The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-14
Governor Deneen, of
Illinois, Testifes
in Inquiry.
FOUGHT AGAINST
HIS ELECTION
Flatly Contradicts Version of
Famous Telephone Converse
ton Given by Edward Hines,
Chicago Lumberman-Dis-
cusses Use of Jackpot"
in State Legislature.

Washington. July l3.-Governor
Charles S Deneen, of Illinois.( to-day
furnished field day in the Lorimer
election investigation BY the Sena te
special committee. He declared that he
did not assist in the election OF SEN
ator Lorimer. as some of the Senator's
friends claimed. but fought against
II to the last. He fatty contradicted
the version which Edward Hines. a
chicago lumberman, who is charged
with having asked for Lorimer cleo
ton fund contribution. gave OF the ia :
nous telephone conversation between
the two on the day Senator Lorimer
was elected, May %. 1903.
MIR. Hines had testified he (Hines)
teiephoned from Chicago to Deneen
that he had just come in this morn
ing from Washington. and was ON my
way to Springfield TO bring the mes
sage 10 Mr.. Deneen from Senator Aid
rich and the President, urging upon
you to do all you possibly can 10 as
sist in the election Of a Senator a,
the earliest possible moment" ana
that they understood that Lorimer
could DC elected II you will assist"
Further. Mr.. Hines testified that he
understood Deneen to say he would
assist in Lorimers election and would
see LorInier in ten minutes.
Message From Tnft.
Governor De, cen testified to-day
that Mr.: Hines asked him II lie re-
ceived a report from the President in
reference TO Loriiner. He said Taft had
sent message to support Lorimer.
Il asked nim.' continued Governor
Deneen. 'if he had the message, and
he answered no He said that the
President had sent 1t. ana that he had
intended to come TO Springfield him
self. bur had missed the train by Ave
minutes.
Il asked him II President TAFT sen,
that message. for I thought II stranks
for the President to tell me that. He
SAID Why, he sent It through Senator
Aldrich-of course. he would not send
1t to you directly; he would communi-
cate with you through George Rey-
nolds, of the Continental Bank I
said, Very WELL"
Did you receive a communication
from Senator Aldrich, or Mr. Rey-
noids?" asked Attorney j. j. Heaiy.
for the committee.
mo. sir"
Governor Deneen denied Mr.. Illness
version of the conversation in regard
to the Identity of Hines on this &C.
cision. and added that he was not GER
tain that 1t was Hines talking. but
regarded the talk just as he would
an anonymous communication.
Did you tell Mr.. Hines that you
would assist Mr.. Lorimer?" asked Mr..
Healy.
Did you tell him you would see
Lorimer?"
II did not"
Governor Deneen said that he had
talked with Pre- sident Taft later about
the incident. but he declined to give
the conversations unless the President
was to be called as a witness.
Interest of Harmony.
IN denying that he at any time
assisted Lorimer's election, Cover
nor Deneen testified that the night
before the election he had attended a
conference in which he tried to hold
the election he told of Senator Lori
mer coming to him and asking that
he wipe off the slate" in the interest
of Republican harmony in the State
The witness swore that Senator Lori
mer said he intended to see Editor
Human. of the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
and Speaker Shurtleff. of the Illinois
House. and have them agree to har-
mony also.
The Governor declared the first time
he ever heard about a proposed expose
of corruption in the Legislature was
in August or September. 1909. when
Edwin R. Wright. chairman of the
Federation of Labor In Illinois, told
him that a member of the Legislature
proposed to tell all about 1t in book
or magazine article. He denied any
part in the preparation of Whites
statement.
Governor Deneen discussed the Jack
pot" or general corruption fund
which he said was reputcd to have
been divided after each Legislature
to those who voted right" during the
session.
Are you willing tc stake your repu-
tation as Governor on there having
been jackpot in the LEGISLATURE
inquired Senator Kenyon
81 think any one would be safe in
doing that"
At this point the committee ad-
journed until tomorrow. when Cover
nor Deneen will again he on the stand