The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-11
DEMANDED $4,000 FOR
BREAKING THE ICE
Illinois Democratic Legislator
Scorned $4,000 to Vote for
Lorirner, 1t Is Said.

CHICAGO. Nov. 1o.-Stories alleged TO
have been current at Springfield that EN-
manuel A. Abrahams 4 member OF the
le egislaturs referred to as the bell
wether' in the election Of United States
Senator William Lorimcr, had refused to
vote for Lorimer for $500. hut had done
so when given $4,000. was related before
the senatorial estlgatIon committee to-
day.
Fred h. Sterling, editor Of a newspaper
at Rockford Ill. TESTIFIED that prior to
the election in May. 1909. he mad several
conversations With James II. Corcoran.
former Democratic legislator.
"On the Sunday before the election"
said Sterling. while on n train between
Rockford and Chicago. Corcorsn told me
he thought Lorimer was going 10 be
elected that week because big money was
being paid for votes. He said the money
was coming from the stock yards and the
lumber and butterine interests. William
Loeffler Of Chicago. he said. was handling
the money
In Springfield the next day Corcorau
said Lorimer was going TO be elected the
following day. which was Tuesday On
Tuesday he came TO me and said the
election was not going 10 be put over
after ali,
IL asked him why. and he replied that
Abrahans would not break rhe Ice for
the $4,000 offered him. but instead wanted
$4,000, and they would not come across
WIFI the larger amount w SInsSOdY ne
said they had come across with the $4,000
TO Abrahams. You watch him now said
Corcoran. Hell be the first TO break
the ice
The witness said ne told Albert ]. Hon
kins. whose candidacy Tor the seuatorship
he favored about ;he stories G! alleged
corruption. After telling Hopkins. he
said, he did not feel obliged To press
charges against any one, Hopkins could
have done that had ne seen fi. Hopkins
did not seem 10 take much interest In
the reports. he said.
~ YOU wanted TO defeat Lorimer
wouldn't IL have been done effectively
by repeating e:fore Sbe Legislature the
charges you had heard I asked Attorney
1T would have prevented his election
Il any one had had the courage TO make
the charges replied the witness. who
added be did ont think he himself was the
proper person to make charges.
Attorney Hanccy sought 10 show that
Sterling had never brought his alleged
tention % the previous senatorial investi-
eating committee.
Corcoran testified that he remembered
conversations with Sterling. but he could
not recall the exact statements attributed
Ia HIN. He said he had heard Of a re-
port that Abrahans had refused 20
break the Ice involving Senator Lori
nar until he was paid $4,000. but ne re-
garied Il rs n Joke and he did not know
that ne had repeated It to sterling.
John Griffin. Democratic representa-
tlSF, ls-lilSN ne sblclktn Nplt- OF plN'F
Democrats in I.orimers behalf Asked
why he vas active for Lorimer instead |
OF for q Democrat, tine W!terss said he |
was Chicago man and there WAS nc
hope OF electinG Democrat. 'Bes.6ss.'
he said "IorImer had done favors for |
friends OF mine. and was loyal 10
him"
What was nennt by the trough" I'm 1
Springfield at the time Of the election I
OF Senator Lorimor IN May. 1909. wac eX. \
plalued before the senate committee to- 1
dav by John l. De Wolf. a Democratic /
state representative who voted for Lori 1
NOR.
De wolk. was questioned concerning a 4
statement In the testimony or Rcp.cSen-
latIve Charles \. White. confessed bribc l
akcr. that the day before the eierClon ,
OF rorlner, Dc Wolf asked White Wncrn-
er The latter had been up TO the
trough.
II never reforrcd 10 the trough
cep, 10 mean the bar. In Springfield thC
trough always meant the bar sai6 De
Wo!f.
Questioned again about his purchase
Of = sixty-three-Rcr. farm for $500 sew
rral months after Senator Lorimer's elcc-
tion De Wolf declared he was srlr un-
abia 10 say exactly IN what doronica-
lions We're the bills In which he. made |
the payment Of $500.