Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-21

other members or the committee on PRIV
ileges and elections. Going to the heart
of the question. Mr.. Beveridge attackel
the validity of the Illinois senator's cleo
ton. He contended that a sufficient num-
Der of members of the Illinois lesisla-
ture had been tainted to render Mr.. Lori
mer's success the result OF corruption and
urged the adoption of his resolution
vacating the seat.
Must Decide Upon Merits.
The speaker appealed to the senators
to regard the case from the standpoint
of judges and not to be Influenced by
their feelings or by the eloquence of other
senators.
1T is the integrity of the election and
not of the member that must determine
our votes" said Mr. Beveridge. land we
must decide the question upon its merits.
As going 10 show the necessity of I'M
influenced elections TO the Senate, Mr..
Beveridge declared that senator eN-
ercises powers almost as wide as a mon
arch Therefore it is expected, he
said. that an election to a place in this
body should be surrounded by every con-
sideration attending the choosing of u
President. member of the House. or a
Judge on the bench
Senate Not a Criminal Court.
Senator Beveridge said the Senate is
not sitting a criminal court: il is
sitting as the most exalted tribunal
known to history and to mankind, de-
terminins the sravest public issue that
can arise. the election of d member OF
the United States Senate.
Senator Beperidge then proceeded TO
pay high tribute to the Senate. its inn
n the nation and influence
upon the world. He recited the functions
OF the Senate. higher than those OF
Judges since the Senate can unsedt
judges, can unseat the President
He insisted that an election of d senator
should be guarded by everything which
should encircle Judge. with a wall OF
sacred fire through which no impure
Ining could penetrate.
Our Institutions on Trial.
Our institutions are on trial. de-
clared Senator Beveridge, and the
character of a people is on trial" He
said he wanted TO cite the experience
of two countries, one modern and one
ancient. In England, bribery was
treated as treason, especially in the case
of judges.
a million dollars for bribery. All recall
rhe lamentable fate of the greatest mind
since Aristotle, Lord Bacon, who was
fined s4O.CW and incapacitated from
holding office for bribery.
Bribery in England began to he most
noticea BILE under the Stuarts and reached
it's highest reign of corruption under the
George from whom we revolted.
That monarch was a practical poll
tician'' said Senator Beveridge. who
used largesses of all kinds to secure his
political ends
Quotes From the Law.
Senator Beveridge read from the
English and American authorities on
the common law relating TO bribery in
elections. That bribery voided any
| election in which it occurred was the
policy of the common law, Senator Bev-
| eringe insisted.
The common law which is the source
of our own jurisprudence, and from which
corrupt practices acts grew, penaliZed
| bribery Great Britain met the peril of
bribery and reckoned with it, and her
| judges consistently construed the law
| against bribery in elections
| Those decisions are applicable to this
particular case" contended Senator Bev-
| eridge, land the question coming before
us is whether we shall deal with bribery
| in the same spirit that England dea 1t
with il or in the complacent spirit with
which another great republic dealt with
| it-dnd ceased to exist.
| Single Act Voids Election.
| Senator Beveridge read copiously from
authorities. holding that single act OF
| bribery voids election.
For the third time I repeat. to show
the way in which the English people have
met this evil of bribery that struck down
other nations" said Senator Beveridge
He then went into a discussion of the law
of agents showing the responsibility OF
the beneficiary for the acts of his agent
1T was objected that the rule of agents
| was hard on the candidate. but to that
the English Judges answered that the
office was not for the 'candidate-the
office belonged to the people.
1T is not a question of settling one
mans fate: it is "A question OF protect
ing the people.
How unfortunate it will he for mil
lions of people If We look lightly upon
any crime which involves the per-
petuity of our public institutions"
He said the acts of parliament which
| caused our revolution were passed by
the parliament which George III
bought by bribery and which would
not have been elected under England S
| nresent system of pure elections.