' OF the election Of United
States Senator William Dorimer. had
refused TO vote for Lorimer for $2,5OO.
but had done SO when given $4,000,
were related before the senatorial in-
vestigating committee yesterday after
noon.
Fred f. Sterling, editor OF a news
paper at Rockford, H., testified that
prior TO the election, I'm May, 1909, he
had several conversations with James
II. Corcoran, a democratic legislator.
"On the Sunday before the election"
Mr.. Sterling said while in a train be
tween Rockford and Chicago, Corcoran
told me he thought LOrimer was going
to be elected that week because big
money was being paid for votes. He
said the money was coming from tho
stock yards and the lumber and but
terine interests William Loefer or
Chicago, he said. was handling The
money.
WOULDN'T BREAK THE ICE"
an Springfield the next day COrcoran
said Lorimer was going to be elected
the following day, which was Tuesday
On Tuesday he came to me and said
the election was not going to be put
over at all. asked him why, and he
replied that Abrahams would not break
the ice for the $1,000 offered him, but
instead wanted $4,000, and they would
not come across for the larger amount
On Wednesday he said they had come
a cross with the $4,000 10 Abrahams
You watch him now, Corcoran said
he'll be the first 20 break the ice"
The witness declared he told Albert
J. Hopkins, whose candidacy for the
5enatorship he favored, about the
stories
After telling Hopkins, be said he
did not feel obliged 10 press charges
against any one, as Hopkins, who wsA
most vitaiIy Interested. could have
lone that had he seen him. Hopkins
lid not seem to take interest in the
-eports, he said
roOTt COURAGE TO MAKE CHARGES.
II you wanted 10 defeat Lormpr
wouldn't st. have been done effectively
" repeating before the legislature the
harges you had heard?" Attorney
Ianecy, counsel for LorimeT. asked.
IT would have prevented hIg clrc-
ion il any one had had the courage %
make the charges" the witness replied.
He added that he did not think he
SterlingJ Was the proper person ~
make charges
Attorney Hsnecy sought 10 show nat
sterling had never brought the alleged
70 the attention Of the
,Yevious senatorial investigation. or
0 any other authority
CoTcoran was then examined
He testified be remembered conver-
atious with Sterling bU' he could not
ccaI having made the exact state
lents attributed 70 him. he said he
ad heard a report mat Abrahams. q
emocrat had refused % break the
-e' in voting FOR LOrimcr unti be
as paid s. 900 but he regarded II as
joke and he did not know that he
q - -