The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-02-24
WILLIAM LOR|MER
DEFENDS HIMSELF
BEFORE COLLEAGUES
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS MAKES
ELOQUENT DENIAL TO THE
CHARGES OF BRIBERY.
MANY IN CROWD MOVED TO TEAR
Relates Stories of His Newsboy Ca
reer In Chicago Forty Years Ago,
and His Acquaintance With "tIlnky
Dink" kenna Beginning Then.


made his defense against the charge
that his election to the Senate OF the
United States was accomplished by
bribery and corruption of the legisla-
ture of Illinois His defense was a
general and emphatiu denial, deliver.
ed with more than ordinary eloquence
and fervor.
No vote was taken today. Immedi-
ately upon the conclusion of Mr.. Lori
mers the Senate went into executive
session on the Japanese treaty, and
the answer to the Lorimer speech
which Senator Beverage was prepar-
ed to make, went over until tomor-
row.
With almost every Senator In mis-
seat, and in the presence Of great
crowd Of members Of the House Of
Representatives on the Senate floor
and of spectators In the densely pack
ed galleries, Mr. Lorimer made q
speech of four hours duration, and
even his bitterest opponents admitted
that 1t was very able, well sustain
ed and dramatic utterance
Some of those who heard the speech
and who have been in and about the
Senate for many years, said there
never had been anything just like it.
Mr.. Lorimer's speech was distinct
ly human interest" story. For ex-
ample, in explaining the votes Of Dem.
ocrats for him in the legislature which
elected him to the Senate, he tod Of
the beginning of his acquaintance
with "Hinky Dink" Kenna in Chical
go forty years ago. 1t was a home
ly story of one newsboy helping an
other, but it was most effectively told,
and there were many other touches of
human nature in the speech which
held the interest of the great sudi-
ence from beginning to end. More
than once there were evidences that
his speech was moving some of the
audience to tears.
What effect, if any, the speech will
nave .scc .he vote of the Senate 1t Is
impossible to say. The general I'm
preston about the capitol tonight is
that Mr. Lorimer and his friends have
safely pledged the votes with which
to defeat the resolution which would
declare his seat vacant, and that II
the matter comes to vote the result
will be victory for Lorimer
Senator Beveridge is expected te
make a long speech tomorrow in an
swer to Mr.. Lorimer. How much time
the Senate will be willing to give tc
this subject in the present crowded
condition of the Senate calendar re
mains to be seen. 1t is not impossi
bic that Lorimer's opponents may be
able to prevent the matter coming tC
vote at all before adjournment. II
was said today that this was in fact
the plan which the anti-Lorimer PEG
! pie would try to carry out.
During the four hours that Mr.. Lori
mer occupied the floor he reviewed
practically all Of the charges that
have been made against himself His
statements were in the nature both
of testimony and of pledging. He
refrained entirely from attempt 70 an
alyze the testimony. but devoted his
attention entirely to arguments OF
other Senators against him.
! He took up In turn the opprobrious
! differences drawn from the intimacy
with Speaker Shurtleff and Lee
O'Neal Browne, his attendance upon
| the sessions of the Illinois legisla
ture and his presence in Shurtleff'f
rooms, undertaking to show that In
each instance his course had been nat
ural and In the line Of the perfor
mances of other public men under like
circumstances.
! He explained his Democratic sup
port upon the grounds Of longstanding
personal friendships for himself and
Of antipathy for Senator Hopkins, who
was his principal antagonist in the
Senatorial contest.
In the former connection he related
more than one story going to show
attachment running for many years.
This portion of the address appealed
strongly to the feelings Of Senators,
But when Senator Crawford intimated
that the Illinois Senator was making
a bid for sympathy he resented the
imputation and turned the question to
his own advantage by declaring that
his only purpose was to set before
the Senate the truth. II was not a
matter of sympathy, he said, but Of
right and wrong.
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