Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-24
HOPKINS TAKES The STAND
Senator Defeated by Lorimer Heard
Many Rumors Of Bribery.
BELIEVES THAT MONEY WAS USED
he Says that He Was Not Able 20 Put
His Finger on Any Corruption
Was Regular Republican
Nominee.

mer Senator ALBEIT j. ftOphins oA thS uas
Senator Lorimer was elected to the senate
heard many rumors of the use Of money
in accomplishing that result he said today
he was unable to put his finger on any
corruption. Mr. Hopkins testified before
the senate committee investigating the
Lorimer election.
! Pressed to tell the committee whether he
had any reason to believe that any Of the
republicans who deserted him for Senator
Lorimer had done so because Of improper
influences the witness declined to answer.
| ct don't think 1 ought to say" declared
the former senator. ut is only my belief.
Neither could he name any person who
could aid the committee, he declared. He
added that he had tried to forget his defeat
to a seat to which he declared he was en-
titled, saying that he was sure that the
public had no time for a man with a
| grievance.
Testimony of MIR. HOpkins.
| Former Senator Hopkins of Illinois, who
was defeated for reelection when Senator
Lorimer was elected In 1903, was the first
witness today before the senate committee
which is investigating Senator LorimeTs
election. At the outset of his examination
by Attorney Healy for the committee, Mr..
Hopkins was askedi
| who were your opponents at the re-
publican primary for United States senator
in 1Sos?"
william e Mason and George E. Foss,"
said Mr.. Hopkins.
How about William G. WebsterT'
"Oh, yes. He was also a candidate"
said Mr.. Hopkins, seemingly a little con-
fused by his omission.
After his victory at the senatorial pri-
mary, Mr.. Hopkins said he was considered
the republican party's candidate for sena-
tor just as Governor Deneen was regarded
as its candidate for governor.
II was assessed by the State Central
committee just as the other candidates
were, to run the campaign at the fall cleo
tion.' said Mr. Hopkins.
The election of senator by the legislature
| in 1909 was then inquired into. The witness
told of the election OF a speaker by q COM
| bination OF democrats and recalcitrant
republicans" and Of a republican senator
ial caucus in which he was selected as the
party's candidate.
| Elbridge Hanecy, counsel for Senator
Lorimer, suggested to the witness that the
meeting was conference" rather than a
caucus" Mr.. Hopkins, however, insisted
1t was a caucus.
| IN QesCrlDlnB what ne
to further his candidacy Hopkins said he
hired a hall in which conferences of his
followers were held every night or So
The main argument we used was that
had been elected at the primaries as the
party's candidate, and that every loyal re-
publican member OF the legislature should
vote for me-" said Mr.. Hopkins.
Coming down to reports that he had
| "a naa nf IN dafaaI
him. Mr.. Hopkins said his private score
tary told him Senator Mccormick had in
formed him that $500 had been Offered
him (McCormick) to vote for Lorimer.
! Ibid he vote for Lorimer?' the witness
was asked.
mot until after Lor1mer had enough
votes to elect him." tsa'
Mr.. Hopkins said that he did not go t
, see Mr.. Mccormick because his secretary
reported that Mccormick was going to re
main loyal to him.
Night Before Election.
Mr.. Hopkins then told OF efforts to keel
his force in line on the memorable daN
when Lorimer was elected.
One of the men he went to see on tn
floor of the house that day was Repre-
sentative Johnson Lawrence,
HE had always voted for me, and whel
, he told me he was going to vote for Lori
, mer," said MIR. Hopkins, Il told him if h
did he would not be able to convince hi
J people he had not been purchased. He sal
he would vote for Lortmer, but did not ad
I NIT he was purchased"
a Mr.. Hopkins said he heard that two othe
members he was going to lose were Loga
s and Durfee Both OF them had been at hi
$ room at II o'clock the night before the cleo
I ton, the witness explained And we at
: apples and smoked my cigars" Mr.. Hop
e kins added.
; where did they go after they left you
room?"
: MY friends told me they went to Sen
! ator Lorimer's room"
h The witness said that when he aske
J. Logan why he was going to change Loga
y responded that he. Hopkins, could not b
elected and that Lorimer was going to
: elected, and that he was going to vote 70
him.
WAS there anything In the apples @
u cigars that might have made him chang
!. over night?" inquired Senator Kenyon.
= Il think not They were the same bran
= I had used for five months"
Mr.. Hopkins said he was surprised q
the loss of Senators Billings and EttlesoI
he Expressed tno DoneA lhAI Cnaunce
y Dewey was responsible for this chang
J. Dewey was one of the two Illinois delegate
le to the republican national convention /
!. 1908 who voted for Taft instead OF Cannon
Attitude of Deneen.
Senator Johnson asked Mr. Hopkins
!, Governor Deneen was with him in his figf
before the legislature.
HE professed to be my friend"
: did you accept his professions?''
well, l treated him as SUCH"
Evidently" broke in Senator Kenyon
that was not the place for an unsophist
Gated man."
The witness repeated his testimony befoI
the Helm committee that about four or 81
weeks before Lorimer's election Senate
Landee had told him that Representatiy
, Luke. now dead. had said that te
democratic votes could be had for a none
consideration.
What did you say?'
II said l was a candidate for the senat
I not the penitentiary," replied Mr.. Hopkn
Il thought If could keep my repubnca
followers together, l would ultimately /
elected"
He added that he did not believe L.andC
| nj to- hat h. hun