Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-10

was long speech ana naturally a BIT
ter one In it he gave a history OF his
life, likewise review of Cook county
and Illinois politics, but as for the ac-
cusations against him contented him
self with q sweeping denial that one
cent had been spent In his election. His
especial grievance was against the Chi
cago Tribune that had published the
White affidavit which had started all
the trouble. Lorimer charged that the
Tribune was trying to destroy him,
his friends and the bank which he
was then organizing. The reason for
its animus was that 1t wanted to con-
troll Cook county and Illinois politics,
and he had dehed 1t and refused to
bend the knee. The senator also paid
his respects to Governor Deneen, whom
he charged with having suggested his
Gorimer's) candidacy for the senate
and then having deserted him for rea-
sons unknown. He showed that he
could be eulogistic as well as denun-
ciatory. The chief subject of his
praises was Lee O'Nen Browne, the
Democratic house leader, then under
indictment for having bribed White to
vote for Lorimer. Browne was paint
ed in alfuring colors, almost as charm
ing as those with which the senator's
own rise in politics was bedecked. 1t
was a vehement speech, even though
typewriter. and drew a full house.
Unfortunately the news of 1t was
blanketed by another of those pesky
confessions. Grand jurtes are unsym-
To- in fy-1Io orH
for rhetorical fourishes and dramatic
effects. At the very hour when Lori
mer was making his impassioned ut
terance at Washington the grand jury
at Springfield was extracting from
State Senator Holstlaw an admission
that he was paid $500 to vote for the
blond boss 1t seems that state Sen
ators come higher than the common or
garden variety of legislators. Holstlaw
had been a banker, Sunday school
teacher, charity worker and respect
able citizen generally, and his confes-
sion carried weight. Moreover, John
Broderick, another state senator whom
Holstlaw charged with having handled
the money, rather confirmed the state
ment by hiding out and eluding arrest
for two or three days. Further cor
roboration was discovered in a $500
deposit slip from Holstlaw dated thu
very day he had previously sworn that
Broderick handed him the amount
This was the most damaging testimony
yet, and when the Lorimer speech
bumped into it in the next mornings
papers there was a collision that could
be heard across the continent.
Lorimer Demands an Investigation
At the end of his typewriter ora
ton Lorimer introduced a resolution
to investigate the charges against him.
This the senate decided to do. even
going the senator from Illinois one
better and making the inquiry broader
end more thorough than he had de-
signed. 1t is the first case of the sort
that has been before the body since
that of William a. Clark. the copper
king. In many respects the two are
startlingly alike. Clark was elected as
a Democrat, but by the aid of Repub-
lican votes. Marcus DAILY, Clark's
personal, political and financial en-
envy, thereupon charged fraud, and
the case was taken up by the commit
tee on privileges and elections. In
the hearings that followed it seemed
that all the political dirty linen of
Montana was run through the senate
washer and hung out to dry in Uncle
Sans front yard. In the end Clark
resigned before there was time to
expel him, but was reappointed by the
governor.
Another case similar to that of Clark |
and Lorimer was that of Henry B. /
Payne of Ohio. It was alleged that |
there was Standard OH money behind |
Payne. The report in that case held |
that a members seat cannot be saved |
by his personal exculpation and vim !
dication. The integrity of the cleo
ton, not of the member, is in question. |
One would have to delve into an /,
cient senate history to find other par
allels. Through all the same rule has |
been observed-viz, that demonstrated !
bribery and fraud in an election can
not be overlooked by the United States |
senate. It requires a two-thirds vote |
to expel, but accused members fire. /
quently have resigned before actual
expulsion was reached. The report OF |
The senate committee on privileges and
elections of a quarter of a century
ago speaks forcibly on the matter:
''Your committee IS aware of the
Importance of throwing
around the senate of the United States
the highest safeguards against seat
ng or allowing any man to occupy a
seat in that body whose title thereto
was procured by bribery. fraud or cor
TNt-.
luently the corrupt use of money by
political parties without exception and
heir candidates has become one of the
most powerful and dangerous instru-
in elections
May Go Over to Short Session.