River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-07-20
Tells OF JACKPOTS
GOVERNOR DENEEN is WITNESS
IN LORIMER CASE AT
WASHINGTON.
GIVES OUT LIST OF DONORS
Illinois Executive on Stand Names
Alleged List of Contributors to
Legislative Fund-Refutes Hines
Testimony About Telephone Talk.

Washington Gov. Charles s. Deneen
of Illinois, who appeared before the
senate Lorimer committee as a wit
ness. told how "jack-pots" had -four
ished in the state since 1897. and gave
out purported list of corporation
contributors to the funds.
He also told how he had suggested
to Senator Loriiner that he (Lorimer)
become candidate when the latter
wanted to elect Shurtlef senator A
mild sensation was caused when the
governor pulled from his pocket the
notes of speech delivered at Taylor.
vile, August, 1910, which he said
charged the former speaker with be-
ing responsible for the Jackpot"
The Jackpot fund has been in ex-
istence since 1897" said Governor De-
neen. He sketched how the legisla-
ture is organized. the committees
named and how things dragged slowly
until the rush of the final few days
when everything went through or was
killed in a rush.
The regulator bills are disposed
OF them" he said. Some are killed
outright. Others are sent again to
committees on the theory that they
cannot stand an extended coroner's
inquest. The theory is that the money
is paid, accumulates in the hands OF
several men and finally distributed"
Who contributes ?' asked Senator
Jones.
Il don't know"
Have you ever heard?"
"Oh, yes; the railroads to protect
themselves, the gas companies of
Chicago, the electric light companies,
the liquor interests, the Union Stock
yards company. the grain elevator
companies, the Pullman company and
possibly others"
Governor Deneen told of a meeting
of railroad presidents he had been
asked to attend in Chicago during the
Forty-sixth general assembly. He
mentioned Messrs Harahan, Earring,
Miller, Hughitt, Wincheli and FELTON,
as being there
They said the demands of the
Legislature meant confiscation." he as
serted They declared the govern
ment scrutinized them SO closely that
they could not set aside money in that
way. | told them to come to Spring
field and protest. They came, 1000
strong, and defeated the legislation"
Governor Deneen denied the charge
Nv Vntnc fhof
he had "double-crossed" him. He
said that he had not promised Yates
he would support dim for United
States senator.
Concerning the famous Hines-De-
neen long-distance telephone CONVEX
sation, the morning of Lorimer's cleo
ton, Governor Deneen said:
MIR. Hines called me up and asked
me if l had received a message from
President Taft. to support Lorimer.
said | had not received it. Hines
said his train was late. and he had
missed connections or he would have
come down to Springfield.
Il said, that's rather remarkable
message for the president to send
Hines said that President Taft was
to send the message through Senator
Aldrich and that George Reynolds OF
the Continental Commercial National
bank was to call me up and tell me-
about it."
Governor Deneen said he never
heard from Reynolds, he did not tell
Hines he would support Lorimer, and
there was no discussion about recog-
nizing Hines voice, as Hines had pre-
viously testified.
Il doubted If 1t was Hines. just
accepted 1t as one of those anonymous
communications"
The governor said that he did not
know Senator Aldrich, and had never
had a communication from him. He
said there was no talk of money IN
the conversation with Hines.