Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-22
FRAZIER PUBLISHES CHARGES
Explains in Detail why lie Believes
Senator LOrimer Was Elected
by Tainted Votes.

Chicago. Dec. Ex-senator Fraziers
statement on the Lorimer case was made
public hero to-day. 1t says in part
"As I understand the precedents estab-
lished by the Senate and the other branch
of Congress and now recognized as the
law governing such cases. they are:
"First-1f tho proof established the fact
that the member whose seat is in ques-
ton because Of alleged bribery, or cor
rupt practices resor;e ed to in his election
has himself heen guilty Of bribery or
corrupt practices, or knew of or sane
toned such corrupt practices, he may be
unseated without reference to the num-
hCr Of votes thus corruptly influenced.
'Second-If the proof fails to show that
the member knew Of or sanctioned such
corrupt practices. then in order to jus.
tify unseating him, the proof must show
that enough members of the Lesisla
ture voting for him We're bribed, or in
fluenced BY corrupt practices, that de-
ductns their votes from the total vote
received by him would reduce his vote
below the legislative majority required
FOR his election.
LORIMER PERSONALLY FREE.
while there are some facts in this
case tending to show that Senator Lorimer
may have heard of or knew that corrupt
practices We're being resorted to- and
while Senator Lorimer failed to avail
himself Of the opportunity of going on
the stand as a witness and denying any
such knowledge or sanction of corrupt
practices, If any such We're being
pract!ced, st!ll | am of the opinion that
the testimony fails to establish the fact
that Senator Lormer was himself guilty
of bribery or other corrupt practices or
that he sanctioned or was cognizant OF
the fact that bribery or other corrupt
practices were being used by others to
influence votes for him.
This being true, the question then
arises was bribery or corrupt practices
used by others In his behalf to influence
votes for him. and II So were enough
votes thus tainted with fraud and cor
ruptly influenced. when eliminated to re-
duce his vote below the legal majority
required for his election?
The Legislature of Illinois consisted OF
"a members. There were present and
voting on the occasion of the election
Of Senator Lorimer 2o2 members A
quorum OF both houses being nre ent, in
my opinion he must have received a
majority OF all those present Senator
I.orlmer received los votes. or six more
than necessary 10 elect.
-FOUR VOTES WE'RE BOUGHT
The testimony taken by the commit
tee satisfies me that four members OF the
Legislature were paid money for voting
or In consequence OF having voted for
Senator L.orimer one senator and three
Representatives admitted under oath be-
fore the committee that they were paid
money and the admissions and the facts
and circumstances surrounding the
transactions satisfy rr-. that they re-
ceived II as a bribe for or In consequence
of their votes for Senator Lorimer
Tho four selt-confessed bribe takers
implicate three other members of the
Legislature who voted for Lorimer as
the persons who brhed them. The testl-
mony satisfies me that the three alleged
brbe givers were guilty of that offense.
To my mind the man who bribes another
is as corrupt as the one who is bribed
and by his corrupt act of bribery he
demonstrates the fact that he Is none too
honest to receive bribe If offered one,
THREE OTHERS TAINTED,
While the proof is not clear or con-
elusive that these three alleged bribe
givers were themselves bribed or cor
ruptly Influenced to vote for Iorimer
when | take iYto consideration their cor
rupt conduct as bribers Of others. to-
gether with all the facts and circum-
stances surrounding this case. l cannot
bring myself to agree with the majority
of the subcommittee that their votes are
free from tant of corruption. These three
votes added to the four confessedly
bribed would make seven tainted votes
Eliminate them and the vote received by
I4orimer was less than a majority of the
votes cast
"In view of the fact that | appear to
stand alone In the views herein express
ed. make no recommendation tn thA