The Washington herald., 1911-01-11
LORIMBR FEARFUL
OF LOSING PLACE
Senator Realizes Gravity of
the Situation.
CRAWFORD FLAYs IL11No1sAN
S0uth Dakota Statesman Takes Up
Debate ON Legality Of Lorimer's
Methods Employed in Legislatlre.
Senate Galleries Crowded.

Consideration of the Lorimer bribery
charges again occupied most of the day
in the Senate yesterday. Feeling over
the case Is steadily growing among Sena-
tors, and the prospects now are that it
will be under debate for several weeks.
Senator Lorimer and his friends realize
that the situation is becoming critical
for him, and are bending every energy
to hold at least a majority of the Senate
In line with the majority report Of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
which vindicated the Illinois Senator and
sustained his title to a seat. Charges
are made that a strong lobby is at work
in the interest of Lorimer. and there is
other evidence aplenty that the Illinois
Senator is becoming fearful of the out
come.
Senators who have made a study Of the
situation are contending that there is
now little doubt that a majority of the
Senate will line up against Lorimer un-
less more convincing evidence is pre-
sented than is contained in the majority
report of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections. majority vote would
be sufficient to declare L.orimer's title
to the seat invalid. although it would
require a two-thirds vote to expel.
The Indications now are that not more
than six of the thirty-two Democrats in
the Senate are disposed at present to
line up in rindication of Lorimer. These
six include, of course. the four Demo-
Gratis who signed the majority report
OF the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions-
Crawford Axsails Election.
Senator Crawford. of South Dakota,
yesterday delivered a strong speech
against the Illinois Senator. Mr.. Craw-
ford's speech was a comprehensive sum-
mary of the case. and was favorably
received by the members of the Senate
who are seeking light on this subject.
Senator Cra Iford was unsparing at
times in his criticism of the reports pre-
Sented by the majority of the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections. The
members of this committee will not be
able to let them go unchallenged and
the Crawford speech will at least have
the effect of drawing out a defense from
the majority members of the committee.
Senator Crawford was particularly Sc
we're on the committee because of its
contention that the confessions of the
bribe-takers had been brought about by
duress on the part of the State of Illinois
authorities and We're rot TO be accepted
mittee. in referring in its report to tes-
timony on this subject. omitted important
statements having a bearing on it.
For the purpose of showing that the
witness Link said Senator Crawford,
was under duress in giving his test-
mony, the committee sets out what pur-
ports to be Links testimony, giving his
experience at the time he was in the
custody of an officer and under the
control of the grand jury and the States
attorney of Cook County. For some rea-
son, the committee omitted some very
important parts of that particular testi-
mony.''
Senator Crawford added that the COM
mittee had no doubt inadvertently made
these omissions.
Telegram Not in Record.
Senator Crawford also declared that a
telegram, introduced evidence in the
hearings held by the subcommittee of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections, is
missing from the records.
'On December 4. 1907 said Senator
Crawford. white Zone of the self-con-
fessed bribe-takers) wrote his blackmail-
ing letters to Senator Lorimer. On No
~ember 5, 1909, he sent telegram to
Browne Zone of the alleged bribe- givcrs)
declining a SIS position. and there must
have been something in that telegram
to arouse the suspicion of Browne that
White had become hostile. because it
was produced by Judge Hanecy Gori-
mer's COUNSEL and marked as exhibit
c. and was received in evidence but.
for some reason. was not given to the
stenographer, and no copy of it appears
in the record
Senator Crawford paused in his speech
before making the statement about the
missing telegram. He said he did not
want TO be unfair to members of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
who had signed the report clearing Lori
mer. and ne desired to have some MEM
bers of that committee in the chamber.
A roll call brought in Senator Gamble,
OF South Dakota, Senator Crawford's
colleague, who was a member Of the
committee.
Senator Gamble said. after Senator
Crawford had made his statement, that
he had himself observed that the tele-
gram was missing in the record. and
had wondered why. He was not able to
offer any explanation
Senator Crawford described the con-
spiracy to send Loriner to the Senate as
having begun with the organization Of
the Illinois legislature, when Lee O'Neill |
Browne was elected minority leader and
Edward Shurtleff Republican) speaker
"A game was being played. in which,
at the very beginning. all party princi-
pie was abandoned" said Senator Craw-
ford The expression of the popular
vote at the primaries was unceremoni- |
ously disregarded. and tho control Of the
house seized by INSCRIPTIONS and un-
principled men with dark-Iantern schemes
to promote"
Thinks Eleven Votes Corrupt.
Senator Crawford, after a full examia-
alton of the records. is convinced that
eleven votes cast for Mr.. Lorimer were
corrupt. This is one more than any
other Senator has found to be tainted, |
and 1t would leave Lorimer with five
less than a majority Of those voting, IL |
this view were to be accepted.
Can one conclude" asked Senator
Crawford. after carefully reading all |
the evidence here, that Mr.. Lorimer
himself did not know that fraud was
being committed. i wish I could believe |
that he did not. because i bear him no |!
N viii. and would not do him the |
smallest injury or injustice knowingly. |
But cannot overlook the fact that |
for days and nights Immediately preced-
ing the 18th OF May, 1909. when these COR
rupt and tainted votes were cast for |
him, he was in Springfield directing hts |
own campaign; that he was In aimcw |
constant conference with Lee O'Nd
Browne and Speaker Sch,UtIeff: THU
they reported progress to him. and that 1
he assured Sheppard. a Democrat, per-
sonaily that he would procure the ap- /