The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-23
|MR. YATES DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF ANY |LOR|MER HACK POT" Is Good Friend of Lorimer
 and Wanted Him
 Elected | CORRUPTION FUND EXISTS, SAYS AMMAN Editor and Publisher Believes There Has Been Illinois Jack Pot" for Years But Lorimer's Enc
 mics Made It

Washington, June 22.--Former Gov ernor Yates of Illinois, who once ac- cused Governor Deneen of playing him falsely in politics and sent word to him through Senator Lorimer that he was a liar still" denied today on the witness stand in the Senate com mittee to investigate the Lorimer cleo tlon that he had ever heard of the use of money in that election until more than a year afterward. Both he and George W Hinman, editor and pub fisher of the Chicago Inter-ocean, the only other witness, professed the great est friendship for MT. Lorimer. 1 Mir Hinman expressed the belief that there had been a jackpot or general corruption flG1 In the Springfield leg islature for many years. but he point ed to MT. Lorimer's enemies as the probable contributors. MT. Yates emphatically denied he had ever had any conversation with Ed ward Hines of Chicago over the long distance telephone on the day Senator Lorimer was elected, in regard 10 a corruption fund for Mir Lorimer's eiec- ton.
 Attorney Healy, for the committee explained that there had been the barest suggestion that he had a con versation with MT. Hines on that day. but he did not believe there would be any testimony to that effect before the committee.
 The former governors political bat ties were probed extensively. first by the attorneys for the committee and then by Judge Elbridge Hanecy, rep resenting Senator Lorimer. Attorney Healy first took MT Yates through history of Illinois politics, bringing reasons for his enmity to- ward Governor Deneen and friendship for Lorimer,
 His feeling toward Governor Deneen was more explicitly described in let ter which Mir. Yates said Na 1hat,res ron i Florida to Senator borirnet s-.A To q, sd- vising him that the newspapers sald lLorimer was going to elect Denee1 | governor
 "I told Senator Lorimer after he had | elected Governor Deneen to call him aside and tell him he had one friend who says Deneen is liar still and that I am the man."
 Friend of Lorimer Coming down to the Lorimer cleo tion the witness said he was a friend of the senator and about 4S hours be- | fore the election on May 26 he learned l first that Lorimer was likely to be elected Lorimer himself had told him at that time there was a chance of | election. He said he did everything he could for Lorimer in that contest, but never even heard of the use of money | upt a MT Yates declared that the will of the majority was not thwarted by the de- feat of Senator Hopkins, because he had only trumphed by plurality vote over men who had not made long, vigorous | fight against him.
 Did wearness of the deadlock enter into the election of Senator Lorimerg' asked Senator Fletcher. "Yes, I think 1t did" "'The democrats had no chance of elect | ing their candidate. did they?' | None whatever
 | Senator Kenyon suggested that by re- ] publicans voting for democratic cand- date he could have been elected just as Lorimer was by democratic votes. l To this Mir. Yates replied that there was no disposition among republicans to vote for a democrat. When it came to democrats voting for a republican, MT. Yates said, Hopkins did not seem to want 1 democratic votes and so did not get them | "They felt very enthusiastic about vot- ing for Mir. Lorimer." added MT. Yates q heard one man say as he cast his ballot Thank God, the time has come
 when I can vote for Lorimer.' They shouted 1t out
 In reply to Senator Kern the witness
 said he was not sure these shouters were
 democrats
 Senator Kenyon said the first step in the election of I.orimer was the election | or Edward G. Shurtleff as speaker of the Illinois house. He asked the witness | if he himself had not said, on the night | of Shurtlef's election. this means the election of Lorimer as United States sen- l ator."
 MT. Yates denied he had made such a statement. but demanded who claimed | he said so.
 Senator Kenyon asked if he had not 1 made such statement to MT. Phillips, Record Herald reporter. | "I know MT Phillips said Mir. Yates. | Hes with the Tribune now, and Is an honest fellow. If he says I said it. I would say I said it.
 Wanted Lorimer Elected
 The witness added that he had long hoped Lorimer would be elected senator and might have expressed himself along l that line
 What democrat of responsibility, or of prominence or member of the legisla- 1 ture. expressed a desire to you to have Lorimer eected?" inquired Senator Ken yon.
 | 'I don't know"
 Pressed by Senator Kern along this l line MT. Yates added:
 Well l guess you and I are put ur 1 about the same in regard to party prin- ciple: we go to the ditch" l Senator Kenyon asked Mir. Yates if al ! the convention when he was defeated foi renomlnation for governor he did not dis charge Joseph Bidwell, grain inspector because he was Lorimer's friend and LOT. inner was opposed to him. After Bidwell had voted against mc 70 times he came to me and said l hat his sympathy" MT. Yates told the com mittee. 'T told him l would rather have his resignation, Joe thought I meant Il and so resigned. I accepted it."
 The committee will meet again tomor row.
 | George w. Hinman, editor and publisher of the Chicago Inter-Ocean, was the frs 1 witness The calling of Mir. Hinman was a surprise and was due so Chairman Dill lingham explained. to the desire of MT Iiinman to keep pressing engagement Knows Nothing of Jack Pot The witness was questioned at lengtl
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