Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-06-24
JACKPOTS ARE A
State TRADITION
EX-SENATOR HOPKINS PUTS 'ENI
IN POLITICAL HISTORY.
DIDN'T KNOW but HURT
Witness was not Looking for Demo-
cratic Vote, as lie was not a
Candidate for Pcnltenuary

BY hraocated Press
Washington, June 2S,-"Jackpots"
and other funds OF corruption in the
Illinois Legislature constitute "One
of the traditions Of politics in MI
nois, according to the testimony Of
Former Senator Albert j. Hopkins in
the Lorlmer investigation today.
Senator Lorimer succeeded SEN
ator Hopkins. Whether any Jack
pot fund or other corrupt method
was used TO defeat Senator Hopkins,
he was unable to say Of his own
knowledge, but he explained to the
Investigation committee that he was
the last man who could know Of such
corrupt practices because he was, at
the time Of election in the position
of a man In a crowd, "who knocked
down with a bludgeon, who knew no
more than the crowd, but was hurt
worse"
The only other witness In the Lori
mer investigation was Edward A.
Bancroft. general counsel Of the In
ternatlonal Harvester Company. The
witness testified that Clarence $.
Funk, general manager Of the Inter
national Harvester Company, had
told him OF an alleged attempt Of
'Mr. Hines or Edward Hines" to
raise money to meet the expense Of
electing Senator Lorlmer."
Mr.. Hopkins gave a long account OF
the political affairs in Illinois, de-
scribing the deals, bargains and ne
gotiatins among the Republicans be-
fore Lorimer secured his election to
the senate.
There We're repeated conferences
and caucuses in his room at the st
Nicholas hotel and the situation was
discussed
On the morning OF the day Lorimer
was elected Senator Hopkins said that
his secretary, Mr.. Pfeffers, had told
him that Senator Mccormick, one OF
his supporters, had come to him and
said that he had been offered $500
to vote for Lorimer.
did he say who made the offer?'
mo, he did not"
did you make any attempt to find
out who made the OFFER"
mo. there was 80 much excitement
and so much doing that I did not go
into the matter"
Did Mccormick vote for Lori
mer?"
when Lorimer's vote reached 101
and mine was II. Mccormick was
one OF my men who went over to Sem
ator 1orimer"
Describing the situation immedi-
ately prior to the election. Senator
Hopkins said that on the night the
deadlock was broken there had been
conference at his room and his
forces seemed to be IN line.
"They sat there and talked and ate
my apples, and smoked my cigars.
Durfee Cone OF the leglslators), who
was bit reticent. but a good story
teller. was especially bright and en-
tertaining TO my guests. When they
left my room at II o'clock everything
seemed all right. l learned after
wards that they had gone from there
TO Senator Lorimer's room"
Senator Hopkins told the names OF
several members fho were at the con-
ference in his room the night before
election and who had voted for him
on every ballot. The next morning
he was surprised that many Of these
men were about to desert him. Dur
fee was one, Logan was another lie
approached some Of them TO ascertain
the reason for their change over
night. They told him they thought
Lorimer was going to be elected and
they intended to vote for him. There
was so much confusion that he did
not see the others. Some he had
never seen.
Further describing things at Spring
field, Senator Hopkins said he was
surprised at the change OF sentl-
ment among some OF the members.
who" asked Attorney Marble.
"Well, Senator Billings and Senator
Ettleson. They were from section
controlled by Chauncey Dewey o
leading politician, who was candl'
date for some Federal job
"He was the man who insisted upon
voting for Mr.. Taft In the Republi.
can convention in 1908 when the other
Illinois Democrats voted for someone
else. IL he not?'
II think he is,"
Were there any other surprises p
Eyes, was surprised that fifty
three Democrats should vote for Lor
liner"
was Governor Deneen your
frlend?"
"He professed to be-"
'Dld anyone suggest to YOU tha
you might get some Democratic
votes?"
Eyes Senator Landie, a Republican
of Moline. who supported M
throughout the contest, came to m'
and said that he had been told tha
could have ten Democrat votes !
| would do the right thing, or woult
do certain things"
'Do you know who made that sug
gestlon to Senator Lander"
II understand It was Representa-
tive Lu1a. who is now dead"