The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-07-28
SENATOR ALDRICH
TELLS HIS STORY
Denies Much That Edward Hines
Testified to.
island Man States that No
- Had Authority to Declare
Presidents Preference for
Any Candidate.

The attitude of President Taft to-
ward the deadlock in Illinois, January
to May, 1909. which resulted in the
election of William Lorimer as United
States senator from Illinois, was ex'
planned by former Senator Nelson W.
Aldrich of Rhode Island, in testifying
before the Lorimer investigating COM
mittee
Mr. Aldrich made it plain that Mr..
Taft declined to lend his assistance
to any of the men whose names were
suggested as prospective candidates.
Senator Aldrick's testimony contra
dicted in several important particu-
lars that of Edward Hines, who said
on the witress stand several weeks
ago that President Taft and Senator
AIdrich authorized him to carry mes
sage to Governor Eeneen of Illinois
that the administration looked with ia
vor upon the election of Lorimer
Aldrich declared this statement was
not true, and that Mr.. Hines was not
authorized to carry any political mes
sage to Springfield on the senatorship
question. Senator Al0rich said he adj
vised Mr.. Hines that the president IA
Vored the election of a good Repub
lican. but would not aid the candidacy
of any one.
Early in the senatorial fight, Mr.
Aldrich testified, President Taft ex-
pressed u personal preference for the
reelection of Senator Albert J. Hop
Al.
est vote III the primaries in Illinois
Later Mr. Taft expressed the opinion,
according\to SenS tor Aldrich, that the
candidacy of Congressman Henry S.
Boutelle, now minister to Switzerland.
would be acceptable to him. Then.
when it was reported from Illinois that
Lorimer was the only candidate who
ued, the president told him that the
election of Lorimer to the United
States senate would not be objection
able" although he would not assist in
his election Mr. Aldrich said ne per-
sonally was favorable to the election
of Lorimer, as he regarded him as a
good Republican" Senator Aldrich
denied that he authorized Mr.. Hines
to carry any political message from
Washington to Springfield regarding
the alleged friendly attitude of the adj
ministration toward Lorimer's candi-
dacy, or expected Mr.. Hines to use his
influence to have Governor Deneen as
sist in Lorimer's election.
Mr. Aldrich explained that he had
authorized Hines to refer any one to
him who wished authoritative in
formation as to the attitude Of Presi-
dent Taft toward the senatorial fight.
Mr.. Aldrich said that Hines came to
him and asked him to find out the
presidents attitude on several oc-
casions. Mr. Aldrich also denied that
he told Hines that Senator Lorimer's
vote would be needed in the senate to
pass the Payne-AlGrich bill, which was
pending at that time.
Senator Penrose backed up every
statement made by Edward Hines re-
garding the formers activity in be-
half of Mr. Lorimer. He even handed
Mr.. Hines and Senator Lorimer a few
bouquets. The Pennsylvania senator
expressed his belief that Mr.. Hines
efforts to elect Senator Lorimer were
the result of a patriotic desire to fur
Their the best interests of the Repub-
lican party and the nation. He didn't
see how Mr. Hines business connec
lions could possibly have caused him
to take a hand in the senatorial cleo
ton.
Edward Hines caused a sensation
by testifying before the senate's Lori
mer committee that Henry S. Boutell
then congressman for an Illinois dis
trict, but now American minister to
Switzerland, told him that President
Taft regarding Lorimer as an accept
able senatorial candidate, was eager
to have LOrimer elected and would be
very glad to assist in his election"
Mr.. Hines related how Mr. Boutell
had gone to President Taft. He in
PRODUCED an unsigned note on a scrap
of paper which he declared was in Mr.
Boutell's handwriting and came tc
him enclosed IN a letter. He said he
received it after the election. 1t read:
81 should like to have the senator
know who was the only man in Wash
ington to go to the president in his
behalf and bring off the goods"