Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-07-29
'''''os ,ss;,s,,,ss,,,o, e,v,a ,as've Of I'LL
nois neu.s.''s About OBJ
ject Of Trip to City.
SENATOR L. l. BUTTS
OF PEORIA HERE, TOO
Two Illinoisans 1nvestigat-
ing Alleged Voting Ma
chine Scandal.

Ex-Governor Charles A. Deneen o.
Illinois. accompanied by Senator Louis
I. Butts of Peoria, were Ottumwa visit
tors, this morning, but each was very
reticent regarding the object Of the
trip. They finished their business in
time to get back to Chicago ON Bur
lington No. 6 at i 80.
Neither visitor would communicate
regarding the object OF the visit here.
nor would the Ottumwans with whom
they were comforting when seen. II
is known however, that the purpose Of
the trip was investigation work. The
two Illinoisans being connected with
legislative committee investigating =
voting machine scandal
The real connection of Ottumwa
with this alleged scandal Ii matter
OF which none interested would bo
quoted. They admit that. Investigation
is being made, and that Mr.. Butts and
Mr.. Deneen are engaged In that work.
Senator Butts Is chairman OF the llli-
nois legislative committee that 10
probing the sale OF quantity Of vot-
ing machines by the Empire Co, to
the election commissioners OF Cook
county. Other companies than the
one landing the sale are anxious to
have the matter investigated and tho
legislature is on the Job.
Experts have been engaged to ex-
anime the machines and the election
commissioners are criticised for not
permitting other machine companies
have . chance to bid for the work. +
II also alleged thst tho Empire device
does not prevent errors. 9nd that 4.
permits of fraudulent election retufnk
Dsnssn u Very Drisf.
why investigate voting machinesf
They are out OF season? Any invests.
cation should have been done last
year, instead OF this" More than this
Mr.. Deneen refused to say.
Mr.. Deneen is the counsel for
special committee Of the .legislature,
appointed to investigate the sale.
The investigation has been under
way for some time. Chicago news,
papers are Interested to great extent.
and scandal IL promised when the
report OF the findings are made. Ss
AS near as could be learned, q sus.
picion OF graft has been connected
with the sale Of the machines.
In making the investigation. the
committee discovered that an attem
had been made to sell these same ma
chimes to Wapello county.
Local men who had been connected
with the proposition here we're inter-
viewed by the investigators, but what
they learned has been kept q secret.
Visit 10 Secret.
Chicago papers have taken great
interest In the machine scandal, with
the result that the investigators have
been watched closely.
According to the Tribune, Mr.. Ee-
neen is in the southern part OF the
state today on private business. Mr.
Butt is at the Beach hotel, enjoying
rest Ottumwa is not mentioned.
That Ottumwa should be connected
with the case has never been consid-
cred before. But 1t seems q this time
that this city Is bound TO come into
the limelight. as 1t Is understood that
the information desired may be had
here and no place else Just what tho
search will lead to Ii not known, al.
though 1t 10 understood that there 10
ro connection that will In any way re-
fleet on any local parties.