The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-07-21
BY AssocIated Press.

Washington, July 20.-The story Of
the administrators attitude toward
the election Of Senator Lorimer as told
by former Senator Nelson w. Aldrich,
OF Rhode Island, and the activities Of
r. ]. Shields. of Superior, Wis, an in
surance agent, in collecting affidavits
from witnesses in the Investigations,
featured the Lorimer committee hear
ing today. Instead Of sending Howard
Hines to Springfield with word from
the Washington administration that
Lorimer should be elected, Aldrich tes-
titled he told Hines that Taft was not
supporting the candidacy Of anyone but
Lorimer was not Objectionable to him.
He said he told Hines previously the
president did not object to Albert J.
Hopkins or Henry S. Boutel for the
senatorship.
G. f. Wiehe said Shields had COL
lected afiidavits from witnesses who
testified yesterday that Wiehe had not
made the remark to Wn- Burgess that
he subscribed $4,000 to the Lorimer
election fund. He said no arrange
ments had been made to- pay Shields
anything to collect the affidavits, but
that Shields drew upon lumber COM
panies for his expenses. He knew not
THE FIRST WITNESS.
Mr.. Aldrich, who was the first wit
ness today. said he had three or four
conversations with Hines about the
Illinois election but could not recall on
whose initiative these occurred
MIR. Hines" continued Mr.. Aldrich,
said in the first conversation that in
his judgment Hopkins could not be
elected and he asked me what the at
titude OF the president was. said the
president was desirous of the election
of a Republican, and, while naturally
he was friendly to Hopkins because of
kkn Nrtr nd
reasons, still he did not intend to take
any active part in trying to influence
the, election of Hopkins or any other
candidate" s---- !.
did you say there were several
schedules coming up in the senate and
that 1t was very important to have
every Republican vote possible to as
sist in the passage of them?" asked
Attorney Marble, reading from Illness
testimony.
II do not think 1 said anything to
him about the schedules" replied Mr..
Aldrich. Mr.. Aldrich testified that
Hines came to him later with the
statement that there seemed to be
possibility of agreeing on Henry s.
Boutell, then representative in congress.
Hines said he was anxious to know
what the presidents attitude was to-
ward Boutell's candidacy for senator.
Later" continued Mr.. Aldrich, Il re-
piled to Mr.. Hines that the president
would be agreeable; that he was only
anxious to have a Republican elected,
and that he was satisfied with BoutelPs
republicanism.
The next conversation, Mrs Aldrich
said, was about May 20.
''Mr Hines then told me-" said Mr..
Aldrich. that it was impossible to
agree on Boutell and that he believed
there was a possibility of agreeing on
Lorimer. He was anxious to know the
attitde Of the president toward Mr..
Lorimer. told him / would give him
an answer later. told him then Mr..
Lorimer's candidacy would not be OBJ
jectionable to the president.
Then" continued Mr.. Aldrich, "Mr.
Hines asked me If I would say that to
any one who inuqired of me. / told
him that 1 would say that Mr.. Lori
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