The Washington herald., 1911-02-23

alderman. 1t was a story of a struggle
against poverty, with a widowed mother
to support, and many Senators cried
throughout its recital.
'I want to say to the Senator from
Illinois that the story of his early lie
that he has just recited here is one that
will appeal to every man. interrupted
Senator Crawford, of South Dakota, but
he is not the only poor boy who has
made his way to the United States Sen
ate, and he cannot plead his early pow
erty here in defense of his election.
Question of Right and Wrong.
''I know / am not the only poor boy
who has come to the Senate" replied
Senator Lorimer in impassioned voice
land 1 am not pleading poverty or the
hard knocks 1 received as reason for
sitting here Neither am I pleading for
sympathy. l am telling the truth and
why men voted for me 1t is not a ques-
ton of sympathy. but question of right
or wrong"
IF Senators believe me to be the low
and vile creature the Senators from New
York and South Dakota say that l am,
was the somewhat startling utterance OF
the Senator from Illinois. then you have
a plain duty staring you square in the
face.
If I could be the foul wretch you
Senators sought to paint me-" Senator
Lorimer fairly shouted, as he turned to-
ward the seats of Senators Root and
Crawford, regardless of how l came
here, you should drive me from yonder
door with the branl Of infamy on my
back"
MI Lorirner recited the story of Peter
q ronraSanfafivn u-h voted fnr
him. The Senator accounted for Mr..
GalIigan's vote by the fact that the man
had come to him when his family was in
distress, and after the members Of his
own party had been unable to assist him,
and lie, Lorimer, had procured for Gal
ligan a position which enabled the man
to provide for his wife IN her last illness
and give her a decent burial afterward-
Touching Story of BeIlwether.
Then came the touching story OF
Nanny Abraham. He was one of Mr..
Lorimer's Democratic supporters in the
legislature. Senator Root had referred
to him as the ''bellwether." Senator
Lorimer referred to the designation by
Senator Root, which he said went ring
ing through the entire speech OF the
Senator from New York" Senator Lori
mer declared that Abraham was not the
only bellwether.
In the midst Of much amusement he
declared that the Republicans had their
beIlwether in the Senate. 1.-THE Demo-
Gratis have their bellwether. and the in
Surgents have their bellwether,'' said
the Senator. Senator Aldrich is my
bellwether." This statement created
considerable amusement And then Sen
ator Lorimer described how when the
bell sounded in the Senate announcing
a vote, and he and other Senators rushed
into the Senate in ignorance of what the
question was, their first inquiry was as
to how Senator Aldrich had voted. II
Senator Aldrich had not voted, then
he waited to hear from Senator Cullom,
or Senator Gallinger. Finally, in re-
counting his list of bellwethers alpha
Eetically. Senator Lorimer reached the
name of Senator Lodge. This aroused
considerable merriment in the chamber.
and Mr.. Lodge looked inexpressibly
posed to Lorimer. Then Mr.. Lorimer re-
marked:
Votes the Other Way.
When 1 find that Senator Lodge and
Senator La Toilette have voted the
same way, wait until some one else
has voted who is my bellwether.
He declared that the bellwether
was in every legislature in the United
States, and would be as long as there
are parties, and as long as principles
divide parties. Turning to Senator
Root, he declared that talk OF the bell
wether might alright some people on
the chautauqua circuit, but it would
fool nobody in the Senate
The Senator recounted the story of
his frindship for Nanny Abrahams. In
human interest it paralleIed the best
that has come from the East Side of
New York
Senator Lorimer counted a list OF
thirty-four Democrats in the Illinois
legislature who voted for him for