The Cairo bulletin., 1910-12-22
STATEMENT SENATOR SENT TO
SUBCOMMITTEE IS MADE
PUBLIC.
WOULD EXCUSE [OR|NER
Saying Testimony May BE Taken to
Indicate Illinois Senator Knew
Nothing Of Corruption
Of Legislators.

mittee on elections and privileges,
clearing Senator William Lormer Of
illinois, 81 the charge that his elec-
tion was tainted by bribery, Senator
Frazier OF Tennessee, made Public
the text of his statement on the Lori
mer case, in Chicago tonight. 1t says.
1T is with great reluctance that |
differ with my colleagues on the sub.
committee; but, feeling compelled 10
do so, beg leave to state briefly my
views and conclusions in the case
while there are some facts an !
to show that Senator Lorimer nlay
have heard of or knew that corrupt
practices were being resorted to, and
while Lorimer failed to avail himself
OF the opportunity OF going on the
stand as a witness, and denying any
such knowledge or sanction OF co.,
rupt practices, If any such were being
placticed, still | am of the opinion
that the testimony fails to establish
tie fact that Senator LoGimer was
himself guilty of bribery or other cor.
rupt practices or that he sanctioned
or was cognizant OF the fact thar bii9-
cry or other corrupt practices wef"
being used by others TO inareaee
votes for him.
"This being ifue, the question then
arises: was bribery ofscoFguptsr praTs
tees used BY others in his behalf to
influence votes for him, and if so
were enough votes thus tainted with
fraud and corrupt influences that,
when eliminated, would reduce his
vote 10 the legal majority required for
election?
"The legislature OF Illinois consist
ed OF 204 members. There were pres
et and voting on the election of Lori.
mer 202 members. A quorum Of bot
houses being present, in my opinion,
he must have received a majority o.
all those present and voting, or 102
votes, TO have been elected. Loil
mer received los votes, or six more
than necessary to elect. The testi
mony taken by the committee salts
fies me that money was paid to fou,
members of the legislature for votint
for, or in consequence of having voted
for, Lorimer. One senator and three
representatives admitted under oatf
before the committee that they re
ceved money, and the admissions ant
the facts and circumstances sur
rounding the transactions, satisfy ms
that they received it as a bribe for
or in consequence Of, their votes fo
Senator Lorimer.
"The four confessed bribe takers
implicate three other members of ia
legislature, who voted for Lorimer, a
the persons who bribed them. Tn
testimony satisfies me that three al
legged bribe givers were guilty of tina
offense To my mind, the man WI
bribes another is as corrupt as tn
one who is bribed and by his ,corrup
act Of bribery he demonstrates tn
fact that he is none too honest to re
ceive a bribe. If one is offered him.
while the proof is not clear o
conclusive that these three allege
bribe givers were themselves bribe
or corruptly influenced to vote 70
Lorimer, when | take into considers
tion their corrupt conduct as briber
Of others, together with all the fact
and circumstances surrounding tn
case, I cannot bring myself to agre
with the majority Of the sub-commi
tee that their votes are free fror
tafnt, or corruption, These thre
votes added to the four confessed
~.brihed, would make seven tainte
votes. Eliminate them and the vo
received by Lorimer was less thu
the majority Of the votes cast.
'In view of the fact that | appef
to stand alone In the views herein e
pressed, | make no recommendat!o
to the committee, but do ask tn;
the members Of the committee, nj
the members of the sup-committe
carefully read all the testimony b
fore forming an opinion