The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-07-14
DENEEN APPEARS
BEFORE PRODERS
Describes Politics as Played
! In Illinois.
~
LORIMER is THE BOSS


Had Endorsed Hopklns--clves Lie
Direct to Hines Version Of Tele-
phone TaIk--6rings Taft's Name
Into Controversy
washington, July 14.--Charles S.
Deneen, governor of Llllinois, de-
ecribed before tho Lorimer investi.
eating committee the troubled course
Of Illinois politics during tho sena.
torial deadlock which ended in the
election of William Lorimer as Unit.
ed States senator.
Governor Deneen told how efforts
had been made by interests opposed
to him to persuade him to become a
candidate for senator, with view to-
eliminating him from the governor.
ship. Senator Lorimer suggested that
he tDeneen) become candidate and
promised the support of Democratic
senators IL Deneen would agree to
make the race. Governor Deneen
eenting the interests who mad op.
posed his nomination and election as
governor. In his opinion the contest
which had been filed by the defeated
Democratic candidate for governor
following the election had been used
TO force him into the senatorial fight.
Lorimer, according to Deneen, was
the controlling force in Illinois poll
tics, by virtue o fhis dominating pow
er over Speaker Shurtlen and the
coalition of Democrats and Republi-
cans which elected the speaiScr. BY
reason CT this control Mr.. l.orimer.
the witness said, was in a position to
declare the goyernorship vacant had
he 30 desired.
Governor Deneen declared that he
declined to become candidate for
the senatorship because he had fos-
tered the direct primary law under
which tho people of Illinois Lad de-
clared in favor OF the reelection OF
Former Senator Albert j. Hopkins,
and he thought he ought to stand by
the choice of the people under this
law. This Lorimer coalition ci DEM
ocrats and Republicans in Illinois
politics, the governor said, was
known as the holy alliance" while
later they became known as. the
"black hand" Governor Dcneen
said, tnat his followers were known
as the "band Of hope"
Refutes Hines Testimony.
Governor Deneen emphatica!ily de-
MED the testimony Of Edward Hines,
president OF the Edward Hines Lum-
Der company Of Chicago in regard TO
his telephone conversation with Gov
ernor Deneen from Chicago. Cover
nor Deneen said that Mr. Hines call
ed him up from Chicago bank and
asked him II he had received mes
sage from President Taft asking him
to use his influence to obtain the
election of Senator Lorlmer
81 told Mr.. Hines" said Governor
Deneen, rthat | had received 10 such
message, and asked him how the
message was 10 come to ne. Mr..
Hines replied that II was from Sena-
tor Aldrich and would be delivered
TO me through George Reynolds, pres
ident OF the Continental Commercial
National bank of Chicago. Mr.. Rey-
nolds never delivered such message
TO me. did not tell Mr. Hines rhat
| would assist in Mr. Lorimcr's cleo
tion, and ! didn't recognize his voice
over the telephone. / knew him only
casually and as ! was surprised at
the unusual nature OF the message,
] regarded It as In the anonymous
letter class"
This version OF tho telephone con-
versation between Governor Deneon
and Mr.. Hines which was given by
Governor Deneen Is different from
that contained in the testimony OF
Mr.. Hines, who said that Governor
Deneen promised to support Lorimer
Governor Deneen also denied the ac-
curaey OF Mr.. Hines statement that
LOrlmer had seen Deneen On the
morning of May &c, 1909, before Mr..
Lorlmer's election. Governor Deneen
said that he did not see Mr.. Lorimer
on that day until shortly after his
election, which occurred early in the
afternoon. Governor Deneon said
that Mr.. Hines in HIS telephone con.
versation did not refer to the use Of
money to elect Lorimer
Senator Kern wanted to know II
Governor Deneen had ever had any
conversation with Senator Aldrich or
with President Taft about the alleged
message In which tho president was
reported as having pledged his sup
port to Lorimer.
"Not at that time" replied Cover
nor Den.sen.
"At any other tlme?" inquired Sen
ator Kern.
YES" continued the governor. II
have talked with the president twice
since then, but | would prefer not to
repeat the conversation with the
president, unless he IS to be a wit
ness"
------T-----~----H
4 May Show on Sunday.