Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-02-24
LOR|MER |NDEFENSE
ASSERTS he DID NOT BUY OR
! AUTHORIZE BUYING OF VOTES
IN ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.
HITS At GOVERNOR DENEEl
Senator Declares He Secured Suppor'
From Democrats In His Election
Through rIendshIp-Galned b!
His Deep Waterway Plan.

From Democrats In His Election
Through FrIendshIp-GaIned b!
His Deep Waterway Plan.
Neutrality-suspicious. q vast assem-
blage Of spectators and full attend
ance of members Senator William
Lorimer Wednesday denied on thu
floor of the senate that he had pur,
chased or authorized the purchase q
votes in the Illinois legislature to en-
compass his election.
Throughout Mr.. Lorimer's final eT
position of his defense, he strove te
make it plain that the mysterious
Democratic votes which enabled him
to get his senatorial seat were gives
him as the gifts of lifelong friend
ship.
The defense offered embraced ting
following questions, as announced bt
Lorimer at the opening Of his speech
did organize the Illinois legisla
ture against Hopkins?
did make Shurtleff speaker IN or
der that might be elected senator?
did make Lee O'Neil Browne mi
agent-my corrupt agent?
"Why did stay in Springfield dur
ing the contest?
For what purpose did ! talk II
Shepherd in the speakers room?
why did the Democrats vote To-
met"
Some Of the answers given thes,
questions by senators on this foo
have been fanciful theories; some mer'
guesses and surmises," said Lorimer.
Mr.. Lorimer then stated that an Ell
fort had been made to cover the cast
with cloud Of suspicion, and to make
It appear that some man OF great abb
ity had prepared plan to organize
the legislature of Illinois for the pur
pose of defeating Hopkins and elect
ing some one else United States sena
tor.
Mr.. Lorimer dealt with this part Of
his text by reciting his whereabouts
prior to the election in question and
detailing the dates when he was III
with blood poisoning. with the inten'
ton of showing that on account Of alb.
.sence from the state and the condition
Of his health, he could not have taken
any part in organizing the legislature,
In considering the second question
in his text, Mr.. Lorimes engaged in a
short tilt with Senator Crawford, who
disputed his course.
Edward Shurtleff was elected speak
er because of condition which arose
there and If similar condition had
arisen anywhere in the country. the re
suit would have been the same" said
Lorimer. Governor Deneen was op.
posed to the reelection OF the speaker,
and said that some one else must be
elected. Under no circumstances was
any Republicans to vote for ShurtleR
Representative Brady, who had pledged
his support to Shurtleff, was told that
If he did not join in with Deneen's
plans every employee who had obtained
his position at Brady's recommends.
tion would be forthwith dismissed. In
other words, the governor of our state
undertook to dictate who should be
speaker"
: Senator Crawford interrupted. 1T
this statement is true" he said, why
was not Governor Deneen called as a
witness in order that he might have
the opportunity Of making reply to
this charger"
1T would have been Impossible for
Governor Deneen to have been called
to refute that statement" said Lori.
mer, "as the cause for making 1t was
not suggested unit. the senator from
South Dakota. Mr.. Crawford, made It
on the floor a short time ago."
Senator Lorimer then took up con-
sideration of the democratic vote
which he received and the incident Of
his presence in Springfield. He told
the story of his interest in the lakes-to.
the-gulf deep waterway plan and his
effort to make 1t non-partison propo-
sition. In this way, he said, he gained
the friendship of the Democrats.
His presence in Springfield was
caused by by this plan and his desire
to win votes for himself in the race
for the senatorship. was the line OF
Lorimer's argument. 1T has always
struck me that If a man wants the
votes Of the legislators he has right
to so where the votes are" said Mr..
Lorimer.
Senator Lorimer closed his speech
with an impassioned appeal.
"No man has ever dared to charge
that I was even remotely guilty Of
bribery or corrupt practices. never
did, not only In this nor in any other
election. use one dollar or allow the
use of one dollar. or have the remotest
idea Of the use Of one dollar-the cor
rupt use Of II. 5
II say on my word as man snd on
my word as a senator that am not
guilty-that have no knowledge and
that had no knowledge In the re
hottest degree-that bribery and cor,
ruptioA were used In securing my cleo.
ton"
iowa Moves to Stop Treating.
Des Moines, lathe Moore anti.
treating bill. forbidding treating In
saloons. passed the house Of represen.
tatives 81 to 9 Wednesday. The bill
also provides penalty for the bar.
tender II he permits treating.
b Fa.,sr. Ia
NIc2rauua Hsn Gunboat 8lren.