The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-20

pant or the witness stand. Room 301
OF the senate office building, a large
ana airy apartment, has been set apart
Tor the use Of the Lorimer committee.
MI Mccormick was brought into the
case IN connection with the testimony
gwen before the Helm committee of
the Illinois senate by Clarence S. Funk
manager of the Harvester company,
put out ne was not himself witness be-
lore that committee. It was not ex-
pected that his testimony would be ex-
lehslVe as from Funlks statement his
own knowledge of the alleged irregu-
Iar1t1es in connection with the Isorirner
election consisted of what Fink had
1old MN OF his reported conversation
with Edward Hines relative to the rais-
behalf
Provided with an ample corps of at
torneys. clerks, stenographers and 9TH
er assistants, the committee of eight is
prepared to proceed with the work as
rapidly as circumstances will permit.
The first meeting was called for II
O'Clock today, after which it was ex-
peeted that an adjournment would be
taken until Thursday.
To Finish This Session.
The committee continues to promise
that If possible the work will be con-
cluded during the present session of
congress 1t is realized, however, that
IN order to accomplish this result it
will be necessary to crowd on all pos
slble steam Every person mentioned
in connection with the case will be ex-
amined together with new witnesses
and it is believed that visits to both
Chicago and Springfield will be neces-
sary- Mr.. Lorimer himself will be
questioned most minutely.
we will follow every lead that pre-
sents ITSELF" said one of the members
Of the committee just before the begin
ming of today'S sitting.
The inquiry is in the hands of a Sc
lect committee composed of eight
members Of the committee on privi-
leges and elections but notwithstand-
that committee this organization will
be entirely independent of it. Hav-
ing been directly authorized by the
senate, the committee will be resDon-
sible only to that body. It is in no
sense a subcommittee. OF the eight
members of the special committee four,
Messrs. Dillingham; of Vermont, Gam
Bile of South Dakota, Jones of Wash
ington, and Kenyon of Iowa, are Re
publicans, and four, Messrs. Johnston
of Alabama, Fletcher of Florida, Kern
of Indiana, and Lea of Tennessee, are
Democrats. The members are supposed
also to be divided evenly for and
against Lorimer; but, all of course,
realize that they are to act as judges
and that therefore they must enter
upon their duties prepared to change
convictions if the evidence should be
of a convincing character in the direc-
ton opposed to their views.
Are Evenly Divided.
The members classed as favorable to
Lorimer are Dillingham;, Gamble, john
and two Democrats, and those as
against him, Jones, Kenyon, Kern and
Lea, two Republicans and two Demo-
Gratis All of the pro-Lorimer men
were members of the last congress and
cast their votes for the Illinois senator
in the investigation made by that con-
gress.
Senator Jones is the only anti-Lori-
mer man who had an opportunity to
vote on the previous roll call. Messrs.
Kenyon, Kern and Lea are all new
men, but they have made expression of
their conviction that the facts in the
case are sufficiently against Mr.. Lori
mer to justify his expulsion from the
senate. The committee will have the
assistance of John H. Marble, an at
torney for the interstate commerce
commission and of John J. Healy, who
acted for the Illinois senate committee
in the same capacity. Former Judge
Elbridge Hancy of Chicago, will be
counsellor for Mr. Lorimer as he was
in the previous inquiry; The first in
quiry was conducted by the commit
tee on privileges and elections without
the assistance of special counsel.
AS now arranged the first witness on
Thursday will be former Governor
Richard Yates of Illinois, but there has
been no decision as to who shall fol-
low him. 1t is expected, however, that
Mr. Funk will be called at an early
day, as most of the facts brought out
by the Illinois inquiry were the result
of his testimony before the Helm COM
mittee. Mr.. Lorimer is not expected
to appear until much later in the week
When the committee began today'S
hearing, William ]. Hynes, an attorney
Of Chicago, asked to be permitted to
appear for Edward Hines the lunl-
Der magnate. who is alleged to have
been instrumental in collecting the
S100, 900 fund said to have been used
in the election of Senator Lorimer.
The committee took the matter under
advisement. Cyrus H. Mccormick,
president of the International Harves-
ter company, then took the stand.