El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-01
Aftftude of Some Senators.
UNFAvoRABLE TO SENATOR.
Beverldge and Crawford.

Albert J. Beveridge, Of Indiana, in
his minority report said:
Taking these things all together,
did everything occur. which the evi-
dence shows to have occurred, without
Mr.. Lorimer's knowledge. Even il the
corruption fund came from sources
higher up, did those exalted sources
of iniquity pass by Mr.. Lorimer, whom
they were trying to elect with this pu-
trid money without his knowing a thing
about it. In law Mr.. Lorimer must be
held to have knowledge of these trans
actions in his behalf If so, I contend
that his election was invalid on this
ground
c. L Crawford, of South Dakota
MY. only fear is that the testimony
was so broken up by Interruptions and
arguments Of counsel during the hear
ings and the time in which to weigh
and analyze it was so short that the
subcommittee did not give it the weight
to which it seems TO me, it was en-
titled, and the full committee had lit
tie opportunity to examine it before
submitting their report I may be
wrong, sir, and the subcommittee may
be right. but I am bound TO say that
1 am not willing that this report shall
be adopted without my protest. On the
other hand, I stand ready to vote for
a resolution declaring that Mr. Lori
mer was not legally and duly elected
to a seat in the senate Of the United
States by the legislature Of the state
of Illinois,"
BOrah and Owen.
William E Borah, of Idaho-''It is
just as clear as the monday sun that
without the assistance of Mr.. Browne.
without his influence, without his lead
ership, and without his control of those
80 men (the faction Browne controlled
Mr.. Lorimer could not have been elected.
If Mr.. Browne was corrupted
as all the facts and circum-
stances show; If he was the man who
was pulling this rotten and filthy COM
bination together, selling not only his
Individual vote but his leadership and
his influence, every single man who
followed him into that combination
must be counted as tainted and cor
rupted.
We need not dwell therefore upon,
the law as to how many were tainted,
whether four or seven, because the
election could never have been con-
summated without the Influence of Mr..
Browne. He was corrupted, bought and
he delivered either through money or
other means, his 80 votes because he
had been corrupted. Can a title to a
seat here rest upon such miserable cor
ruption-"
my opinion. Mr. Lorimer was not the
choice of the legislature of Illinois.
nor of the people Of Illinois. and his
election so called, was entirely vitiated
by the corrupt practices of his sup
porteTs, was Illegal and void alb initio,
and does not merit present recognition.
1T is no longer William Lorimer on
trail, but the senate itself is on trial
before the bar OF the American peo-
ple.'
Senator Browns Ideas.
Norris Brown, of Nebraska-.'The
point I want to emphasize right here is
that on the senate itself, and on tie
senate alone rests the responsibility
for the judgment whatever it may be.
A senate too cowardly to acquit when |
acquittal is right out to go out of bust
ness, but q senate too servile to con-
Wet when conviction is right win be
put out Of business.
The only theory on which the cleo |
ton Of Mr. Lorimer can be sustained
is that no one was bribed by Browne
to vote for him. If Browne bribed no
body, Lorimer knew it. If Browne |
bribed anybody, Lorimer knew it and
consented to 1t and thereby forfeited
all title to the office. And when the
committee agrees that with four votes
bribed by Browne, Lorimer's election |
is still valid, the conclusion must fail. |
because under the direct and undisp6t- |
ed evidence Of Browne, as well as IN |
der all the other convincing circuua- |
stances and proof, 1t is obvious that |
Lorimer knew everything that Browne |
did.
Mr President. there is no escape |
from this conclusion. 4 legislature com |
posed Of men chosen by their neigh
bors to act as legislators under oath |
to discharge a public trust with hon |
or, forgot and betrayed that trust. The |
betrayal was on a wholesale scale. |
and after the legislature had been
deadloeked for nearly five months, it |
was out Of reason If not impossible. !
for an honest election Of anybody to |
result The silent and iron figue be-
hind the scenes, knowing all that was
being done for him by his agents and
consenting to it, if not directing their |
every act was Mr.. Lorimer himself !
Such is the story of this record and
such should be the verdict of the SEN
ate"
This From Arkansas.
Jeff Davis, of Arkansas-"I the SEN
ators were elected by direct vote Of
the people the country would not wit
ness the nauseating spectacle that the
senate itself presents to the country to-
day, in an effort to purge itself Of cor
rupt and improper practice in the Sc
lection Of one of its members. Legis-
latures can be corrupted. They are cor
rupted. In my own state only a few
years ago we were scandalized by prac-