Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1911-07-28
SENATOR hLDRICH
TELLS HIS STORY
Denies Much That Edward Hines
Testified to.
Rhode Island Man States that No
One Had Authority to Declare
Presidents Preference for
Any Candidate.

The attitude of President Taft to-
ward the deadlock in Illinois. January
to May, 1908, which resulted in the
election of William Lorimer as United
States senator from Illinois, was ex-
planned by former Senator Nelson w.
Aldrich of Rhode Island, in testifying
before the Lorimer investigating COM
mittee.
Mr. Aldrich made it plain that Mr..
TAFT declined to lend his assistance
to any of the men whose names were
suggested as prospective candidates.
Senator Aldrich's testimony contra
dlcted in several important particu-
lars that of Edward Hines, who said
cn the witress stand several weeks
ego that President Taft and Senator
Aldrich authorized him to carry mes
sage to Governor Deneen of Illinois
that the administration looked with ia
vor upon the election of Lorimer.
Aldrich declared this statement was
not true, and that Mr.. Hines was not
authorized to carry any political mes
sage to Springfield on the senatorship
vised Mr.. Hines that the president fa-
vored the election of a good Repub-
lican, but would not aid the candidacy
of any one.
Early in the senatorial fight, Mr..
Aldrich testified, President Taft ex-
pressed a personal preference for the
reelection of Senator Albert J. Hop
lipc l1 hoI t1,a Ioc
est vote in the primaries in Illinois.
Later Mr.. Taft expressed the opinion
according to Senator Aldrich, that the
candidacy of Congressman Henry S.
Boutelle, now minister to Switzerland.
would be acceptable to him Then,
when it was reported from Illinois that
Lorimer was the only candidate who
could be elected, Mr.. Aldrich contin-
ued the president told him that the
election of Lorimer to the United
States senate would not be Collection
able" although he would not assist in
his election. Mr.. Aldrich said he per-
sonally was favorable to the election
of Lorimer as he regarded him as a
good Republican" Senator Aldrich
to carry any political message from
Washington to Springfield regarding
the alleged friendly attitude of the ad-
ministration toward Lorimer's candi-
dacy, or expected Mr.. Hines to use his
influence to have Governor Deneen as.
sist in Lorimer's election.
Mr.. Aldrich explained that he had
authorized Hines to refer any one to
him who wished authoritative In
formation as to the attitude of Pres-
dent Taft toward the senatorial fight.
Mr.. Aldrich said that Hines came to
him and asked him to find out the
Presidents attitude on several oc-
casions. Mr.. Aldrich also denied that
he told Hines that Senator Lorimer's
vote would be needed in the senate to
pass the Payne-AlGrich bill, which was
pending at that time.
At the afternoon session the cross
examination of Mr.. Wiehe was devoted
principally TO the whereabouts and ac-
tivities of Robert J. Shields, an insur-
ance man Of Duluth. Wiehe did not
know where Shields now Is. From
questions asked him by Chairman Dill
lingham and other members of the
committee, it is apparent that the
process servers of the committee have
failed to find Shields at his nome in
Duluth.
Senator Penrose was much more
willing to admit an active part in SEN
ator Lorimer's election than was for.
mer Senator Aidrich.
Senator Penrose backed up every
statement made by Edward Hines re-
garding the formers activity in be-
half of Mr.. Lorimer. He even handed
Mr. Hines and Senator Lorimer a few
bouquets. The Pennsylvania senator
expressed his belief that Mr.. Hines
efforts to elect Senator Lorimer were
the result of patriotic desire to fur.
ther the best interests of the Repub-
lican party and the nation He didn't
see how Mr.. Hines business connec.
tions could possibly have caused him
to take hand in the senatorial elec-
tion.
So anxious did Senator Penrose ap-
pear to be to corroborate the testi-
mony of Mr.. Hines that when his men,
ory on details failed him he invariably
conceded that the facts were probably