Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-02-23
Almost Brought Some of the Sen
ators to Tears by His
Life Story.
SPEECH WAS EXTRAORDINARY
Nothing Just Like 1t Heard in
the U. S. Senate for Many
Years-Talk Lasted
Four Hours.

Washington, Feb. c2.-William Lorimer
Of Illinois to-day made his defense against
the charge that his election to tho Senate
was accomplished by the bribery and cor
ruption of the Legislature Of the state Of
Illinois. His defense was n general and
emphatic denial. delivered with more than
ordinary elouuence and fervor.
There We're no votes to-day. Immedi
atelv upon tho conclusion Of t.orimer's
speed. the Senate went into executive
session on the Japanese treaty, and the
answer 20 the !.ormer speech. which
Senator Bcverdge was prepared to make.
went over until tomorrow. Nobody
knows vhen a vote will be reached
With almost every senator in his seat,
and IN the presence of a great crowd OF
members Of the House OF Representatives
On the Senate floor and OF spectators In
the galleries Mr.. Lorimer made speech
of four hours duration and even his bit
tervst oppuuents admitted that 1t vas a
very able Well-sustained and dramatic
uttcraucc. Some Of those who heard the
speech and who have been In and about
the Senate for many years said that there
never had been anything just like It. Ger
tain 1t is HAT the occasion was extraor-
binary in all its aspects.
A HUMAN INTEREST STORY.
MIR. lorimer's speech was distinctly
a human interest story" For example.
in explaining the votes Of democrats
for him in the Legislature which elect
ed MIN TO the senate he told Of the
beginning OF his acquaintance with
"Hinlty pinky" kenna IN Chicago. 40
years ago. II was homely story Of
ono newsboy helping another, but it
was effectively told ana there were
many other touches Of human nature
in the speech which held the interest
of the great audience from beginning
to end More than once there were
| evidences that the speech was moving
some Of his hearers to tears.
What effect. II any. the speech Will
have upon the vote in the senate, It
| is of course Impossible to say. The
general impression about the capital
to- night is that Mr.. I.orimer and his
friends have. safely pledged, the votes
with which TO defeat the resolution
which would declare his seat vacant
and that ~ the matter comes TO a vote
| the result will be Lorimer victory.
Senator Beveridge is expected to make
| tomorrow long speech in answer II
Mr. Lorirer How much time the
Senate will be willing 10 give to this
subject in the present crowded condition
of tho Senate calendar remains 70 he
seen II is not impossible that Lorimer's
opponents may he able TO prevent the
matter coming 70 n vote at all before
/ adjournment. y was said to-day that
this was. in fact, the plan which tbs
| anti-Lormer p"op'e would Try 10 carry
out.
REVIEW I'D ALI. CHARGES
During tho marc than four hours thai
Nv r.o,iroar ,ccurisd tho floor no 70
vle,ved practically all the charges whicf
hava boo, made o.ains, himself vi.
stator,an, va. in -ne nature torn NJ
testimony and Of pleading lie refraiuo,
entirely from attempting to analyze tbs
testimony. hut devoted his attention en-
tireIv TO the arguments Of other senator!
asainst hin
He took M in turn the opprohrious
differences drawn FROM his intimacy
with Npeater nhuT'''H ana zee '''''
sions or the Illinois l,egislatiirc ant
his nresence IN Shurt,eA's rooms. nm
dartaklnr 70 show that in each in.
stancc his course had been natura
and in he line OF the pcrformance'
,f other public men under Ike cir
,umstanccs
lie explained hi. democratic sup
mort on the xrounI Of lonu STANDING
rorsonal rriendships for himself an,
ot antipotry for Speaker Hopkins
who was his priucfnal antagonist I,
the senatorial contest.
In tho forrcr connection he relate,
more than one story going 70 show
attachments running over many wears
This portion % the address appeelet
stronrIy 10 the feelings of senators
hut ,Yh.r senator crawford iutimato,
that tho Illinois senator was maxim.
, hid for synpathv. he resented tn,
mutation and t.lrned .,he ouestlor Z.
mis- avn sJyaut,rc ry declaring TIM
his only u,rpose WAS 10 SET befor
tho sen,tc Tie truth II was NOT
ratt.r NJ -ympathy he said hu, d
r,sbt ma wrong.
WANTED lfNDr.N TO Enter
MIR lor,in,r undertook also to sbo,
hov inf. advocacy of tb. lakes-to-tbe
MissiSSinui waterway hsd caused man
: ncmb,r. of Tine IcgIslatlrc to be pn,
tiaI to him lie said that he had mad
4 an erort 70 induco Governor Dene.
! IN hacnue a candidate to break IN
/ so,..orIol desluck and In crec, II