Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-10
Moline Senator is First
Witness Before Lori
mer Committee.
REPEATS HOTEL TALK
Witness, When Pressed, kd-
mits Not Taking Vote
Offers Seriously.

Chicago, Oct. 1O-State Senator
F. A. Landee Of Moline, testifying be
fore the Lorimer investigation com
mittee of the United States senate
here today, declared the late Charles
A Luke, former state representative,
offered for sale a block of 10 votes
for United States senator at the 1909
session of the Illinois Legislature.
Under vigorous cross examination
Landee admitted he had not taken
seriously the offer of Luke, because
Luke had been drinking. His testi-
mony did not differ materially from
previous Investigations.
CONSPIRACY CHARGED.
Attorney Hanecy, counsel for Lor-
inner, delivered lengthy explanation
in which he charged it could be
shown that a conspiracy, headed by
the Chicago Tribune existed TO ruin
Senator Lorimer. He said the inter
ests represented by the Tribune had
combined to furnish witnesses and
new testimony, and were constantly
at work to follow out d policy to in
JuTS ana. IL pOSSlDlt, ! ulIl L-ol 4iAA1i-
LANDEE FIRST WITNESS.
Chicago. Oct. 1O-InvestiGatiOn into
The election OF Senator William Lori
mer was resumed today. Mr.. Lorimer
was present. State Senator Frank a.
Landee of Moline was the first witness
called He was also questioned re
garding the senatorial deadlock al
Springfield by Attorney Healy.
II would like to call your attention
to an alleged conversation with Charles
Luke" said Healy. Did you have such
a conversation?"
VISIT FROM HUGHES.
YES" replied Landee. Il met Luke
in a Springfield hotel a month or two
before Lorimer's election. Luke told
me he could deliver 10 votes providing
conditions were right"
Senator Iandee then was questioned
regarding a visit TO his home at Mo
line In 1909 of John I. Hughes Of Chi
cago a friend of Lorimer's. The wit
ness testified Hughes urged the candi-
dacy of I1orimer. Hughes said: Now
you vote for Iorimer and it will be to
your advantage. LOrimer's name viii
not be presented to the legislature IN
til we have every vote we need TO elect
him Lorimer will be elected on the
first ballot"
Landee said that Hughes discussed
with him the question of federal pat
ronage at Moline. Hughes said it
would be to my interest TO be with
LOTimer in considering the matter of !
the appointment of the postmaster at /
Moline" he said. Landees testimony /
in connection with the alleged visit OF I.
Hughes 10 Moline. Rock Island and T.
Davenport was much the same as that .
given by him before the state senate .
committee at Springfield several /
months ago. Witness said that he in !
troduced State Representative Thom- .
as Campbell 20 Hughes.
ATTACKED by HANECY.
Attorney Hanecy attacked the testi- .
mony of the witness regarding an al /
legged conversation with Charles Luke .
a Springfield hotel.
Didn't you change the testimony
You gave before the Helm committee.
because it will suit the purposes OF the .
people who are making this attack up
on Lorimer and because Charles Luke
is dead and can't come here 10 deny
what you are saying. Why didn't you
tell these things TO the Helm commit
tee ar Springfield Was not it true
that Charlie Luke was dying Of tubev-
culosis and all through that session .
was drinking heavily? Did you at any
time take that story seriously
Well. no" said the witness.
NO. I thought not" concluded At
torney Hanecy.
IANDEE DOESN'T REMEMBER.
Who have YOU talked with recently