The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-03-09

puun bis motives should be discour-
aged In the absence Of even 9 single
scintilla OF evidence that indicates an
intentional wrong on his part
In giving in the reasons for his ac-
ton in this unfortunate matter he
said that without regard to the effect
mon his political future he intended
to try, at leafs, to preserve the integ-
rfty OF his conscience. What more
can a discriminating constituency ex-
pect of any public servant? The fact
that Senator Simmons stood alone In
his support Of Senator Lorimer, SO far
as the North Carolina delegation was
concerned, did not deter him from
taking, what he considered to be the
correct position. 1t vas a delicate
matter and he might have "side-step-
ped" the issue. But lodging is not
characteristic Of the Senator. In
stating his position to the senate Mr..
Simmons made a strong speech, in
part, as follows:
"T have read the report of the COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
charges against the Senator from Ini-
nois generating these charges. That
report is signed by six of the seven Re-
publicans and four Of the five Demo-
Gratis on this committee. The ten Sem
ators signing the report are all law
yers, some of them have been judges,
trained and educated in weighing and
applying testimony and they r as
pure and able men as sit in this body
81 have read practically all the evil
dence adduced before this committee.
| have heard nearly all the speeches
that have been delivered on both sides
of this controversy. / heard the
speech of the junior Senator from Ill
inois in his own defense. A speech
which in logical symmetry and force in
inherent evidences of sincerity and
truth, in simple and unconscious pa
thos will ever live in the memory of all
who heard it as of the most re-
markable deliverances eve uttered in
this chamber.
when that speech was concluded
my inner consciousness said to me, as
many people who heard it have since
said to me, if the Senator from Illinois
had been guilty he could not have con-
that speech and delivered it as
it was delivered by him.
"Mr. President, it is said in some
sources that the Senator from Illinois
is a bad man and unfit for a seat in
his body. His speech to which l.
have just referred answers conclu-
the charge of mental fitness for
the high Office he now fills. That
speech shows that intellectually he is
the peer of any Senator here. The
evidence of the people of his own
state and city who have known him all
his life. who have known him in his
business, political and social life.
know him in all the walks of life.
the evidence Of his associates in the
of Representatives where he
served for more than thirteen years,
all answer the charge that he is a
bad man and show that so far from
being a bad man in the purity Of his
life and character he is the peer OF
any man here.
Giving due weight TO the report
Of the COMMITTEES, the evidence and
arguments under. my oath I dol
not feel that the evidence is sufficient
to justify me in voting that the. Sena-t
tor it not entitled to the seat in this
body to which he certificate Of the
great State of Illinois, under the
common seal of that commonwealth,
declares he is elected"