Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-29
IL0RIMER DENIES
ALL THE CHARGES
Illinois Senator Says the Accusations
of Corruption Are Without
Foundation.
ASKS FOR AN INVESTIGATION
Resolution that Congress Look Into
Matter is introduced.
COMMITTEE ASKED TO GET FACTS
Accused Addresses the Senate, Giving
His Version.
SAYS NEWSPAPER MADE THREATS
Insists Purpose of Attack Was
60 Disgrace Him and TO
Destroy His Friends at
Home.
Resolution that Congress Look Into
Matter is introduced.
COMMITTEE ASKED TO GET FACTS
Accused Addresses the Senate, Giving
His Version.
SAYS NEWSPAPER MADE THREAT.


WASHINGTON, May 2S.-TTor two hours
today. Senator Lorimer OF Illinois stood in
tho senate and in vigorous language do
nounccd as untrue tho charges of bribery
made against him in connection with his
election to the senate. Upon leaving the
chamber at the conclusion of his speech,
Mr. Lorimer hurriedly put his affairs In
order and caught a late train for Chicago.
In his address Mr.. Lomro made emphatic
denial of the allegations OF corruption ana
sought to turn the accusation OF wrong
doing upon tho Chicago Tribune. in which
paper the charGes were first published
The speech was devoted to a review of
charges and Illinois politics for the last
twenty y-flve years. lie charged the Tribune
with sinister motives in it's attacks and
said that it had been fighting him ovor
since 1884; charged that it was inspired bo-
cause OF its failure to control his course IA
a public man.
Mr., Lorimer gave many particulars con-
cerning his senatorial election, saying that
after persuading him to enter the race.
Governor Deneen deserted him and sought
to turn against him those whose support
he had formerly procured for him
At the close of his speech, Mr.. Lorimer
4
quiry into the charges be made by tho
committee on privileges and elections.
Under the rules OF the senate the reso-
luton was referred to the committee on
contingent expenses to consider the oues-
ton of cost In case of favorable. report
from that committee, of which there is no
doubt, the resolution will go to the COM
| mittee on elections for consideration of
the merits of the matter. Upon report of
| that committee the senates ACTON will
largely depend. r7 -
Answer of the senator.
Foremost in the answer of the senator In
| the charge stood his assertion that It had
been formulated by the Chicago Tribune
with the purpoTe of destroying a new bank.
ing association in that city. which Mr.
Lorimer had organized. Concluding, he Of
fered resolution calling for an investiga-
ton of the charges against him, this reso-
mtion being as follows:
! Resolved, That the committee on priv-
| ileges ana elections be direcred to examine
the allegations recently made In the puniic
press charging that bribery and corruption
were pracuced in the election or William
Lonmer TO seat in the United States
senate, and TO ascertain the facts in con-
nection with these charges and report as
early as possible ana for that purpose the
committee snail have authority to send for
persons and papers and to employ a
stenographer and such other additional
help as 1t shall deem necessary.
MIR. LOrimer's Address.
In opening Mr.. Lorimer said:
Mr.. President; l nse to a question OF
personal privilege to state the facts con-
corning and the reasons for the most recent
assault made me by the Chicago
Tribune with the intent 10 blacken my
character with the people of the country
and to destroy me and my friends finan-
cially and politically"
He then detailed the fact Of the Tribune's
publication OH April / last Of story over
the signature Of Charles A. White, a men,
Der of the Illinois legislature in which II
was alleged that ne had procured his seat
in the senate through bribery and corrup-
tion. Il have been compelled" he went
on to 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 Chi
cago which l have been organizing with
some of my friends. The assault WAS
made to prevent the bank from opening
1t utterly failed VI its purpose, but II re-
quired my constant attention to build a
bulwark around the bank to safeguard the
interest OF those who have entrusted their
funds to the care of my associates and
myself against any malicious or vicious
assault that may be made against 1t by the
Tribune"
Says Tribune Made Threats.
, He declared that Medih Mccormick ot
the Tribune had threatened that the bank
! never should open, and also asserted that
White did not write the story as had been
! claimed, but that 1t was the work OF a
trained newspaper hand skilled in tho art
of creating scandal out OF lies, when II IS
; thought necessary TO backen the charac-
. ter of one whom the newspaper cannot
!, control.
a He asserted that Representatives Link
!, and Berkemeyer had not made confessions
a as had been charged, but. on the contrary
!, said that "the charges stand as they stood
:, April 30, the uncorroborated lies OF the
Tribune, supported only by the bought sig
nature of their weak tool. White.
Not one dollar was paid to a single
member OF the general assembly for his
vote for me-" tho senator declared, and h,
added that when he truth was knowr
everyone would understand that the pub
= licatlon of the article by White was "a
part Of a political conspiracy to drive m,
out Of public life, to ruin me financial,
because ] will not do as other republican.
In Illinois have dono-place myself under
the absolute control and dictatorship o.
=. the Tribune"
- Concluding, Mr. Lorlmer asserted tha
ID the Tribune had lodged him all thcs,
> years because It had not been able to lash
him into subjectlon.
~ ''Ths{ purpose OF these charges" he de
/ clared was TO disgrace and destroy M
friends and myself whom they cannot con
d troll, and 20 come into absolute contro! 0
~ the republican party In Illinois and L
D. secure themselves IN continued plundorini
70 OF The public treasury"
HOLsTLAW TELLS THE STORY
es Accepted Dribe Money 10 Vote fol
OF Lorimcr.