The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-03
TOOK BRIBE FOR PUBLIC GOOD
WHITE WANTED To EXPOSE
THE LORIMER DEAL. HE SAYS.

HIIE WANIED IU EAFOSE
THE LORIMER DEAL. HE SAYS.
Before lie Did Il He Tried 10 Get Fed.
eral Job Through I.Ortmer-Wrote
O'Neili Brown That Nc Had Already
Got His Shsre-lrtter q New Phase.
WASHINGTON. Aug. Representative
Charles A. White. a member OF the Illinois
Legislature OF 1900. which elected Senator
Of the Senate committee investigating
Mr.. Lorimer's election the ethical ground
on which he accepted bribe and share
in the jsckpotlfund to vote for Senator
Lorimer.
White testified that his main idea was 70
expose the corrupt political conditions
existing in Springfield He admitted that
the actual taking OF money in considera-
tion for his vote was dishonest and he
40 regarded it. but heyfelt that the end
justified the means. The only way TO
obtain the necessary information wae to
participate in the transactions. He had
used the bribe money. it is true. for his
personal expenses. hut he had done this
because he felt that his expenses in gather
ing this information should be repaid
He did not intend TO make anything out
OF his exposure except expenses
The actual voting and taking OF
money" White said. was dishonest. but
I believed that it would ultimately result
in good"
How did the people Of Illinois receive
hA e.
your personal expenses?" asked Chairman
Dillingham;. :,
They were benefited through the
exposure of political conditions at Spring
field" replied White.
White testified that all his efforts were
directed toward obtaining evidence as to
who furnished the money for the Lorimer
election and for the jackpot fund He
told how he cultivated intimate relations
with Representative Lee O'Neill Browne.
leader Of the Democratic faction in the
Illinois Legislature. even to the extent
of borrowing "a hundred dollars from
Browne He testified about a trip he
took with Browne during which he asked
Browne who furnished the money for the
Lorimer election.
What did Representative Browne say
when you asked him this question:" in
quired J. j. Marble. counsel for the COM
mittee.
He did not answer White replied
After receiving 81 900 from Representa-
tive Browne for voting for Lorimer and
$500 from Representative Wilson in st
Louis as his share Of the jackpot. White
said that he began to write manuscript
giving in detail his story of his experiences
while member Of the Legislature. He
told Of his conversati with labor leaders
IN which he gave them the summary OF
his experiences. Some Of them advised
him TO make the exposure. while others
said that it would ruin him il he made IL
public
White told Of writing letters to Senator
Lorimer and Representative Browne in
forming them Of his intention TO make an
exposure of the alleged corrupt methods
in the Lorimer election He said that his
purpose in writing theee letters was TO
obtain from them in reply letters which
might incriminate them and which he
could use a. documentary proof in his
White letter TO Senator Lorimer. which
was written on December Z. 1909. said that
White was about TO make arrangements
for the publication Of his story ofex posure,
which would net him about 81 so a word.
| In reply Senator Lorimer wrote curt note
which acknowledged his letter and said
Il should be very glad to note your sue
cess "a an author
White related how he submitted his
original manuscript. which contained
about 10000 words. to Doubleday. Page
4 Co and Ererpbodv's Mdgdz,ne. both re-
;a,tipp,t Ha sai III th NJ nm IN
dation Of Edwin r Wright. president OF
the illinois State Federation of Labor he
next went to the Chicago Tribune which
printed extracts from his manuscript on
April 80 1910.
Correspondence was introduced showing
! that White wanted Senator Lorimer tC
obtain for him employment in the United
States secret service or investigation de-
partment" Charles Ward, secretary tc
Senator Lorimer. obtained a clerical place
for him in Chicago paying SIS month
which White declined to accept. Letters
from Representative Browne to White
we're also presented showing that Browne
lectured White for not obtaining employ,
/ ment In one Of the letters he wrote tr
! Browne he said that Senator Lorimar
was under no obligation to him as ht
white, had received az much as any Other
member from the Lorimer election fund
and also from the jackpot. but that h.
! WOulu llke tHe SeHdloT y IHHuenCe III OD
tanning employment in the secret service
This letter has never been put in evi
dence in any previous investigation.
commented Judge r. G.. Hanecy counse
for Senator Lorimer,
| why did you not mention the existenc,
Of that letter before?" the witness wal
ask ed.
Il was not questioned about it," Whit.
replied.
did you not realize. Inquired Chair
man Dillingham; that in writing tha
| reference TO your receiving money fo
your vote and from the jackpot YOU wer,
making evidence against yourself which
might place you behind prison bars?-
Il did not think about that" replied
White, "and I was sure that Mr.. Brown,
would not make such use OF the letter.
| White said that he mailed this letter
but Judge Hanecy said he had never hearc
OF il before.
| White gave the names of about fifteer
Of his associates in labor circles in Illinoil
TO whom he told the story OF his expert
| ences in the Legislature. Some Of thee,
men were labor leaders and organizer,
and others were street car men and other
with whom White associated. Most o
them will probably be suhppnsed by tn,
committee in an effort to corroborat,
Whites story.
White completed his direct testimon,
to-day. His cross-examination will begii
when the committee reconvenes to
morrow morning.