The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-29
.LOR|MER DENIES
BUYING A SEAT
Illinois Senator Vigorously De-
nOunces Charges of Bribery
Made by Newspaper.
NEVER PAID A DOLLAR
TO SECURE ANY VOTES
Declares That Object of Attack
Was to Ruin Him FL
nancially.
BY Associated Press.

was made before that body today by
William Lorimer Of Illinois, Soon after
the assembling of the senate. Mr.. Lori
mer arose to question of personal priv
ilege and began his reply TO the charges
that have aroused wide interest. HIS
statement on the floor of the senate had
been eagerly awaited by his colleagues,
of whom there was a practically full
attendance, and earnest attention was
given him
Foremost in the answer Of the sena'
tor to the charge stood his assertion
that it had been formulated by the Chi
caeo Tribune with the purpose of de-
stroying a new banking ASSOCIATION in
that city which Mr.. Lorimer had organ
lied. Concluding, he offered a resolu-
ton calling for a senatorial investiga-
tion of the charges against him, this
resolution being as follows:
"Resolved. that tho committee on
privileges and elections be directed TO
examine the allegations recently made
in the public press, charging that brl-
berry and corruption were practiced in
the election of William Lorimer to a
seat in the United States senate, and to
ascertain the facts in connection with
these charges and report as early as
possible and for that purpose the COM
mittee shall have authority to send for
persons and papers and to employ a
stenographer and such other additional
help as il shall deem necessary
In opening Mr.. Lorimer said:
Replies to Charges.
"Mr President: ! rise TO n question
of personal privilege 10 state the facts
concerning and the reasons for the most
recent assault made upon me- by the
81 H.. ;,<a s1,
blacken my character with the people
of the country and to destroy me and
my friends financially and politically -
He then detailed the fact of the Trib
une's publication on April l last of q
story over the signature of Charles a.
White, member of the Illinois legis
lature, in which it was alleged that he
had procured his seat in the senate
through bribery and corruption 81
defer my return TO the senate owing TO
the fact that the story was timed and
published with deliberate purpose to
destroy a new banking association in
Chicago which | have been organizing
with some OF my friends. The assault
was made to prevent the bank from
opening. 1t utterly failed of its pur-
pose, but it required my constant atten'
tion TO build an impregnable bulwark
around the bank TO safeguard the in
terest OF those who have intrusted their
funds to the care of my associates and
myself against any malicious or vicious
assault that may be made against it by
the Tribune.
Relating that it had been charged
that the bribe had been paid through
Hon. Lee O'Neil Browne, the Demo
cratic leader of the Illinois house OF
representatives. he defended Mr.
Browne as entirely above participation
In such proceeding.
He declared that Medill Mccormick
of the Tribune had threatened that the
bank never should open, and also assert
ed that White did not write the story
as has been claimed, but that it was
HThe work of a trained newspaper
hand, skilled in the art Of creating
necessary, to blacken the character of
one whom the newspaper cannot con-
troll
Scoring for White.
"1t is also plain TO be seen,' he
went on, "that every word was passed
on by lawyer before it was signed
by that poor, low creature White, who
does not hesitate TO commit forgery for
a few dollars. and to whom perjury is
no crime, who is part Of the lowest
fringes Of depravity, and who to secure
money to satisfy his taste for debanch-
cry sold what little was left of his man
hood and became the plant tool of the
Tribune in this timed and malicious at
tack
Defending Charles Luke. deceased
member OF the legislature, against a
OF his Gorimer's). bribery. the senator
told how Mr.. Luke. a Democrat. had
risen from practically his deathbed to
6fh frienHahfn
STANDING in this historic chamber. in
a place OF high honor. to which my de-
parted friend did did ;. all in his power to
to our friendship and my high regard
for him II did not hurl this malicious.
heartless, satanic lie back into the foul
mouth that uttered 1t.
There is no language adequate to de-
scribe such venomous. despicable con-
duct"
Bitter in His Defense.
Senator Lorimer then proceeded with
unmeasured' words OF bitter invective and
epithet To attack Medill Mccormick per-
sonaIly. He asserted that Representa- =
tives Link and Brekmeyer had not made
confessions, as had been charged; but
on the contrary said that ''the charges
roborated lies Of the tribune. supported
weak tool. White
Senator Lorimer went on with increas-
ing vehemence 10 assert that the Chicago
paper has lied and knew 1t He'd In charg-
ing that money was used 10 purchase
his election.
mot one dollar was paid to a single
member of the general assembly for his
vote for me-" the senator declared and
he added that when the truth was known,
everybody would understand that the
publication of the article by White was
"a part OF political conspiracy to drive
me out OF public life. 10 ruin me finan-
CALLS. because / will not do as other
Republicans in Illinois have done, place
myself under the absolute control and
dictatorship Of the Tribune"
Senator Lorimer gave his version oil
his senatorial campaign and election. Ue
declared that il Was at the suggestion
OF Governor Deneen that he had entered
the field. and then only after he and
the. governor had besought others tc
make Tho race.
The senator went clear back to the
Blaine campaign OF 1884 and then 10 9
ward contest in Chicago for the alleged
genesis OF his disagreements with the
Chicago Tribune.
At great length Senator Lorimer de-