The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-30
LOR|MER ELECTION
WASN'T SURPRISE
Generally Known 2 Weeks
in Advance Democrats
Would Vote for Him
tNational News Association)

National News Association)
Washington, July 29.-That it WIS
generally known two weeks before
William Lorimer was elected to tile
senate that "A number of the Demo
cratic members of the Illinois legis-
lature would vote for him was brought
out before the Lorimer investigating
committee today in the cross-exani-
nation OF Lawrence b. Stringer. Dem
ocratic opponent of Lorimer for tile
senate.
Judge Hanecy counsel for Lcrimer,
drew this from the witness soon after
the cross examination began replying
to questions Mr. Springer testified that
he was mot at all surprised that Loi-
mer received SO Democratic votes TN
the last ballot"
II had anticipated such a result"
declared the witness.
Considerable interest was displayed
in the next question asked by Senator
Kern:
do you or did you at the time think
the result of the contest the outcome
of an honest election"
such"
did you send your congratulations
to Mr.. Lorimer because you thought
he had won in fair fight"
Suit BY Courtesy.
mo sir, sent it out of courtesy,
and to evince to him my disapproval
of the bipartisan movement which
had elected him"
do you think it probable THAT SO
Democrats would desert the party
nominee and the principles Of the Dem
ocratic party without some undue
pressure?"
mo sir, do not"
Senator Kern asked:
'Do you think it was the idea of
the Democrats in Illinois that Lorimer
stood for the good things in politics or
the bad?"
II think it was generally understood
among Democrats that Lorimer be-
longed to a class who believed in win.
ming elections" replied Stringer.
do you think that Mr.. Lorimer be-
i1ongs to the same school of politicians
as Bryan, who stands for the high and
enoblng things in politics." asked
Kern.
mo SIR ! can't say that I would
place Mr.. Lorimer in Bryan's class"
In answer to further cross examina-
ton by Judge Hanecy. Mr. Stringer
said that he never heard anything to
the discredit of Senator Lorimer,
morally or in business. He thought
his integrity was of the highest but he
said he heard Lorimers political
methods very severely criticised.
Philips a Witness.
Mr.. Stringer was excused and Ed
ward o. Phillips, a correspondent of
the Chicago Tribune. was called Mr.
Phillips testified that on January 6,
1909, the date of the organization of
the legislature that elected Lorimer,
he was assistant correspondent at
Springfield of the Chicago Record
Herald. On that day he wrote a dis
patch saying that Lorimer was being
seriously discussed for the senate and
predicted his election. This was four
and half months before Lorimer was
elected. Asked to give the authority
for his prediction he mentioned former
Governor Richard Yates with whom he
had long talk on the senatorship on
that day.
Subsequently Mr. Phillips went with
the Tribune, and on the evening be-
fore Lorimer was elected he had
talk with Lawrence Stringer in which
Mr.. Stringer said 1t was all over with
him, that Lorimer would be elected
on the following day; that he could
not hold the Democrats in line as con-
ditions had been imposed which he
could not meet
Judge Hanecy asked to defer the
cross-eXamination of Phillips and &C
cordingly the committee adjourned to
meet again Monday.