Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-21
LORIMER REPORT
is FILED IN SENATE
Continued From Page ~

ton to the attention of any person con-
nected with any investigation.
I'm fact the Funk testimony" it was
said later in the report, has been
taken cum grano sails by nearly every
one who has heard it. Mr.. Funk him.
self admitted that he thought his story
would not be believed
Found Hines "FIattered" by Attention.
The committee reported that it did
find that Mr.. Hines was flattered by
being consulted by Senators Aldrich
and Penrose in regard to the desire to
have some republican elected to the
senate from Illinois.
His sense of the Importance of the
matter" it was said, was greatly en-
HANGED when he knew that they had
been in conference with the president
and that Mr.. Lorimer's candidacy
would not be Objectionable to him, and
that to be entrusted with the RESPONSE
bIity of making known their wishes
and explaining the attitude of the
president to Governor Deneen and Mr..
Lorimer was a personal honor.
Expert accountants employed by the
committee, it was stated, had failed
to find any evidence in the books of
Edward Hines or Erward Tilden OF
connection with Lorimer electlon
Burgess Testimony Discredited.
The committee next considered tes-
timony Of William M. Burgess of Du-
luth, Mimi. that G. F. Wiehe, brother
in-law Of Mr.. Hines, had stated in
smoking room Of a sleeping car out OF
Duluth last March that he had contrib
uted $4,000 to Lorimer election fund.
Contradictory testimony of others on
the train was commented upon with
this concluding statement:
with a convincing array Of evidence
in denial of all the facts contained IN
Mr.. Burgess testimony, and In view
Of the improbability that man of Mr..
Wiehe's intelligence and business ex-
perience should, in a public place and
to an utter stranger, would have con-
fessed to having part in an infamous
proceeding, this committee can not GO
otherwise than discard the testimony
Of Mr.. Burgess as proof Of any facts al
legged"
Dictasraph Not Dependable.
In this connection the committee
considered the attempt to impeach the
testimony of Charles MCGOWAN, the
young Canadian who testified in
Wiehe's behalf. This impeachment was
sought by private detectives with a
stenographer and telephone apparatus
extending into a room in which Mr..
MCGOWAN was supposed to have &C
knowledged having perjured himself.
The committee related an attempted
reproduction Of the conditions under
which the stenographic report of Mr.
Gowan's conversation was made, and
added that the results We're so disas-
trous to the claims made by the stem
ographer to satisfy the committee that
no dependence whatever could be
placed on his testimony.
The committee passed Judgment
upon some Of the prominent features of
the first investigation which were the
further subject Of inquiry at the Sec
ond investigation.
White Testimony Held Fabrication.
The sensational account by former
State Representative Charles A. White
of receiving Lorimer election money
so far as 1t relates to the election of
Senator Lorimer.'
From a most exhaustive examina-
ton and painstaking consideration Of
all the testimony in the case" the re-
port declared "the committee finds that
White was one Of the democrats who
felt justified in voting for Mr.. Lorimer
in order to break the deadlock which
had existed in that body for so many
enrich himself at the expense Of his
own reputation was the result Of an
after thought and Of a purpose which
he had conceived at time when he
had reached the lowest depths Of deg
radiation"
HolstIaw Bribed by Liquor Men.
The committee advanced the theory
that instead of Senator Daniel w.
Holstlaw having been paid 800 for
= x1I f~ r ri ,frr1 no
been paid by liquor interests to defray
his election expenses although posing
as a dry.
From a consideration Of all the
circumstances" it was explained, "the
committee is satisfied that HolstlaW
was the candidate of the liquor inter-
ests in his senatorial district and was
elected by them; that he was subjected
to large campaign expenses, and
money being dearer to him than his
reputation, and felt that he would not
be likely to incur such expenses unless
assured that he would be reimbursed.
1t was conceded that liquor legislation
has been one Of the prominent and con-
tinuing elements in the Illinois general
assembly, and John Broderick being q
saloon keeper in the city Of Chicago.
was naturally a representative of the
liquor interests, and money passing
the case so suggestive, in the absence
Of any other consideration for its pay
ment as to raise a strong presumption
at least that it's payment had some
connection with the election of Mr..
Holstlaw to the senate Of Illinois.
"Everything connected with the evil
dence given by Senator Holstlaw indi-
Gates that his love of money is con-
Stunning passion; that it dominates his
judgment, deadens his conscience, and
destroys his regard for truth
Taken altogether. the committee said,
the testimony indicated to it that Mr..
Lorimer's election was the result Of po-
litical conditions and not attributable
to the corrupt use of money. 1t dwelt
upon the statement that not a single
witness had reflected upon Senator
Lorimer personally and that no testi-
monyI existed as to a single indiscrees
remark or improper action on his part
AS to general corruption funds in the
Illinois legislature, it was said, that
without definite proof of the existence
Of specific Jackpot, the committee
can only report that a general belief
exists among many classes that cor
ruption funds have been more or less
common in connection with legislation
in that state"
The minority in it's conclusions ar
raigned Edward Hines and declared
their belief that he was an accessory