Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-13
STREET URCHNs RISE TO POWER
Investigating Committee Hears De-
nial of Use Of Money.
SENATOR R0ASIS HIS ENEMIES
He Asserts There Was Conspiracy
TO Defeat Him
BELIEVES TESTIMONY BOUGHT
His Attorney 10 Attempting to show
that lie In the Only Republican
Wac Could Have Been
Elected.

WASHINGTON. Jan. l2.-Senator Lori
mer of Illinois, continuing his testimony
toGay before the senate investigating
committee. undertook to explain the In
dlvidual motives which caused los men,
bers Of the Illinois legislature to cast
their ballots for him. His recital was a
long story Of boyhood friendships grown
to powerful Influence In party councils
and political alliances which had their
Inception with the frolicking of chaldren
at play in the streets Of Chicago.
I've known that man all my life, prob
ably since l was 10 years old, and he
hod gone through some hard knocks him
self and felt as II he wanted to help
It, too" was one of the answers he ire
quently gave.
Some OF his explanations we're homely
stories Of his political life thirty years
ago. before he became a national figure.
Old Friend of Abrahams.
How did Nanny Abrahams come to
vote for you9" he was asked
Abrahams is democrat and Is called
the bell wether because he led the voting
on the roll call
why many years ago he was just be-
ginning TO be a leader among his peo-
pie in Chicago" responded the senator.
and many OF them coming as imml-
grants tried TO make living peddllng
in the streets. The license fee was IS
lot Of money for poor man In a
strange country-apd he used to come to
my houte at night and ask me to help
them. So ] used TO get permits for them
to peddle until they mane money enough
to get out licenses. That was the star,
OF our friendship
How did Jandus come to vote for
you." Jandus was another democrat.
81 had done him many little favors.
I remembtr having got a job or so for
poor friend OF his. suppose In my
politiea. nte have got Jobs for 1900 or
little things"
''what about Btodsrlckg'
Accounts for Frederick.
''why, John--Ive known John fifteen
years and all his friends are friends OF
my friends. He's been very kind to me.
whenever had contest he would 40
and see some OF his people, lie was
always friendly to me"
what about Holstlaw?" ALLEGED 20
have made confession that he received
money to vote for Lorimer)
The first ! remember OF him was be-
fore my election. He came and asked me
Il would be opposed to postmaster
who was saloon keeper l told HIM !
did not think a mans business made any
difference IL he had a good character and
would make a good postmaster. He went
away saying: You have the reputation
Of standing by your friends, and I'm 60
ing to vote for you
In explaining the votes Of others he
often would say:
He lived in my neighborhood and some
time l may have done an important favor
for him." or I'VE worked together in poll
tics for thirty years, and our personal
was stronger than any party
tie"
The votes Of other men Senator Lorimer
explained by saying they were unalter-
ably opposed TO Hopkins; were anxious to
break the deadlock and get home; had
received favorable recommendation of
Lorimer from constituents or they were
anxious to give to him some substantial
reward for his work in behalf Of the pro-
posed lakes to the gulf waterway.
Mr.. Lorimer had got about half way
through the list Of the legislators who
voted for him when sdjournement was
taken until Monday morning.
Charges Conspiracy
Earlier in the day the senator had made
a dramatic denial OF any knowledge OF
corruption in connection with his election
and in an equally dramatic way charged
that Governor Deneen and the Chicago
Tribune were forwarding a conspiracy to
drive him from the senate.
IT am as sure as am sure that 1 am
here" he charged. that the Tribune
bought the evidence which It used against
Lee o'Neil Browne in the bribery trials.
and that 1t was only incidet' ally prose-
cutting Browne to form the basis OF
case to try and put me out of the SEN
ate. 1 know that neither Browne nor
anyone else ever paid anybody a dollar
10 vote for me, and have never had a
doubt that Charles A. White was bought
and paid for when he delivered that
statement to the Tribune"