Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-10
Senator Crawford Thinks Lori
mer Knew of Fraud.
REVIEWS THE TESTIMONY
Saws Eleven Votes Cast for Illinois
Man We're Tainted.
THREE POINTS BROUGHT OUT
Steps in "Gumshoe Campaign" Are
Taken Up by South Dakota
Statesman.

Senator Crawford of South Dakota.
continued the fight to oust Senator Will
liam Lorimer from the United States
Senate by speech on the floor or the
upper house this afternoon.
Not only did Senator Crawford argue
that eleven of the democratic votes cast
for Mr.. Lorimer in his election were
tainted with fraud and corruption but
he contended that Mr.. Lorimer himself
At least must have suspected that fraud
was being committed.
Mr.. Crawford reviewed the essential
features of the testimony to show why
the four men who confessed bribery
should be believed, and why the denials
OF the seven others that their votes were
tainted should not be accepted as con-
elusive.
And can one conclude. after carefully
reading all the evidence here, that Mr..
Lorimer himself did not know that fraud
was being committed?'' he asked near
the end of his argument. Il wish l
could believe that he did not. because
/ bear him no i'll will and would not do
him the smallest injury or injustice know
ingiy.
Was Directing Campaign.
But i cannot overlook the fact that
for days and nights Immediately preced-
ing the 26th of May. 1909, when these
corrupt and tainted votes were cast for
him, he was in Springfield directing his
own campaign; that he was in almost
constant conference with Lee ONeil
Browne and Speaker Shurtleff; that they
reported progress to him, and that he
assured Sheppard, the democrat, person
ally, that he would procure the appoint
ment Of his friend as postmaster at Jer-
seyville. with the other boodlers at St.
Louis June 21 and July Is, to get his
share of the money reward distributed
by Browne and Wilson: that Mr.. Lori
mer personally had talk with Link be-
fore his election. and secured Link $
promise to vote for him, and that this
same Link also appt ared with the bood-
lers at st. Louis and got his reward in
cash.
Mr.. President, I regret to say it. but
Am personally convinced that Mr.. Lor-
inner knew enough about what was going
on at Springfield to put a reasonably pru-
esnt man upon inquiry; that Shurtlen
and Browne were his political agents,
and that he ratified their acts and &C
cepted the fruits Of their corrupt prac-
tices, of which he must at least have had
Some knowledge. and that he was not
legally and duly elected to a seat In the
Senate Of the United States by the leg
islature Of Illinois.
Had $50, 1000 on Person. '
white says that when Browne paid
him $50 Lorimer' money at the Briggs
House in Chicago on June 10. 1909. he
had belt around his waist that was
made of blue cloth and pinned on with
safety pins; that Brown told him that
he carried money in that belt. and that
he had $4,000 on his person the day be-
fore.
Whose money was it? What special
interests were using money so lavishly
as that among members of the 1egiSla-
ture of Illinois? And for what purpose?
Was ii to strangle legislation at Spring
field. and to send representative to this
body? People in these days indulge in
all sorts of attacks upon Congress, and
most of the attacks are both unfair and
unfounded. Magazines cruelty and wan
tonly assail the names of men in public
life who are above reproach. This is
all wrong. ] have no sympathy with it, j
believe that very great majority of the
men In official life today are faithful serv-
ants of the public. Character and rep
utation should not be wantonly assailed.
A man who will attempt, out of malice
TO destroy the good name OF fellow
man is no better than a murderer
But whittier are We drifting. IL condi-
tions like those at Springfield are to be
passed over in silence: We may make
mistakes in framing tariff laws Mr..
President but they can be amended. We
may adopt wrong policies in the admin
istration OF public affairs. but they can
De corrected. But sir. what is the future
or representative government if men are
TO enjoy seats in the legislative depart
ment which have been purchased with
paitry gold? What is to become Of our
institutions and who can answer for TO-
morrow, il legislation in great states like
illnofs Is 10 be bought and sold BY men
VINO are provided with corruption fund
Tor that purpose: a United States SEN
storsnip thrown into the bargain?
Wants Traditions Upheld.
Where is all this 10 end? Is ali sense
OF honor benumbed and is conscience only
q myth? Is the Senate of the United
States. With all its traditions, its proud
sense OF honor, its noble dignity and its
lofty standards. 10 forget the warnings
uttered time and again in this historic
chamber? Are the voices OF the past
which I'm this place have so often stirred
the hearts OF men, and the supreme faith
which inspired the fathers who wrought
here to be overwhelmed by a corrupt and
sordid tendency which would sacrifice
every public trust upon the altar of com
mercialism and make a thing of merchan-
utct VI every PUBIC duty. Are the
members Of this Senate willing that testi-
mony like this, which / have ATTEMPTED
10 review here. shall be put aside as in
sufhcient TO overthrow formal cer;jfi-
cate Of election simply because that Ger
tihcate comes here under the seal of q
:feat state?
Il know senator's will not do thar If
they see this evidence as / see it, claim
no superior virtue and would not reflect
IN the smallest particular upon the sin
cerity and good faith of any senator Nv
MY fear Is that the Testimony was so
much broken into by interruptions and
argument of counsel during the hearings
md the time In which To weigh and an
al!zs II was so shcrt, that the subcom
Inttee did not give il the weight To
which. IL seems to me. il is entitled ana
tie fall committee had little opportuni,v
10 examine II before submitting its 70.
Part. ] may be wrong. sir and tho s,,h-
committee may be right: but am bm,nd
To say that ] am not willing thar this No
port shall be adopted without nv protas,
On the other hand. stand ready 10 vo,a
for resolution declaring that Mr. Jor
inner was not legally and duly elected =,
seat In the Senate of the United SAVES
by the legislature OF the state of Illinois j,
Steps in the Campaign.
Senator Crawford took up the stems h,
what he called "a corrupt program and
"A g,imshoe campaign for his U-orimer 81
election" Three facts. Mr. Crawford ar