Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-20

Former Senator Nelson w Aldrich OF
Rhode Island. leader of the United States
Senate until his retirement last March.
today told the Senate Lorimer committee
of the part he and President Taft took
in the election Of Senator Lorimer.
Instead of telling Edward Hines of
Chicago the storm center in the present
Lorimer investigation. that he and the
President were anxious TO have Lorimer
elected, Mr.. Aldrich testified that he said
Lorimer's candidacy was mot objection
able to them. When attorneys for Lori
mer on cross-eXamination tried to show
that the former senator might have said
acceptable" Mr.. Aldrich emphaticaily
declared that he said mot Objectionable
and that he meant that word and moth
ing more. He added that he knew Hines
would use the information given him at
Springfield
Did Not Seek Hines.
Mr. Aldrich also denied he had told
Hines that he considered Lorimer the
only man who could be elected. He de-
clared that he did not ask Senator Pen
rose to bring Hines to consult with him
in regard to the Illinois election, and
Penrose brought Hines to his room about
the time Hines testified he was brought.
According to Aldrich, all the converse
tons he held with Hines in regard to the
senatorial situation were regarding tile
Presidents attitude toward candidates.
first Hopkins then Boutel and hnally
Lorimer. The senator denied that he told
Hines he wanted. senator elected De
cause OF the prospective close vote on the
tariff.
The witness was treated with great
courtesy by the committee, the regular
procedure being interrupted TO allow Mr..
Aldrich to take the stand. Afterward the
hearing was stopped until he shook hands
with members of the committee. Mr..
Aldrich went out of his way to greet Sen
ator Iorimer, who had listened to his
testimony.
Denies Hines Story.
Hines had testified that Aldrich sent for
him about May l. 1909. to ask about the
possibility of the Illinois legislature elect
ing a senator. that eventually, after re-
peated conferences with him, Aldrich
asked him TO urge Lorimer to become a
senatorial candidate; and that after
night conference OF Mr. Aldrlch at the
White House. Aldrich returned to his
home where Hines was waiting, and told
Hines to inform Gov. Deneen the admin
istration was anxious to have senator
elected and to say it believed Lorimer
could be elected
Mr. Aldrich fatty coRtradlcted hihes
story He said he had three or four con-
versations with Hines about the Illinois
election but could not recall on whose
initiative they occurred.
Was Friendly to Hopkins.
Mr.. Hines" continued Mr.. Aldrich,
said at the first conversation that ih
his Judgment Hopkins could not he
elected and he asked me what the at
titude of the President was. l said tn"
President was desirous of the election
of a republican, and while naturally
he was friendly to Hopkins because or
the primary result, and. perhaps, other
reasons. still he did not intend to take
any active part in trying to influence
the election of Hopkins or any other
candidate
Did you say there were several
schedules coming up in the Senate and
that it was very important to have
every republican vote possible to assist
in the passage of them?" asked At
torney Marble, reading from House
testimony.
Aldrich.
Mr.. AIdrich testified that their next talk
on the Illinois situation occurred when
Hines came to him with the statement
that there seemed to be possibility OF
agreeing on Henry S. Boutell. then repre-
entative in Congress, for senator, and he
said he was anxious to know what the
Presidents attitude was toward Bouteifs
candidacy Mr.. Hines, according to Mr..
Aldrich said he was desirous that the
man elected would be agreeable to the
President.
Satisfied With BouteII.
Later" continued Mr.. Aldrich. Il re-
ported to Mr.. Hines that the President
would be agreeable: that he was only
anxious to have a republican elected. and
that he was satisfied with BouteIIs re-
publicanism."
The next conversation. Mr.. Aidrich said
was about May 20. Mr.. Hines then told