The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-08

Springfield. ILL.,, April 5.-Clarence
S. Funk, general II" "nager OF the In
ternational Harvester Company, to-
day exploded the biggest sensation OF
the Lorimer bribery case. Mr.. Funk
testified, before the investigation
committee, that Edward Hines asked
him as manager of the Harvester
Company to contribute $4,000 to
reimburse certain men who had put
up 100000 'slush fund" to elect
VIM. Lorimer to the United States
Senate. The Harvester Company
manager further testified that Hines
named Edward Tilden, wealthy
Chicago packer, as the collector Of
this fund to reimburse the men who,
as Mr.. Hines was quoted as having
said, had "underwriiten" the cleo
tion Of Lorimer.
Mr.. Funk declared that his object
In giving this testimony was to save
II. III. Kohlsaat, publisher of the
Chicago Record Herald, from a pos
sible Jail sentence as result Of Mr..
Kohlsaat's refusal to give certain in
formation demanded by the COM
mittee last week.
The witness said he had given Mr..
Kohlsaat information in confidence
upon which the Chicago publisher
had based an editorial. The publi-
cation in February last, Of this edi-
torial. 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 commit
tee.
Mr.. Funk testified today that he
voluntarily 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 disclosure made by Funk oc-
CURED Unexpectedly at specially
called meeting OF the Senate commit
tee. The committee was not sched-
u,ed 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
Chicago, at once called its members
in special session.
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. The re-
ports caused excitement, much dis
cussion and hurried consultations
among the members of the Legisla-
ture.
Many 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 stat
ed 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, the first call over the tele-
phone was from Clarence s. Funk
general manager OF the International
Harvester Company. Mr.. Funk ask
ed IL he could see me at once and 1
told him yes. to come over. and as
near as l can remember he said:
Il see by the papers last night
and this morning that you have been
subpoenaed to appear in Springfield
and had declined to give up my
name to the committee. the Senate
committee. | would be a little less than
a man If l held you under confidence
as to my name or identity. | wish
To say now that I release you from