The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-09-10
a COwARDLY ACTION.

members OF the reception committee
who oficiated az tho recent banquet.
may think OF themselves just now Il Is.
% course. dificult 70 tell at this dis
lance. But the opinion OF them
among the people needs no dla-
gram 20 be understood For the
exhibition Of an un-Amcrican spirit.
for an utter surrender OF the principle
OF fairness. for a thorough showing
OF a craven. cowardly attitude. their
action IN Withdrawing the invitation
which had been extended % United
States Senator william Lorimer OF Illi-
Dois probably has never been publicly
surpassed IN tho history OF American
events
Senator Lorfmer. personally. Is under
no charges before any tribunal. II
has been charged that he was elected
BY the votes OF purchased Democrats
I'm tho Illinois legislature. He has de-
MED tho charge. and has made an elo-
quent defense on the floor Of the
United States Senate. At the present
time no is a member Of tho highest
lawmaiCng body I'm tho greatest ma
tion on earth: no enjoys all the rights
and privileges as "A member OF that
body. The charge that his seat was
procured through bribery IS about 20
b investigated by a committee OF
senators who viii meet IN Chicago
later In the month.
The presumption OF tho law, even
with the meancst OF American citi-
gems. always Is that tho accused shall
be regarded as innocent until proven
guilty A member OF tho United
States Senate should at least be given
the courtesy that is always accorded
% a man accused OF even the Erossest
or crimes. n Senator Lorimcr was
not worthy 20 dine with the members
or the Hamilton club and the guests
or the club. he should have been ex-
PEELED He was no more unworthy
the day OF the banquet than he was
the day the invitation and tho ticket
were sent 20 him.
Senator Lorimer may or may. not
be guilty OF buying legislators to send
him to the United States senate. He
may or may not be guilty OF profit
ing from the fact that some Demo-
cratic members OF the Illinois Iegis-
lature needed the money and went
into the Jackpot 20 get e. That has
nothing % do with the question at
issue. He has not been tried. Until
ne is tried. the law protects him in his
assertion OF Innocence. A jury or fell
with all fairness in the fun light Of
day. They viii report 20 the Senate
Or the United Statc7 their findings. to-
Ecthcr with their recommendation.
II ne is guilty. his seat will DO de-
clared vacant II he IS innocent. the
world will know e.
The action Of tho Hamilton club
cannot but bo preiudicisl TO the in
terests OF the man who Is on trial. and
whose reputation r. az stake. It's
eject upon the senator's will be moth
ing. but its effect upon the people at
large and upon the controlling inau-
cncc OF public sentiment will be such
that fair and impartial hearing for
him will be rendered doubly difficult
The abjcCt and fawninE cowardice OF
the Hamilton club has done one Of its
members great damage.
At a matter or fact. 10 is well known
that when Lorimor was elected 10 the
United states Senate. It was Senator
Hopkins against the field. The lat
ter's term was expiring. Every
weapon was being used 20 beat him
He was hated with a bitter hatred by
a strong coterie Of Illinois politicians.
who were determined that ne should
be retired There were half a dozen
candidates. ana the opposition finally
combined upon Lorfner 90 defeat
Hopkins. There has been no evidence
that the votes were purchased I'm the
direct interest OF Lorimer. Many pco-
pie believe that. the votes were pur-
chased merely TO be used against
Hopkins. and that they were 20 be
swung wherever the managers thought
they would do the most good. The
candidate WHO showed the most
strength was to get them. There is
at least a presumption OF innocence
which the disgusting action OF the
Hamilton club has gone long way
TO remove
In England. Germany and other
countries governed by "a monarch.
when a subject desires 10 entertain his
licgo lord he submits 10 the latter
list OF those persons who have been
invited at the same time. The august.
puissant and illustrious ruler grasses
the names OF those whom ne does not
care 20 meet. However. that custom
So never likely 20 become popular in
this 'faud Of the free and the home
Of the brave"
The members Of the Hamilton club
-..,-.ftt..1. $780,. -.t-,.f -..t,tt,,. e--.~.f-