River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-07-27
DENIES HINES TALE
ALDRIcH SAYS HE DID NOT PROM
lSE TAFT'S AID IN LoRIMER'S
ELECTION.
HE WAS mot OBJECTIONABLE
Former Rhode Island Senator Re-
flutes Much of the Evidence Given
by the Chicago Lumberman Before
Senate investigating Committee.

WaSnlngCOn.-FOrme Onlte0 states
Senator Nelson w. Aldrich of Rhode
Island fatty contradicted at the Lori
mer committee investigation the
story given by Edward Hines of Chi
cago that Aldrich had asked him to
urge Lorimer to become a senatorial
candidate.
In substance, Aldrich's testimony
was to the effect that Hines ap-
preached him and asked him what the
administration thought of Lorimer,
and Aldrich informed him that Lori
mer was mot Objectionable" to Pres
ident Taft.
A cross-eXamination brought an ad-
mission from G. f. Wiehe, brother-in-
law of Hines, that the mysterious Rob-
ert Shields of Superior, Wis, who
travels the country over refreshing
the memories of witnesses prio- to
their appearance here, has obtained
for his own agency, 100000 of in
surance on the Hines Lumber COM
pany's properties, has "lobbied" for
the concern and was active in the
election of Senator Stephenson of
Wisconsin.
This is what former Senator Aldrich
accomplished during his short ap-
pearance on the witness stand:
Denied that he sent for Edward
Hines in the spring of 1901.
Denied that he asked Hines to see
Congressman Lorimer and impress on
him that the administration was
very anxious to have a Republican
senator elected in Illinois as soon as
possible"
Denied that he told Hines there
were several important tariff SEIZED
ules coming up in the senate for the
passage of which 1t was very i'm
portant to have every available re-
publican vote.
Denied that he sent for Hines
and asked him to accompany him to
the White House to discuss the Illi-
nois situation with the president.
Denied that he told Hines the pres
ident and he (Aldrich) thought Lori
mer could be elected and again asked
Hines to urge on Lorimer "the neces-
sity of becoming candidate and do
ing all he could to be elected at the
earliest moment possible"
Denied that he sent any message
whatever either to Lorimer or to
Governor Deneen concerning the cleo
ton.
Mr.. Aldrich thought he had par
ticipated in three conversations with
Hines.
Washington.-Rev concern
ing the unusual interest shown in the
election of a senator from Illinois by
Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsyl-
vania, now chairman of the finance
committee; an admission that he in
vited Edward Hines to become active
in the contest, and suggestion that
President Taft telegraphed Hines to
get the Lorimer scandal flushed up"
these were the developments of a
day in the senatorial investigation
into the election of Lorimer.
Senator Penrose had been casually
mentioned by Hines in his testimony
regarding the interest shown by the
administration in Lorimer's cleo
ton.
In his testimony Senator Penrose
said that Hines testimony about his
interest in the election was substan-
TALLY correct. He went further and
said that he believed Hines was work
ing only for the good of the Repub-
ican party
Penrose told of Hines great interest
in the preparation Of a lumber sched-
ule in the tariff bill of 1909. He
told Of their first meeting, when Hines
interviewed him about the schedule.
They naturally fell to talking about
the deadlock in Illinois.
It probably urged Mr.. Hines, as a
citizen of Chicago, to use his best eff
forts to bring about result. was
in favor of Mr.. Lorimer's election
Mr. Hines reported to me continually
as | met him in the tariff discussions.
I rather think invited his activities
in the matter.
to send a message to Illinois. 1t
might have been, and / might have
done it." admitted Penrose.
The. committee produced a letter
written April 10 of this year by Will
liam Burgess of Duluth to H. H. Kohl
saat, editor of the Chicago Record
Herald, in which Burgess said he had
heard story that President Taft had
wired to Hines "to get the matter
hushed up" 1t is said that the presi-
dent will soon send written state
ment to the committee telling of his
interest in Lorimer's election. Secre-
tary MacVeagh, who has been men
toned, is also to be heard from.