The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-03-30
SAYS TAFT WANTED
L0R|MER ELECTED
sHlnes Gives Sensational Testi-
mony at Bride Inquiry.
SENATORS ALSO FAVORED HIM
Chicago Lumberman Denies That
Money Was Used Among Illinois
Legislators to Influence Their
Votes in Election.


Springfield. ILL.,. March 29.-Called
as the first witness by the senate
bribery investigating committee, Ed
ward Hines, the Chicago lumberman,
declared in the midst of his testimony
that he was approached by Senator
Aldrich with request from President
Taft that he urge William Lorimer to
be candidate for senator.
Mr.. Hines admitted that he was in
terested in the election of Senator
Lorimer and said that he conferred in
Washington with United States SEN
ators Penrose and Aldrich in April,
1909. Mr.. Hines said further that he
was In Washington from February to
June, 1909, and that at that time he
was witness before one of the con.
gressional committees.
Senators Went to Him.
Mr.. Hines testified that he became
interested in the election of United
States senator from Illinois at the So
ncltation of several United States
senators at Washington, who request
ed him, as he was a citizen of Illinois,
to give them an opinion on the out
look. President Taft desired a senator
elected from Illinois, they said, as
soon as possible, and they wished to
know If Congressman Lorimer would
not become a candidate, as 1t was un.
derstood that all factions could agree
on Lorimer
Says Request Came From Taft.
Mr.. Hines testified further that Sem
ator Aldrich asked him to urge Lori.
mer to become a candidate, as the
president personally requested him to
do so. Hines said Lorimer promised
TO give the subject consideration. The
witness insisted that President Taft
earnestly desired Lorimer TO become
candidate, as he would be an ally In
passing the tariff bill. -
When asked whether he promised
financial reward to members of the
legislature or any one else, Mr. Hines
entered an emphatic no." To everJ
question in regard to money being
used to secure the election of Lorimer,
Hines replied that pecuniary consid-
GRAFTON, or the creation of fund was
not promised to or solicited for any
one. Money he said, to be used in the
election OF Lorimer, never was
preached in any conversation.
Asked Concerning Banks.
Questions were asked regarding his
affiliations with various banks, the de-
positories of his lumber companies,
and in regard to his personal banking
account. John j. Healy, attorney for
the Investigators. asked the witness
to furnish as soon as possible to the
committee list of his repositories,
and the names of the banks in which
he was interested In the examination
that followed Hines declared that he
at no time heard that money was used
to accomplish the election of Lorimer.
Greatest Man Since Christ"
The next witness to take the stand
was John |. Hughes, director of the
Lorimer bank. He declared that to
his mind William Lorimer was the
greatest man that ever lived since the
time of Christ"
Hughes In a eulogy of Lorimer fur
Their declared that he interested him
self in the election of the senator. as
he was his personal friend, and solic-
tied the support of every one in his
acquaintance, but that he at no time
used money.
Hopkins and kohlsaat Called.
The following witnesses were sum-
moned to appear before the commit.
tee:
Ex-United States Senator Albert ].
Hopkins.
Herman H. Kohlsaat, editor and
publisher of the Chicago Record-Her-
aid.
Cyril r. Jandus, former state sen.
ator.
TOM JOHNSON GROWING WEAK