The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-21
SENATOR DENIES
H | N ES'S STORY
Does Not Agree With Chicago
Lumberman as to Details of
Their Observation-Disclosures
of Shields in Collecting Aft
davits From Witnesses
Taken Up.


the administrations attitude toward
the election OF Senator Lorimer. as
told by former Senator Nelson w. AID
rich. OF Rhode Island. and the actiyi-
ties Of r. j Schields. OF Upperco. Wis.
an insurance Ngent. in collecting am
dav.ts from Witnesses in the investi-
cation, featured the session of the
Lorimer committee hearing to-day.
Instead of sending Edward Hines.
the Chicago lumbcrman. TO Springfield
with word from the. washington sd-
ministration that Lorimer should be
elected. Mr. Aldrioh testified that ne
told Hines that President Taft was
not supporting the candidacy Of any
one. but that Lorimcr was not objec-
tionable 10 him. The former Senator
said he had told Hines previously that
the President had no objection to AL
bert j. Hopkins or Henry s. BouteIi
for the senatorship
A statement from the White House
last March In regard TO the election
was read TO the witness. The only
point concerning which he said he
knew nothing was the declara tion that
a request had been made on the Presi-
dent to sign telegram stating his
views on Lorimer's candidacy. The
White House statement. given out
March 30 was as follows:
white House statement.
The fact with reference to the
Presidents relation to Senator Lori
mers election is this: That during the
tariff night gentlemen came TO him
and expressed their interest in pass
ing the tariff bin, and said that 1t
had been suggested from Illinois that
IL would be wise for the President TO
express an opinion in favor OF the cleo
ton OF Mr.. Lorimer. He did not know
Mr.. Lor.mer well, although he knew
that he was an influential member OF
Congress. but he did know Hopkins. He
knew very little about Illinois poll
tics. but expressed a desire that there
should be two Republican Senators
from Illinois. but when asked to put
that in the form OF telegram urging
the election OF Mr. Lorimer he declined
TO do SO.
The statement by Mr.. Hines that
the President was anxious for and
was urging the election OF MIR Lorimer
is wholly unfounded."
Hines had testified that Aldrich sent
for him about May !, 1908. TO ask
about the possibility OF the Illinois
Legislature electing a Senator: that
eventually. after repeated conferences,
Aldrich had asked him 10 urge Lorimer
10 become a senatorial candidate and
that after night conference at the
10 his home where Hines was walt
ing, and told Hines to inform Governor
Deneen the administration was anxious
TO have the Senate vacancy filled. and
believed Lorimer could be elected.
Several Conversations.
Mr. Aldrich said he had three or
four conversations with Hines about
the illinois election. bur could not re-
cali on whose initiative they occurred.
Mr.. Hines" continued Mr.. Aldr!ch.
said at tina first conversation that In
his judgment Hopkins could not be
elected. and he asked me what the at
t!tude OF the President was. said
The President was DESTROYS OF the cleo
lion OF Republican. and while nat
urally he was friendly TO Hopkins be-
cause Of the primary result. and per-
haps other reasons. still he did not
intend TO take any active part in try
ing TO influence the election OF Hop
xins or any other candidate"
did you say there were several
schedules coming up In the Senate. and
that It was very important to have
avery Republican vote possible TO as
sist in the passage OF them?' asked
Attorney Marble. reading from Illness
testimony.
IT do not think that said anything
to him about schedules" replied Mr..
Aldrich.
Mr.. Aldrich testified that their next
talk on the Illinois situation occurred
when Hines came to him with the
statement that there seemed to be "
possibility of agreeing on Henry S.
Boutell. then Representative TO Con-
gress, for Senator Hines said he was
anxious 20 know what the Presidents
attitude was toward Boutell's candi-
dacy Mr. Hines, according to Mr..
Aldrich. said ne was DESTROYS that the
man elected would be agreeable to the
President.
BouteII Satisfactory.
Later" continued Mr.. Aldrich. "I
reported to Mr. Hines that the Presi-
dent would be agreeable: that he was
only anxious to have Republican
elected. and that he was satisfied with
Boutelis Republicanism"
The next conversation. Mr.. Aldrich
said, was about May 20. Mr.. Hines
then told me-" said Mr.. Aldrich. that
IL was Impossible to agree on Boutell
and that he believed there was pos
sibility of agreeing on Lorimer He
was anxious to know the attitude of
the President toward Mr.. Lorimer.
told him / would give him an an
swer later. Later in the day
told him Mr.. Lorimer's candidacy
, would not be Objectionable to the
President"
ross-examination. tried to show that
the former Senator might have said
acceptable" Mr.. Aldrich empha tioally
declared that he said mot objection
able" and that he meant that word
and nothing more.
C. F. Wiehe, secretary of the Edward
Hines Lumber Company said Shields
had collected the afldavits of witt
nesses who testified yesterday that
Wiehe did not remark to william Bur-