Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-28
ILLINOIS DEADLOCK BROKEN
Congressman William Lorimer il
Finally Elected Senator.
LoRMER MAKES AN ADDRESS
He Emphasises Fact that He IL n
R~epubIicsn and that Men voting
for Him knew He was n
Republican.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. May 2~T.-Congress-
man William Lorimer Of Chicago is the
Junior United States senator from Illinois.
He was elected on the ninty-fifth ballot in
the Joint assembly today by a coalition Of
democratic and republican votes, to fill the
vacancy from Illinois which has existed
In the national senate at Washington since
Albert J. Hopkins term expired on March
Z last. The deadlock has existed since last
January. Mr.. Lorimer's total vote was los.
Speaker Shurtleff cast the vote in the joint
assembly which insured Lorimer's election.
When the speakers name was reached on
the house roll call So votes had been cast
in the house and 12 votes had been cast in
the senat for William Lorimer, making a
! total of an even 100 votes. Shurtleff's was
the ~eighty-ninth vote in the house and the
101 vote in the Joint session for Lorimer,
which gave the senator-elect a majority OF
the 300 senator's and representatives who
we're present and voting.
Lorimer's election was not dependent on
q majority OF those present and voting. He
also received a constitutional majority OF
107 votes and had before the vote was an
nounced six votes to spare. with the an
nouncement Of Shurtleff's vote members
Of the legislature and the vast throng in
the house galleries knew that the dead
lock was broken. P~andemonium broke
loose. Fifty-five republicans and hfty-three
democrats voting together brought about
Lorlmer's election and broke the long
standing deadlock.
Northcott Dragged from Floor.
The breaking of the deadlock was not
permitted to pass without exciting in
cldents, Former Lieutenant Governor
lNorthcott, a Hopkins leader, who Is now
the United States district attorney at
| Springfield, was dragged from the main
floor Of the house by house policemen who
| would have thrown him through the main
door had not a doorkeeper fnterfered'
Minority leader Lee O'Neil Browne charac-
terized the words of Representative Eng
| lish as false because the latter gave the
impression by inference that improper in
f~luences had been used to secure demo-
| cratic votes for Lorimer. Browne did not
reply to what English had said. in ex-
planning his vote, until the roll call had
been completed.
81 do not know what the gentleman
means" said Browne, by his inference,
but IL he meant hat improper influences
have been used he is a liar. l hope he
did not mean it. But If he did and will
repeat his words to me outside Of this hall
4 Il Will DlCukS 9Ou IlihN pAC VI AH ''a 49,
make those remarks again"
English did not take up the challenge.
wild Excitement on Floor.
Wild excitement prevailed when the
Northcott Incident occurred. Prior to the
arrival OF the senate to take part in the
Joint assembly great care had been exer-
cised to remove every outsider from the
floor of the house Several times Speaker
eA--.,r at.oatat4 gtha. adhrkaanar m non
that his orders in this respect were carried
out. Knowing that the time had come for
a break. the speaker was anxious to pre-
vent interference by any one who might
be left upon the floor or within the rail-
inHs. Pointing but individuals who were
10th to move from advantageous spots
along the railing the speaker directed the
doorkeeper's attention to them. The roll
call was in progress when Representative
Chiperfield interfered long enough to say
I that he insisted upon the removal of the
gentleman who was lobbying upon the
| floor. Northcott recognized that attention
was being called TO him and he quickly
| stepped into the democratic cloakroom.
Immediately a big house policeman had
him by the neck and started to drag him
toward the main doors. .Northcott resisted
every step he took, but was physically not
capable. of combating the other mans
strength. Captain Edwar Harlan appeared
Just In time to keep Northcott from being
| forcibly elected from the hall. When the
confusion began in the rear of the hall
every member on the floor arose in his
seat as also did the throng in the gallery
to see what was going on. Representative
King and Senator Daley, two of the men
who went into the last ditch with Hop
klns clamored for recognition. II protest."
shouted King. II protest against this ram
pant disorder and outrage declared
Daley. A motion was directed to the rules
which extend the courtesies of the floor
to ex-state officers among others.
Representative Shanahan insisted that
while one rule extended the floor to Mr..
Northcott he had violated another rule by
lobbying. Mr.. Northcott remained in the
rea. Of the hall during the remainder of
the session Of the joint assembly.
Speaker Shurtletf announced the result
Of the ballot. Lorimer, 1OS; Hopkins, 20, and
stringer, q.
on the ninety-fifth joint ballot the total
vote Of the joint session was:
Senate. House. Total.
HOnktnH ..n........... E4 80 ~