The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-12
L0R|i.ER TOLD
Of FIGHT WITH
CHICAGO PRESS
Believes Governor Deneen
and Tribune Were in Con-
spiraey Against Him
DOES NOT BELIEVE BROWNE
PA|O FOR VOTES FOR lOR|MER
Senator Loaned Him Money to Defend
Himself Against Charge of Bribery
Because Browne Was Being Prose.
cuted In Order to Punish Lorimer.

Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Lori.
| mer. continuing his testimony before
the senate inquisitorial committee to-
| day. declared the real purpose of this
fight on Lee O'Neill Browne. who is
accused of briblng Illinoi slegislators
to vote for Lorimer. and who has
was to unseat Lorimer In the senate
Lorimer said he loaned Browne $10,-
900 with which to defend himself.
Il never took his notes nor any Sc
curity for the money nor kept any
books on It," said 1>orimer. because
l felt he was being attacked on my
account and ! didn't want him to lose
on my account"
Lorimer testified he was convinced
the Chicago Tribune bought the evi-
dence they used against Browne with
tho purpose of using 1t as basis tc
attempt to put him out of the senate
and that the whole machinery of the
states attorneys office was used to
destroy him and not to put Browne
IN the penitentiay.
II believe the Tribune suhorned the
perjury of White, Beckemeyer and
Holstlaw." said Lorimer. "and | am
convinced neither Browne nor any one
else ever paid any money for a vote
for me-"
Lorimer declared he believed Gov
ernor Deneen and the Tribune were in
conspiracy to get him out of the SEN
story was bought and paid for l;
was the published statement of
Whites alleging he had been paid to
vote for Lorimer which began the in
quiry into Lorimer's election.
The witness testified he believed
Beckemeyer made his Confession to
escape the indictment pending against
MN and that Holstlaw's confession
was obtained in the same way by per-
sons In the employ of the Tribune.
Senator Lorilner yesterday told the
story OF his early life in politics. The
opposition of H. H. Kohlsaat to him
he testified. began at the Chicago con-
vention that nominated James G.
Blaine for president
II was Blaine man and began to
organize the Illinois delegation for
him., enator Lorimer said. MI NJ.
kohlsaat sent one of his men to tell
me that he had no objection If voted
for Blaine myself, but that I must
stop working to split the Illinois dele
cation, or he would put me out of
public life.
Il went on Just the same; we split
the convention. and Blaine was nom
mated"
Did YOU ever talk to Mr.. Kohlsaa at
about driving YOU out of the party p
enator Kern asked.
i think ! never talked to him in
my life" Mr.. Lorimer replied, but
what happened afterward verified
what he said. A newspaper story came
out that had stolen 100000 from
the Chicago water department.. Ex-
pert bookkeepers reported I had turn
7
four lines was printed to that effect,
however and the impression was left
with many people that I had stolen
the money"
Differences with the late Joseph
Medill. owner of the Tribune, he tes-
titled. began when Mr.. Medill was said
to have been candidate for the
United States.
1T was about 1896" said Senator
Lorimer, when he sent for me and
told him it would be impossible to
elect him. told him couldn't sup
port him. as many of my friends were
pledged to Col. G. NJ. Davis. Col.
Davis later released them. with the re-
quest that they work for MIR. Medill:
but the latter withdrew before the
caucus adjourned. and from that time
mis- attacks on the men who had hesi-
tated but were willing to support him
were bitter. He never indicated what
his grievance was and he never con-
nected the attacks with his candidacy.
but they came on regularly"
Did the Tribune ever support
you?" Senator Kern asked.
1T did once. 1t said l was unfit for
once. put that 1t was no time for
Republicans to quarrel, and that had
better be elected with the rest. They
1896"
What was the cause of your quar-
rel with the newspapers other than
the Tribune?"
"Medill used to control Republican
affairs pretty much in Cook county.
and when kohlsaat came in he want
with him because l would not do
things he wanted me to do"
Senator Lorimer related an in
stance In which he said the Chicago
papers had charged him with fraud
In an election when he was running
for congress.
1.-The ballot boxes were opened on
the pretense Of making an inspection,
and 1t was found that / had sixteen
more votes than had been conceded" :"
he said.
Elbridge Hanecy. his counsel, re-
ferred to the record where Mr.. Kohl.
saat had testified that Lorimer repre-.
sented all that was bad in politics,
and then read a batch Of congratula-
tory letters which Lorimer had re-
ceived from public men after his cleo
ton as senator. One was from w.
g: Beale. one Of the three trustees
who manage the Chicago Tribune.
Reference was made to the suit for
back taxes which was prosecuted sue
cessfully against the International
Harvester company and resulted in
that company's stockholders paying
about 100000 back assessments into
the Cook county treasury. It had been
intimated during the hearings that
Lorimer had been suspected Of being
behind II, and that fact had been re-
ferred to as possible reason why the
McCornicks might be opposed to him.
Lorimer denied that he was con.
nected In any way with the instigation
OF the suit. and said he knew nothing
about 1t.