The Washington times., 1911-08-08
QUOTATION HIGHER I
ON SENATOR'S VOTE
Ballot of Man In Upper Branch of Illinois Legislature
More Expensive to Lorimer, Witness
Testihes.
BY JUDSoN c. wELLIvER.

he had no ambition to tell more to
the committee than was necessary.
senator Jones put on his most win
ming manners and tried to Jolly the
witness into telling the committee
any further facts that would help it
get at all the truth. Bat Beckemeyer
persisted that he could add nothing
and he developed a sad case of dis
appearing memory when he was
pressed. Indeed, his testimony
stration of how little a man could
find out during a legislative expert
ence.
Why He Shifted.
Questioned by Senator Kenyon Becke-
meyer said at the opening Of the ses-
sion he intended largely to do his own
thinking. But bitterness between the
Browne and Tippit factions of Demo-
Gratis grew apace, and forced tho
Browne party more and more to STICK
together
Toward the end" he said. II sup
pose l would have Yoed for almost
anything Browne told me to-
one edlfylng aspect of the method OF
getting Democratic votes for Lorimer
came out from time to time in Becke-
meyers evidence. As he told his story
the Democratic leaders, particularly
Browne, propsgated the theory that to
elect Lorimer would be denoralizinG
to tie Republicans! 1t was the old ar
gument Of lime 'em and bust 'em."
was that argument pretty persua-
We'll, yes, l thought it a good way
TO break up the Republicans"
lnd you think 1t strange that most
OF the Democrats should vote for a
tor Dillingham;.
No. l can't say / did. That senti-
lnent had been widely abroad in the
state because of the hostility to Gov
Ernor Deneen."
Beckemeyer told the committee he
was first nominated for the Legislature
when he was barely twenty-one years
old. He stoutly declared that almost
all the members Of the Browne faction
were loyal and devoted to Browne Be
sides all that, there was a deep-seated
hostility toward Hopkins.
Lorimer had few personal enemies
over the state, outside OF Chicago"
5dGstd aided e g6eckkeneyer. ;ke1 In Chicago un-
The whole Illinois sensation was in
a strange posture at the time of that
session. Beckemeyer told OF widespread
Democratic sentiment in favor of cleo
sary to defeat Hopkins, and of Dem
ocratic newspaper Endorsement, in
some cases, of legislators who left their
own party to support Lortmer.
HeVoted Wet.
The liquor question was red-hot In
that legislature.
Il voted wet" said Beckemeyer.
Did you do that because Browne
told you tor
No"
You did your own thinking on the
Wex or dry question:
How did Browne vote on it?''
on: he voted wet, too. But my dis
Had the saloons there supported
wou?'
Yes, they were all for me-"
Ex-senator D. W. Holstlaw Of Tulsa,
Democrat and confessed bribe taker,
was next on the stand.
Halstlaw looked the substantial coun-
try business man he is. He said he was
sixty-two years old. and as banker,
900 or more when he went to the Legis-
lature. His senatorial distdict included
the Republican district Of Representa-
tive Beckemeyer.
About month before the Senatorial
election he said, Il told friends at
home that rather than stay there much
longer ! would vote for some Republi-
can for Senator; and to one I said
preferred Lorimer."
THE night before the election told
for Lorimer.''
Are your he asked.
Yes I said, 7 am
WELL he said. II you vote that
way there's 1850 in it for YOU"
Broderick'sT'
20. I had no reason to disbelieve It.
and I believed It. But would have
voted for Lorimer If he had not said
that.
Sent Him a Letter.
"One day later, passing Broderick In
the Senate" he said. IT will notify you
when I want you to come to Chicago.
Later he wrote me a letter to meet
him there the following week. The
letter have lost. l supposed the bus
iness was the g. 500, but he didn't say
so.
It went to Broderick's place of busi-
ness. a saloon. He wasn't in. and no.
body knew was The bartender said
Broderick was at homo and he would
phone. whi:h he did.
Il waited till Broderick came in. about
'9 o'clock. We passed the time of day
and he asked me to have something"
What did you do?''
Took some blackberry wine-one
Then he asked me to step into his
office. at the front OF the saloon; We
went IN and he gave me an envelop.
There was $3.50 in 1t. 1 don't re-
member that he said a word; certainly
nothing about what it was paid for.
didn't stav mora than a half minute.
Ibid you think you should have
more?' asked Senator Kenyon.
NO I didn't really think ought to
have that"
why did you take itT'
Really, hardly know why I did"
Ibid you see anybody else you knew
at the saloon?'
EITHER that time or the next time
I went there I saw Senator Jandus.