The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-06-21
INQUIRY BEGINS
IN L0R|MER CASE
cyrus H. Mccormick, Head of
Harvester Company, Is on
Stand.
SAYS KNOWLEDGE OF
JACKPOT NOT HEARSAY
Adds That He Was Asked to
Contribute to LOrimer
Fund.

WASHINGTON, June o0.-Little
but hearsay evidence was brought out
today when the senate Lorimer in
vestigating committee held its initial
hearing in the inquiry that is TO &C
deep into the charges of corruption in
the election of the junior senator from
Illinois.
Cyrus H. Mccormick, president OF
the International Harvester company,
was before the committee TO tell what
he knew of the collection of a Sl0O..
600 fund alleged to have been used in
Lorimers behalf He testified that
Clarence S. Funk. general manager of
the company. had told him of activity
in behalf of Lorimer, and that their
corporation had been invited by Ed
ward Hines %: the Hines Lumber com
pany TO contribute TO the election
fund
Edward Hines. objected to the line OF
questioning He was ovcrruled.
Whit did Mr.. Funk say to you?'
asked John H. Marble, one of counsel
for the committee
Admissions of Witness
Mr.. Funk came TO NE in my of.
fice. said Mr. Mccormick. "and said
that Mr.. Hines at the Union League
club In Chicago. had approached him
on the subject of our company making
contribution. The object was to OBJ.
tain contribution 10 fund which he
understood was 20 be made 10 recoup
expenditures in connection with the
election of Senator Lorimer. Mr..
Funk told him his suggestion could not
be considered. ! told him that I was
glad that be declined, and that prac-
tically ended the incident"
Mr Marble took the lead in the
questioning Of Mr. Mccormick
'Are YOU a relative OF Medil Me,
Cormick OF the Chicago Tribunc?i he
asked.
eyes. Mr. Mccormick is the son of
a cousin of mine We are good friends.
but are not related in business or po
litical affairs. -
The witness said he had never met
Senator Lorimer. and when questioned
as 10 difficulties about taxes. admitted
that he had some, but had not con
nected Lorimer with them.
Asked if Mr. Funk had mentioned
any other persons in connection with
the collection of the fund. Mr.. McCor-
mick replied that he had brought in the
name of Mr.. Tilden Of the National
Packing company.
Heard of Jackport.
As to the editorial in the Chicago
Record Herald concerning the alleged
fund of 100000 in behalf of Senator
Lorimer. the witness said that at about
the time the article appeared Mr.. Funk
had told him he had given the facts to
H Fl. Kohlsaat. the editor of that pa
ner. and said that he had advised that
Mr.. Kohlsaat be relieved from his
pledge to secrecy
Mr.. Mccormick said Funk had told
him Of a second interview with Hines.
and that Hines had sought him out to
tell him that he had not meant that
his suggestion OF the $4,000 contribu
tion should be taken seriously,
'sI felt rather indignant and so did
Mr.. Funk reDlied Mr.. Mccormick.
when asked if he had been shocked by
Mr.. Funk S revelations.
Mr.. Mccormick said he had heard of
the jackpot fund Of which there had
been common talk for years. His com
pany had never been called upon to
contribute TO the fund he added. al
though il had had various applications
to contribute to such funds in other
states.
He said his knowledge concerning the
jackpot was not hearsay.
Had No Conference.
Replying to questions from Senator
Fletcher the witness said he had no pref
erence for any senatorial candidate in
the election of 1909.
Recalling the testimony of Mr.. Funk
before the Illinois senate. Mr.. McCor-
mick said that he understood that Hines
the men in the 100000 pool should have
man at Washington who would proper
ly represent them.
While denying that the International
Harvester company had legislative
agent. Mr., Mccormick admitted that he
and Mr Funk both gave attention to leg
tslatiVe matters when necessary. He said
the company had had no representative
at Springfield in 1909 and had taken no
part In the lumber fight in. connection with
the Payne -Aldrich bill. Under cross-ex-
understanding OF the conversation be-
tween Mr.. Funk and Hines. the witness
declared Hines had said IL was important
that we should put Lorimer over and
that fund OF 100000 was necessary 10
accomplish that purpose.
Denies Agreement.
Mr.. Hines sought TO bring out the fact
that there had been an agreement be-
tween Mr.. McCormicks company and
I.orimer concerning the closing Of the
Chicago river near the harvester plant.
The witness said the closing uf the river
would have benefited his company. but
he had never known OF Mr.. Lorimer' s
endeavor TO keep the river open.
Following the luncheon recess Mr..
Hines resumed his Interrogation OF Mr..
There may have been accusations Of
corruption against the company but
they we're without foundation" said Mr..
Mccormick. when asked about charges
or influencing legislation.
Members Of the committee again took
the witness in hand in an effort 10 con-
meet Mr. Lorirner with the closing of the
Chicago river and the adjustment OF
taxes but Mr.. Mccormick said he knew
nothing Of such connection.
The committee excused the witness
and adjourned until Thursday. when for
nler Governor Richard Yates OF. Illinois
will be on the stand.
The women of today who has good