Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-06
SPEAKS ON SENATE FLOOR
Declares Fraud Was So Rampant It
Is Impossible to Draw Line.
DEFENDS SENATOR CULLOM
Answers Statement by Bailey That
Senior Illinois Senator Was Elect
ed Through Same Influence.

elected William Lorimer to the United
States Senate that it is impossible tc
separate the untainted from the tainted
votes. Senator Burton contended in a
speech In the Senate this afternoon that
the election was illegal
Summing up his conclusions, Mr.. Bur
ton found it perfectly evident that fraud
was so rampant and dishonesty so wide
spread in this election that 1t Is lmpos-
sible to separate the sound votes from
the unsound votes. When,' he added.
there Is indubitable proof. as here, that
fraud and bribery have been resorted 10
no one can derive from the cesspool OF
corruption any conclusion except that no
election was had.
"Undoubted proof is available not only
to show that sufficient number OF
hribed persons cast their Votes Ior M.
! ,orimer to invalidate his election. but
also that on other grounds tnah TINS
there was not valid choice. mere are
strong arguments to sustain pres -
ton that not only seven, eight, nine oi
TEN were corrupt, but that possibly thirts
cast their votes under the influence OIL
bribery OF dishonesty
Certain Fraud Is Proven.
The Ohio senator discussed the allesa-
tons against Senator Lorimer largely
on legal grounds. Without attempting
TO unravel the testimony. he proceeueo
upon the theory that certain facts hau
been proyen and then undertook to show
through precedents established In the
United States and Great Britain that the
election by the Illinois legislature nau
been tainted and therefore was ln'aIu.
Among other points discussed was that as
to whether the receipt OF money alter
of constitutes v,
and 1t was held that 1t was. II. saiu
the sneaker those who received sucn
money were free from corrupt intent
they certainly would not have received II
after the votes were cast II IS lnipos
sible to separate the receipt of money
after the election from other facts ana
circumstances in the conduct or these
members which go to make up one dis
honest transaction.
Meeting the contention that the evil
dence given by bride takers cannot
be considered in connection with the
case, the Ohio senator declared that no
such q rule in law now prevails. 1t be-
longs rather to a crude state of society,",
he proceeded. ITO maintain it would mean
that the most serious offenders against
the public must go unpublished. 1t ig-
nores the difference in the comparative
guilt Of those engaged in the same un-
lawful enterprise"
Says Lorimer Shared in Corruption.
Mr.. Burton did not accept the statement
Of Mr.. Lorimer's friends that if there had
been bribery that gentleman had not au-
thorixed it.
In another connection he said:
Who will assert, in the face Of all the
testimony of Mr.. Brownies promises of
money, of his control over these mem
bers, his previous transactions, that his
action was not corrupt or that Mr.. Lor-
inner did not share in that corruption
1t Is definitely conceded by the defenders
OF Mr.. Lorimer that a state of corrup-
tion was rife In the Illinois legislature.
and had been for long time; but while
conceding the rank corruption which pre-
vailed, in which Browne and others OF
those who voted for LOrimer were promi-
to the senatorial election. They aver that
there may have been q Jackpot" but
this does not affect, they maintain. the
question at issue.
I'm the first place, there Is little or
no testimony showing that legislation
was prevented or promoted by the exist
ence Of this Jackpot II there was
anything for which money was paid 1t
was for the election Of q senator; and,
again. how Is it possible to separate the
two. If there was such corrupt condi-
ton? The same actors in plots to defeat
legislation were prominent in the sena-
torial election. Without their votes Mr..
Lorimer could not have marshaled a ma
jority. Every item of evidence goes to
show that whatever corruption existed
had exerted to influence the senatorial
controversy more than in anything else.
Answers Senator Bailey.
defense of Senator Cullom of Illinois
formed a striking part OF the address by
Senator Burton. The reference to Sen
ator Cullom. who is Mr.. Lorimer's col
league. was called out by a statement
made in the Senate by Senator Bailey OF
Texas during the excitement incident to
the close Or Senator Roots arrangement
Of Mr.. Lorimer last Friday. Speaking OF
the existence for years of Jackpot
found In connection with the sessions OF
the Illinois legislature, Mr.. Bailey. who
supports Mr.. I.orimer. said that the
means used to elect Mr. LOrimer were
the same as had been employed in the
election of MIR. Cullom.
Mr.. Burton did not dwell long on the
Texas senator's differences. He said
THE senator from Texas, no doubt un-
Willingly. did an injustice to the senator
from Illinois i'm some remarks last Friday
i'll averring that If Mr.. Lorimer's election
is invalid, SO Is that of the senior SEN
ator. One conclusive answer to any such
groundless inference is the method OF the
election of Mr.. Cullon. lie was nomi-
mated at a primary by a majority OF
$1,000 votes, and II would be most unjust
to him TO compare the circumstances
under which he was chosen with the cor