The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-04-13
JACKPOT EXPOSED.
Witness Purports to Tell Sources of
the LOrimer "Slush Fund.-"

OpTluSuelu, ILL.,, April o.-ClarSnce
S. Funk, general manager of the In
ternational Harvester company, to-
day before the State senate investi-
eating committee exploded the big
gest sensation of the Lorimer bribery
case.
Mr.. Funk testified that Edward
Hines of Chicago, millionaire lumber
dealer, asked him as manager of the
harvester company to contribute
$4,000 to reimburse certain men
Who had put up a 100000 "slush
fund" to elect William Lorimer to
the United States senate
To Save Kollsaat.
Mr.. Funk declared that his object
in giving this testimony was to save
n. H. Kohlsaat, publisher of the Chi
cago Record-Herald, from a possible
jail sentence as result of Mr.. Kohl
saat's refusal to give certain infor-
nation demanded by the committee
last week.
The witness said he had given Mr.:
Kohlsaat in confidence information
upon which the Chicago publisher
had based an editorial. The publica-
tion in February last of this edito-
rial, which charged the use of a
100000 fund to elect Lorimer, re-
suited in the calling of Mr.. Kohlsaat
as a witness before the committee.
He refused to make known the name
of Mr.. Funk and was given one
weeks time to divulge this name, or
stand in contempt of the senate COM
mittee.
Released From Pledge.
Funk testified to-day that he VOL
unfairly released Mr.. Kohlsaat from
the pledge of confidence when he felt
that the publisher would be sent to
Jail unless the information was given.
The disclosures made by Funk oc-
Cured Unexpectedly at a specially
called meeting of the senate commit
tee. The committee was not sched-
uled to resume it's inquiry until to-
morrow, at which time Mr.. Kohlsaat
had been ordered to reappear. But
Mr.. Kohlsaat and Mr.. Funk arrived
in Springfield this morning from Chi
cago, and Mr.. Helm, chairman of the
investigating committee, at once call
ed it's membership in special session.
News Caused Excitement.
News of the disclosures before the
committee reached the State house
nearby within a few moments. The
house was still in session while the
senate had just adjourned for the
day. The reports caused excitement,
much discussion and hurried consul
tations among many members IN
both branches of the legislature.
A number of house members left
their seats in the midst of the debate
on the civil service bills to learn
more of the disclosures made by
Funk
Mr.. Kohlsaat preceded Mr.. Funk
on the witness stand. He briefly
stated that he was ready to give the
name of the man who had furnished
him with the report of the alleged
100000 slush fund.
In explanation of the appearance
of Mr.. Funk he said:
when I arrived at my Office
Thursday morning the first call over
the telephone was from Mr.. Clarence
S. Funk, general manager of the IN
ternational Harvester company. Mr..
Funk asked if he could see me at
once and I told him yes, to come
over, and as near as 1 can remember
he said:
"I see by the papers last night
and this morning that you had been
subpoenaed to- appear in Springfield
and had declined to give up my name
to the committee, the senate COM
mittee. I would be a little less than
a man if I held you under any fur
ther confidence as to giving my name
or identity. I wish to say now that
I release you from all obligations to
maintain secrecy and that I feel I
also have a duty to perform that un-
til this time did not feel, and if the
committee wishes to subpoena me I
will go to Springfield and tell the
whole story
In detailing his conversation with
Mr.. Funk concerning the alleged
bribery, Mr.. Kohlsaat said:
Had Their Chance.
"Mr. Funk told me that the gen.
tlemen who came to him said that
they had had an opportunity to elect
Senator Lorimer by raising fund of
100000. A few of them had under