Evening star., 1911-01-07
SENATORS ARE DIVIDED
ON THE LOR|MER CASE.
Nearly All the Democrats 0p.
posed to Seating IIIinoisan.
Others at Sea.

Today's developments in the Lorimer
case before the Senate indicate that, al
though ali but one of the democrats on
the Senate committee on privileges and
elections signed the smajority report up
holding the legality of his election. the
democratic supporters Of the Illinois sem
ator will not be numerous.
Several democrats have announced their
intention to oppose Mr.. Lorfmer on the
floor of the Senate. Senator Owen will
be the first to make his position known.
but Senator Rayner Of Maryland will be
very much on the job when the argu-
ments against Mr.. Lorimer are presented
Senator Smith of Maryland and Senators
Martin and Swanson of Virginia are also
on the antiLorimer band-wagon.
Depends Upon Form Of Motion.
The success or failure of the fight to
oust William Lorimer from his seat in the
United States Senate will hinge largely.
1t is believed, upon the form of the mo-
tion which his opponents will present.
Should the motion be one to expel Mr..
Lorimer from the Senate, senators ia
miliar with the rules and customs Of
Congress say, a two-thirds vote would be
Gu lOT pdSSdSo. 6HOulu Cnc uROlioA
be simply to declare the seat OF Mr..
Lorimer vacant, only a majority vote
would be necessary to adopt 1t.
A motto nto show Mr.. Lorimer the door
of the Senate and escort him through 1t,
it Is contended, would be made in the
event his opponents believed that Mr..
Lorimer was personally guilty Of bribery
or corruption or cOgnizant that such
methods were being used in his behalf
and that he took no steps to stop It.
1t
however, would simply be declaration
of the illegality Of Mr.. Lorimer's elec-
tion, without holding Mr.. Lorimer in any
way responsible for the illegality.
One would bring on fight against Mr.
Lorimer personally, the other would mean
a fight against the corrupt portion Of the
Illinois legislature.
Beveridge to Give Cue.
The exact view which Senator Bever-
idge will take is being awaited with some
interest. AS he Is member of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections. and
responsible for a minority report from
that committee. he is the natural leader
of the fight against Mr.. Lorimer. There
fore much depends upon the motion which
he Is expected to introduce In the Senate
with his minority report. 1t may require
a two-thirds, or only a majority vote, for
passage, and as it is thought votes are
precious to both sides in the coming
struggle, this difference is one Of more
than minor consequence.
A motion to have the whole matter re-
committed to the committee on privileges
and elections would receive some support.
In opposition to such a course, 1t Is urged
that the committee would reply that it
had done all the investigating 1t thought
necessary, and that the committee which
made the report would not have oppor-
m ko another hofnro ffQ r.
sonnet is considerably changed-involving
the absence of several who have kept up
with the case and the presence of others
who have no knowledge of the testimony
already received AS to the second rea-
son, it is pointed out that Senators Bur-
rows, Derew and Beveridge will surely
be off the committee after March 4, and
that Senators Bulkeley and Frazier both
have contests on, with the possibility
they may lose their seats.