The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-22
Denies He Was Guilty of Corrupt
Practices, and Answers
Other Questions Raised
in the Case
MAY NOT TAKE VOTE TODAY
Action is Not Looked For Unless Ses-
sion Should Extend Into the
Night. Many Interested
Spectators Present.

washington, ID. c., Feb. 22.-This
was Lorimer day In the senate. When
the session began 1t was with the ex-
pectation a number of speeches would
be heard during the day. the principal
one being by Lorimer himself. The
attendance of spectators was unusual
" large and many people were un-
able to gain admittance to the gal
lerles.
The session was begun with the us
ual custom on Washington's birthday
of reading his farewell address. The
reading was by Young, of Iowa.
The Lorimer case came up after
brief interval devoted TO ordinary
business 1t is not likely a vote will
be reached today unless the session
should extend into the night.
Lorimer at the outset of his remarks
indicated the general lines of his de-
fense by allusion to questions concern
ing his election as senator from Illi-
nois, which he recognized as having
been raised by senators in the dis
cussion of his title to his seat, and
which he evidently felt called upon to
answer.
MANY questions have been suggest
ed by the statements of the senator's
I'm debate on this case" the senator
said. These suggestions or questions
concern mostly the actual condition of
my election to this body.
Did I organize the Illinois assembly
against Hopkins?
Did I make ShurtIeff speaker in
order that might be elected sena-
tor?
Did 1 make Lee o'Neil Browne
minority leader?
WAS Lee ONeil Browne my agent.
my corrupt agent?
why did l stay i'm Springfield dur
ing the senatorial contest?
why did 1 sit in the speakers
room?
For what purpose did I talk there
with Shepherd?
why did the Democrats vote for
me?
These are some of the questions
suggested by the statements of the
senator's in opposition to the commit
tee report. or openly put by them In
the course of debate.
ITO these questions many sorts of
answers have been given by my oppo-
nents. Some of these answers have
been fanciful theories and some mere
guesses and surmises.
There is only one kind of answer
that should stand or that should count
in this case. That is the plain mat
ter of fact, simple truth. 1t is this
matter of fact this truth. 7 purpose to
lay before the senate today. Legal ar
Rument and abstract deduc. m are be-
yond my purpose.
Il rise today simply to tell. as one i
who lived through it all, exactly how
my election at Springfield was brought
about, to answer the foregoing ques-
tions with facts that alone can answer
them correctly"
Lorimer denied he had hand i'm or
ganizing the legislature, nor was he
guilty of corrupt practices in his own
interest. He told of being seriously
i'll for weeks before the November
election of 1908, of the trip he took to
the Pacific coast afterwards, and after
another period of illness went to
Washington as member of the House.
He was in the national House on jan
uary Z, the day Shurtleff was elected
speaker.
I.orimer charged Governor Deneen
tried to defeat Shurtleff.
I'm other words the governor of our
state undertook to dictate who should
be speaker"
why was not this fact put In rec
ord" interjected Senator Crawford. so
Governor Deneen could make reply
as the senator is now making a state
ment here?"
Lorimer said he could not reply fully |
as he had not been a member of the
investigating committee.
Referring to the allegation that he
organized the legislature against De-
neen, Lorimer said that of the twenty
Tour Republicans who voted for Shurt- |
left for speaker. seventeen voted for
was sufficient to disprove that allega-
ton against him.
Lorimerr declared Shurtleff owed
him nothing, and that IL Deneen had
attended to his own business" Shurt-
len would have received the unani-
nous party vote. Lormer said that
instead of being his candidate, Shurt-
iem was Hopkins candidate and was
CHOSEN by Hopkins friends.
Lorimer dwelt upon the case of Lee
o'Neh Browne, declaring he had exer-
c'sed no influence In making him the
minOrifx, loa.1.~