The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-06-29
He Said That He Worked for
Lorimer's Election to the
Senate Under the Direc-
ton of Aldrich.
SAID LORIMER WAS
FAVORITE OF TAFT
Declared President Wanted
a Friend Of the Administra-
ton Chosen Tells Of
Business Career.
tNational News Assoc,ation)

Washington, June %. - Edward
Hines. who Is alleged to have collect.
ed hundred thousand dollar slush
fund to elect I1orimer as senator from
Illinois. testified before the Investigate
ing committee today that 1t was By
of Senator Nelson Aldrich
(Rhode Island) that he worked for
Lorimer's election. He declared the
order came from Aldrich after the lat
ter had had conference with Presi-
dent Taft and had stated the President
wanted friend Of the administration
elected by the Illinois legislature.
Hines was first examined by his at
torney. William J. Hynes. and the wit
ness talked freely and without en-
barrassment. Mrs. Hines In q beauti-
ful dress and big picture hat, leaned
forward in her chair and followed the
testimony with the closest attention.
Hines said he was forty-seven years
old. He detailed step by step his rise
in the business world from an office
boy at $40 month to the presidency
Of the Edward Hines Lumber company
of Chicago. during which he passed
through the positions Of clerk, book
keeper, travelling salesman, secretary
and treasurer and finally president.
Describes His Company.
The witness told OF several subsi.
dary companies OF the Hines Lumber
company. which he said was capitaliz-
ed at 100000 but handled from
500, ,000. 900 to 60O. .O00. 900 feet of lum-
Der annually. It has absorbed the vari.
GUS lumber companies In Chicago and
elsewhere. He said, with show OF
pride that his company does the larg-
est lumber business in the United
States. Hines said he was stockholder
and director OF banks and other cor.
porations OF Chicago and other cities.
Among others he was director In the
Continental Trust company Of Chicago
which since It's absorption OF the HI
bernian bank is the largest In the dis
trict.
In reply to question rs to his per-
sonal habits he said he never smoked.
Sometimes he said he took a glass Of
wine or beer. He said he had known
Lorimer nineteen years and lived IN
his district for nine years. Lorimer
was not interested in any business In
which, he, Hines, had any interest.
Senator Penrose sent for me in
April 1909 and asked II would find
out IL the legislature would adjourn
without electing senator, he said
he had been informed that there was
likely to be deadlock. talked with
Representatives Boutell and Madden,
and they advised me to see Lorimer.
Was Not Interested.
Il saw him and he asked why was
interested. said was not particu-
larly interested but Penrose wanted to
know. He said the situation was In.
definite and that there were several
factions which did not seem to be able
to agree. l reported that to senator
Penrose."
why was Penrose interested In the
Illinois senatorship?" wasa sked.
He said Aldrich wanted Republi.
can senator elected who would vote
to maintain the rates on certain sche-
dulles. as the vote would be very close
on some OF the schedules Of the tariff
bill, which was under consideration in
the senate, and that he wanted every
vote possible replied Hines.
The first big sensation in Hines
testimony was the statement that
when it seemed evident the Illinois
legislature would be deadlocked over
the election Of senator, that Senator
Aldrich, following conference with
Hines. had gone to the White House
and ascertained that President Taft
was anxious that an administration
friend should be elected as senator.
Hines Obeyed Orders.
Senator Aldrich then, according TO
Hines, proceeded to work for the elec-
tion OF Lorimer. and used all his argu-
ment with the members Of the Illinois
legislature that the administration was
in favor OF Lorimer's election Hines
asserted that Penrose had taken him
to Aldrich's room and had said that
Continued on Page Six.)