Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-10
Sen. Loriner Makes First
Appearance as Witness.
Says He Paid All His Election
Expenses Himself.
The Sensation Which the Audience
Expected, Failed to Develop.

Washington, Jan. 9.-Senator Will
liam Lorimer, today, began testifying
in his own defence. 1t was the Illi-
nois senator's first appearance i'll the
witness chair since the Senate order
ed an investigation of his election. A
| large audience waited Fexpectantly for
a sensation that failed to develop
Senator Lorimer was called after
Edward Hines, the Chicago lumber
man, and II. a. Jupham. Milwaukee
lawyer and partner of senator
Stephenson in several lumber eompa-
MES, had occupied the better part of
the day
The first question Judge Hanecey,
Lorimer's counsel, put to Senator I.or-
inner after the latter had taken the
stand, was a blunt and leading once.
Did YOU ever pay anything of value
for your election? ," he demanded.
Il never did" replied Senator Lori
mer. Then Judge Hanecey asked the
question in different forms, evidently
framed To cover the same inquiry
from every angle of construction and
leach time Senator Lorimer turned his
face to the committee and replied.
Il never did
through recital of political eondi
tons in Illinois prior to his election.
The evident inference from the drift
of Judge Haneeeys questioning was
that he expects to accuse Gov. Deneen
of having been responsible for po-
litiedl intrigue which resulted in the
defeat of Former Senator Hopkins
Lorimer began by telling how, when
he was running for Congress in 1905,
F. NJ Bount. campaign manager for
Senator Hopkins. had sent him cam
paign contribution of $500, which he
returned, saying:
4 have paid all my election ex-
penses myself, at both the primary
and the polls without accepting a
cent from anybody, and therefore |
cannot accept yours"
Most of Senator Lorimers testimony
was of conversations with Gov. Deneen
about the senatorial election in the
Illinois Legislature and he brought
out the breach between Deneen and
Hopkins.
when | met Deneen by appoint
ment in January, 1909 he said. The
felt that he had been treated harshly
in the state committee meeting by
Senator Hopkins. Mayor Busse and
Postmaster Dan Campbell of Chicago.
He felt the fair primary had original
ed with him and he didn't want to re-
turn to the old soap-box system. He
was afraid Busse would use the Chi
cago police force to defeat his friends,
and he felt that if he and I co-operat
ed. we would have a majority in the
convention and could enforce a fair
primary.
"Deneen said il was for the best in
terest of the people that Hopkins
should not be reelected That was
the first time | knew definitely that
Deneen was opposed to Hopkins
Il urged him to become a candidate
He did not encourage ii and he didn't
repel it. Later he said he did not see
how he could as he had only recently
been elected governor
"Deneen also thought some of his
Chicago friends, particularly the Chi
cago newspapers, which would not let
him become senator and besides he
did not quite think it consistent to
take the senatorship after Hopkins
had received plurality in the pri-
mary. In the meantime he thought he
could keep enough of his friends OPP
posed to Hopkins to prevent his cleo
ton"
Did Gov. Deneen ever suggest that
you become a candidate"
Frequently He said / would be
elected. but l never took him serious
ly until all the other candidates had
been exhausted. He made the sugges-
ton every time we had a confer
ence."
When Senator Lorimer's testimony
reached that stage, a recess was or
dered and he viii continue, at 1890
tomorrow morning.
Hines and Uplam testified they had
a conference in the Union League
Club in Chicago, May %, 1909, the day
following Lorimer's election. 1t was
Intended to disprove the allegation
that Hines used the room to reim-
burse a 100000 fund which was said
to have been used in electing Senator
Lorimer