The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-26
DEAULUGk ENDS.
Congressman William LorImer
Is Elected U. S. Senator
On Joint BALLOT in the Illinois
Legislature.
RECEIVED 1OS VOTES
On the 95th Effort to Make a
Choice.
Hopkins Supporters FOrsake
Him for New Man.
RECEIVED 1OS VOTES

Springfield, ILL.,, May 26.-Con-
gresham William Lorimer, of the
sixth congressional district, was elect
ed United States senator today by the
joint session of the general assembly
The election of Lorimer came about
through a coalition of Democratic as
semblymen and the anti-Hopkins Re
publicans. The hall of representatives.
through the hours preceding the
close of the deadlock was crowded
with a host of politicians. Strong ef-
forts were made by former Senator
Hopkins aides to head off the break
to Lorimer but sthey were unaValllng.
The vote of Mr.. Shurtleff, the S9th
representative to vote for Lorimer
made the 101st vote, the vote which
made the election of Lorimer abso-
lutte. Two house members did not
vote-Daley and Hope-and with SEN
ator Schmidt absent. the total vot-
ing strength of the joint session was
200, so in the senate and $50 in the
house. Wild cheers filled the hall
when the decision was announced. The
balloting was attended by suppressed
excitement and some confusion.
The first Republican to shift to
Lormer was Senator Ball. Senator
Breidt followed, and explaining his
vote. said that Lorimer could ably
represent the people and always was
consistent
AS the balloting progressed Lorimer
constantly showing gains, many of the
senators explained their votes. Senator
Isley, Democrat, protested against the
election of a Bipartisan candidate.
Bursts of oratory punctured the roll
call and some of the Democratic repre-
sentatives took their brothers in the
faith to task for deserting the banners
of strict Democracy.
Representative Donohue prophesied
that the Democrats who voted for Lori
mer would be met at the outskirts of
their home districts with shotguns.
While the voting was progressing,
Lorimer calm and apparently unexcited,
strolled through the corridor back OF
the speakers stand, seemingly the cool
est and most unconcerned man in the
whole excited place.
In the many joint ballots of the dead
lock nearly $50 candidates have been listed
for the office of Upited States senator,
the great majority of them being Demo-
Gratis N--f
Of the SO house members who voted for
Senator Lorimer, At were Democrats and 42
In the senate six Democrats voted for
On the ninety-fifth ballot the total vote
was:
Name. Senate House. Total.
Hopkins .................24 46 70
William Lorimer elected with los votes.
William Lorimer, member of con-
gress, was born in Manchester, Eng
land, April 81, 1861, and came with his
parents to the United States five years
later. The family removed to Chicago
in 1870. where the father died Will
liam became a sign painters appren-
tice at the age o. 12, then worked in
packing houses and for a street rail-
way company and entered into real
estate business in 1886. Later he be-
came a member of the Murphy & Lori
mer Building and Brick Manufacturing
company. Then organized the firm of
Lorimer & Gallager contractors. Was
superintendent of the water mains ex-
tension and later superintendent of the
water department of the city of Chi
cago. He was defeated for clerk of the
superior court in 1892. He was elected
a member of congress from the Second
Illinois district from 1895 to 1901,
from the Sixth district 1903 to 1907
and is one of the leaders of the Repub-
lican party in Illinois