The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-21
BLAND BILLY" IS
QUITE UNRUFFLEO
IF SENATE GUSTS HIM. WILL GO
BEFORE HIS PEOPLE FoR
vINDICATION.
THIRTY YEARS OF GAME
CHICAGO POLITICAL BOSS Is MAS
TER POLITICIAN AND NEVER
oyERLooKs AN or
PORTUNiTY.
THIRTY YEARS OF GAME
BY Victor Elliott

Tor Vindication and reelection
The sixty-second senate exonerated
the Chicago politician of the charge
or buying his senatorial toga, and
gave him a clean bill of political
health. Throughout that first inves-
t:eation the plactdity of Lorimer caus-
ed much comment His demeanor
vas that of one confident OF VIVA.
the outcome would be.
Following Lorimer's acauittal OF
bribery or of having indirectly bribed
Illinois legislators and thus procured
his election, the legislative commit
tee in Springfield stirred up new and
/ highly sensational evidence of cor
ruption In connection with his cleo
| tior--evidence that had not been I'M
I covered even in small degree by the
/ first United States senate investtgat-
ing committee. It was developed
through Clarence S. Funk, head of
the International Harvester Com
pany. that there had been a. $780,
900 'slush" fund to put Lor.rner
over Edward Hines, head of 4 big
! lumber combine, was named as the
solicitor, and Edward S. Tilden,
fnancier who cannot remember how
many millions of dollars are subject.
TO his personal check. was named as
the repository of this "Lorimer
money"
.'Biand Billy"
Tnruf1ed throughout the first in
ouiry. wherein 1t was alleged at least
! sever legislative votes were bought
outright for Lorimer--iust enough To
| elect him-Lorime has continued his
| bland treatment OF the scandal since
the unearthing of the testimony Of
]. Funk. Condemned and ridiculed from
N Ia hxSp do fa al
| of Mexico and from the Pacific slope
| to the shores of the Atlantic. Lori
| mer remains cool and collected. he
| has had thirty years experience in
| Chicago politics. That is one reason
| for his calmness, 1t his nerves are
| worn to n wire edge, there. Is not the
slightest outward and visible sign of
4 1t.
! Tenacious as bulldog. I4orimer CT
Lorimers close friends, have per
mitted the report to be spread that.
| in the event. he is ousted from the
| United States senate az a result OF
| the rigorous probe that Is now being
prosecuted. he will return to Illinois,
and with the same resoluteness which
has characterized his fight for vindi-
cation in the highest aw-making body
| in the land, he will struggle for vim
dication at the hands of the people
| Of his State. That Lorimer will do
| this may be put down as a firmly de-
termined course. Even his bitterest
political enemies here we're not sur
prired at the first suggestion OF such
thing.
1T would be lust like Lorimer,"
they say. He had a hard time get
| ting into the senate. and there Ia
nothing to cause surprise in the an
ncuncement that he will fight to the
end TO hold his seat"
Practical Politician.
II has been said of Lorifner that he
| is the EN- bodiment Of ali that rs prac-
teal in modern politics. In his thirty
| years experience he has had many
/ opportunities to turn political
| trick here and there. and took ad-
vantage of those opportunities. at
| times made the opportunities to take
advantage Of. When youngster ar
! rived at constituents home. whe-
Their Lorimer knew the head of the
house personally or not, a congratula-
tory note always reached the proud
parents from the thoughtful Lorimer.
When the Grim Reaper carried away
a member of constituents family.
sympathetic epistle and sometimes
! flowers We're sent to the hereaved
| home by Lorimer. Thirty years OF
such practices have worked wonders
for Lorimer in Illinois, He has grad
ualiy but surely built up strong
personal following, not only In his old
congressional district. but throughout
the State.
Being man who doesn't know
when he is licked Lorimer, his
friends say. will shell the woods OF
Illinois from one end TO the other.
| and appeal TO those upon whom he
has conferred favors to restore him
TO his seat In the senate. not simply
for vindieation from the ugly
! charges made against him and his
machine, but also for the sake of the
| reelection, for which the senator
seems to have "hankerings' Lori
mer's friends believe he would win
sufficient support. despite the mass of
muck that has been revealed along
his political path. to cause the lex1s-
4 lature 10 re-elect him. And his re-
election is NOT the remote possibility
some of his enemies consider IT.
Preparing For Return.
Observant ones in the second SEN
ate hearing now being prosecuted
have not been slow to note the great
amount of details brought out abolt
Illinois politics by Lorimer formi-
dable array OF legal aides. There
has been speculation that the oneect
OF this Is to furnish Lorimer with "A
lot Of handy information in case he
will have to make q campaign for re-
election. y
The imperturbabiIity or Lor!mer
stands out strikingly as marvel OF
this stormy investigation. Occasion
ally q flicker of a smile will sweep
over his face. when confused wit
ness blunders into an awkward state
/ ment or has the temerity to get
orr some word play or pun. Usually
his face is steely cold, and his eyes.
blue and piercing, reflect no. the
slightest trace 81 feeling.
4 Some Washingtonians are pictur-
ing to themselves scene of The re
turn OF Lorfmer." They think II
would be q dramatic entry man
re-entering the senate In triumph.
after being involved In an unparsliel-
ed case Of corruption In politics. Bit.
Describing such scene at this date
may be dealing in the idlest faneaes.
lIor:nier has not been cast out q. the
senate yet, and 1t Is possible that p"
will, not be. although the odds seem
against him at this time.