The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-07
CUL[OM;;
RAPS LOR|NER
Senator Burton Points Out Diff
ference in Manner of
Their Election.
BELIEVES BRIBE TAKERS
MUST BE GIVEN CREDENCE
Confession of Persons ImpIi-
Gated Should Receive Due
Consideration.

WASHINGTON. Feb. GA defense of
Senator Cullom Of Illinois formed the
most striking part of an address made In
the senate today by Theodore Burton Of
Ohio in opposition to the report Of the
committee on privileges and elections by
which Senator Lorimer OF Illinois was
exonerated from the charge Of obtaining
his seat by means Of bribery.
The reference to Senator Cullom. who
is Mr.. Lorlmers colleague. was called out
by a statement made by Senator Bailey
Of Texas In the senate during the ex-
element incident to the close OF Sena-
tor Roots arraigment OF Mr.. Lorimer
last Friday, Speaking OF the existence
for years Of a Jackpot fund in connec-
ton with the sessions Of the Illinois leg
islature. Mr.. Bailey, who supports Mr.
Lorlmer, said that the means used to
elect Mr.. Lorlmer we're the same as had
Cullom.
Burton Exculpates Cullom.
Mr.. Burton did not dwell long on the
Texas senator's differences. He said:
"The senator from Texas no doubt un
Willingly did an injustice TO the senior
senator from Illinois in some remarks last
Friday, In averring that II Mr.. Lorirner $
election Is invalid. so is that OF the SEN
ior senator. One conclusive answer to
any such rroundless Inference is the
method OF the election OF Mr.. Cullom.
He was nominated at a primary by ma
jorlty OF $4,000 votes and II would be
most unjust TO him TO compare the cir
cumstanccs under which he was chosen
with the corrupt and dishonest methods
prevalent IN the Legislature In 1909"
The Ohio senator discussed the allega-
tons against Mr., Lorimer largely on le-
gal grounds. Without attempting TO un-
ravel the testimony. he proceeded upon
the theory that certain facts had been
proven and then undertook to show
through precedents established in the
United States and Great Britain that the
election by the Illinois legislature had
been tainted and therefore was invalid.
Among other points discussed was that
the casting OF a vote constitutes bribery;
and IL was held that II did. III" said
the speaker. those who received such
money were, free from corrupt intent;
they certainly would not have received
money after the votes were cnst. 1t is
impossible TO separate the receipt OF
money after the election from other facts
and circumstances in the conduct OF these
members. which go to make up one dis
honest transaction"
Br!be Takers Testimony.
Meeting the contention that the evil
dencc given by bribe- takers cannot be
considered In connection with the case.
the Ohio senator declared that no such
1T belongs rather to crude state Of
society,"" he proceeded. ITO maintain IL
would mean that the most serious offend
ers against the public must go unpun-
ished 1t ignores the difference in the
comparative guilt OF those engaged In
the same unlawful enterprise. 1t re-
CARDS the man guilty OF crime az abso
lutely an outcast and disrcgards alike his
reformation and the welfare OF society.
1t closes the door of repentance for the
criminal even for him who has been
81 t,,d,
into doing something against which his
better judgment rebels
Mr.. Burton did not accept the state
ment Of Mr. Lorimer's friends that II
there had been bribery that gentleman
had not authorized II,
Summing up his conclusions. Mr.. Bur-
ton found II perfectly evident that fraud
WAS so rampant and dishonesty so wide
spread in this election that IT is impos-
sible 10 separate the sound votes from tho
unsound votes