The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1911-02-24
.LORIMER'S PLEA
IS ANSWERED
Senator Beveridge Replies to
Illinois Member.
SYMPATHY OUT OF PLACE

Indlanan Declares Life Story of the
"Blond Boss" Has No Bearing on
the Subject of Bribery Before the
Senate-His Friendship for "Hinky
Dinkv Not Material to the Point
at Issue.
Washington, Feb 24.-Notwithstand-
ing the feverish anxiety of many SEN
ators to dispatch business, and the
especial desire of Senator Lorimer's
friends to get vote on the question
of the validity of his election, there
was little prospect at the beginning
of the days session of the senate that
any marked progress would be made
during the sitting.
Senator Beveridge took the floor at
the beginning of the session and, as
he told his friends that he had only
half concluded his argument, the ex-
pectation was that he would occupy
the greater part of the day. After him
Senator Stone was expected to make
brief speech in opposition to the Illi-
nois senator and the general impress
sion was that Senator La Toilette
would ask to be heard at length in OPP
position.
II is not the intention of the friends
of Mr.. Lorimer to allow his opponents
to close the debate. Senators Calm
ger and Burrows are among those who
will be heard on his side
End May Be Far Distant.
Bitter feeling has arisen among the
contending factions. so that the pros
pect is that from this time on the
debate will be lively. One acrid speech
provokes others. Some senators ex-
pressed doubt whether the case could
be decided before final adjournment.
Lorimer's friends now claim fifty-four
out of ninety-one in the senate. The
opposition to Lorimer gives no figures.
Senator Beveridge addressed him.
self at the outset of his remarks to the
speech delivered by Senator Lorimer
in his own defense. Mr.. Beveridge
recalled the attention of the senate
from the eloquence of Mr.. Lorimer to
"the record of sworn testimony before
us-testimony given under oath and
searched as by fire with fierce cross
examination" and he added: Il shall
nothing extenuate' nor naught set
down in malice. | shall nothing ex-
tenuate' because | ought not; nor
shall | 'naught set down in malice be
cause | have no malice"
Mr.. Beveridge said he had listened
with peculiar personal sympathy to
Senator Lorimer's story of his rise
from humble estate to the high place
There were many senators, he said,
who from an even earlier youth had
borne even heavier burdens. But they
had asked nothing of the world on
that account.
Not Relevant to the Question.
But while | was affected as a man
by that appeal" said the speaker, Il
was curious as a Judge that the sit
ting members did not recite these
things before the senates committee
if he or his attorneys thought them
material or relevant. His account of
his popularity is interesting. and ex-
plains much of his political strength,
but it is not relevant to the question
of bribery which We are now consider
ing.
His newsboy experience and the
devoted friendship between himself
and 'Hinky Dink,' resulting therefrom,
is engaging, but ii is not material as
to the corruption of Holstlaw, White
Beckemeyer, Link and others.
while my sympathy and approval
as a man were aroused by this pic
turesque and praiseworthy incident in
the sitting members life, my judg-
ment as Il member of this court, was
not affected, for my judgment was not
appealed to. The issue we must de-
termine is that of the validity of the
election, challenged here on the
ground of bribery. On that grave
charge no limit was thrown"