Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-18
No Proof of Illegal Election,
Says Senator Burrows.
REVIEWS CASE IN SPEECH
Does Not Think Testimony as to
Bribery Convincing.
WHITES ALLEGATIONS SCORED
Warning Is Sounded Against Yield
ing to Public Clamor or
Private Appeals.

There is absolutely no proof In the
case, direct or indirect. from which a
legitimate inference could be drawn that
a single member of the general assembly
was corruptly influenced to vote for Mr..
Lorimer.'
This was the conclusion of Senator Ju-
lius Caesar Burrows of Michigan in a
speech in the Senate today defending
the majority report of the committee on
privileges and elections, of which he is
chairman, confirming the right of Sen
ator William Lorimer of Illinois to his
seat in the Senate.
Senator Burrows reviewed the whole
case and cited again much of the evi-
dence which induced the committee to
arrive at its conclusions, because of the
criticisms passed upon the report Of the
committee
After summarizing the testimony of
Witnesses White. Link, Beckemeyer and
Holtslaw, Senator Burrows declared that
lit is obvious that there is nothing in
the statements of any one of them, or
In the statements of all of them taken
together, which would justify conc.u-
sion that their testimony as to bribery
is true, or could be relied upon in a
matter of even minor Importance"
Goes Into History of Case.
In introducing his speech, Senator Bur-
rows reminded the Senate that it was a
court of ninety-two judges and that no
member of that tribunal should permit
his judgment to be warped by public
clamor, however boisterous, or privat te
appeals, however potential ana command
ing" He then recited the preliminary
course OF events which led up to the con-
troversy and enumerated cases in the MS
tory of the Senate where the right OF a
senator to a seat in the Senate had been
contested.
The Iabors of the committee. said Sen
ator Burrows, were greatly Hghtened
and the scope of the investigation ma
terlally curtailed by the admission OF
counsel for the prosecution that IL was
not expected to connect Senator LOrimer
with any acts Of bribery.
with this ayOwal there was no evil
dence submitted to the committee or oh-
tainable, SO far as known. 1ncuipadng
Senator LorimeF In the bribery or at
tempted bribery, il such there was, OF
any member OF the Legislature, nor was
there any evidence that Senator Lorimer
had any knowledge whatever that such
bribery or attempted bribery was perpe-
trated by any one.
ASSQ1lS OWcuo al Su4AcAI.
Dsmissing the matter of the integrity
of Senator Lorimer, Senator Burrows re-
lated the details of the inquiry into 1.-The
integrity of the election" He declared
that the argument of Senator Owens for
popular election OF senator's had no reie-
yancy and that his statement regarding
the annuiment OF election OF Inemper
OF parliament ii a single vote is DriDed
was incorrect and mlSieadlnS.
The testimony OF CnarieS A. White,
memper OF lne limos legislature, VINO
wrote the flrst arucic III the Chicago
1 ripune on Alail -, 1910, charging pilu-
cry In the election OF senator Lorllner,
came in ror severe denunclailon by SEN
alor Burrows. lie sald
'.IhE testimony, Dr.ei1ly stated, is AS
follows: InaI les 4. Whlle was called be-
fore the committee and TESTIFIED, III effect,
mat he was palu Sl,opo Tor ms vote Tor
Mr.. Lorimer tor senator, tnat he first
talked with browne aDout Young tor
Lor.ner on the night oI May "A, 1893, III
brownies room In the St NlchoiaS Hotel.
wmle says browne asked II ne couiu
vote Tor u republican and he told MIN lie
could and tiien says, tie asked me To
Keep it s.rctIy "underNs my nat" he
sald it would not tie any chicken feed
,ltner.