The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-28
INQUIRY TURNsI into.
COMEDY OF DEN|A[S
Did Hines Say He Put Lorimer in U.
s. senatei Witness Today
Says He Did.

WASHINGTON, July 2S.--The ia
miliar oft-reiterated and as often de-
MED story of an alleged telephone
conversation between Edward Hines
and Gov. Deneen and OF Hines al
legged boast at the Grand Pacific ho-
tel In Chicago. that he elected Lori
mer, were re-told to the Lorimer In
vestigating committee today by Al
fred K. McCordic, Chicago law
yer.
McCordic was counsel for Vert II.
Cook, the Duluth lunberman, who
told the original story of these al
legged incidents. On the stand today
he told of Cook relating them to him.
In May. 1903. TWO or three weeks
before Lorimer's election, as senator"
said McCordic, Mr.. Cook related to
me conversation In the Grand Paci-
&c hotel the day before. He said
Edward Hines told him that he had
been In Washington and boasted OF
having elected Senator Stephenson,
Of Wisconsin, whom he afterward
found working for free lumber Cook
related that Hines asserted he had
trouble keeping southern senators In
lime for the tarin. As to Illinois.
Hines said, according to Cook, that
different men had been talked OF,
but that ne knew that Lorimer would
be elected. -
ct think Il was on May 26. 1903,
the day of Lorimer's election, that
had another talk with Cook In my
Office" McCordie continued. William
OBrien, a lumberman OF st. Paul,
was present. Cook said that Hines
had been In his, (Cook's) room In
the Grand Pacific hotel and had talk
ed by telephone with Gov. Deneen at
Springfield, or q person supposed 10
be the governor. Cook informed me
that Hines had said over the phone
that he had Just returned from Wash
ington, that Taft and Aldrich were
anxious that Lorimer should be elect
ed. and that he, (Hines), would fur-
nish all the money necessary.
what did O'Brien say?" asked Al
torney Healey, counsel for the COM
mittee.
ale said he thought 1t was strange
that Hines should carry on such con-
yersation within the hearing OF otner
persons
McCordic also said he was told by
Cook, in May, 1910. that Secretary
Wiehe of the Hines Lumber Co., had
awakened Cook and O'Brien In the
Grand Pacific hotel and told them that
Hines desired them to leave the city
to avoid being summoned as witness
es by the grand jury.
Examination OF Thomas Mcclure
head of a private detective agency In
Chicago, also appeared before the In
yestigating COMMITTEES today. Judge
Hanecy, I.orimer'sa attorney. reviewer
the work done in the cases or the
Legislators indicted for bribery all CT
whom were acquitted. Mcclure said
that he was In the service OF the
states attorney while those cases
were in court, and that he had from
IL TO 20 detectives at work investigat-
ing men called for jury service. HIS
bills In Cook county totaled $1,000.
Mcguire told Of arresting George y.
CLAWS. In Chicago, who offered TO the
Chicago Tribune records he alleged
connected several congressman with
lobbyists. CLAWS was charged with
embezzlement on the ground that ne
sold the alleged records to the Trib-
une for $3.50 but failed to deliver.
CLAWS told me-" said Mcclure,
that the books containing records OF
lobbyists were In existence and that
he bought them. He offered to break
the bargain and return the money, he
told me, because the Tribune people
seemed to regard him as having acted
In bad faith. Later he said the books
would be delivered and that there
would be no trouble.
There were two theories as to
CLAWS dealings with the Tribune; one
that he had really purchased the rec
ords of the lobbyists but had sold
them In another market"