Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-10
BEVERIDGE AIMS
L0RIMER BLOW
Indianan Tells Senate that in His
Opinion Illinoisan's Election
Is Invalid.
OWENS ALSO ENTERS WAR
0klshoman Moves to Eject Chioagoan
at Once.
COMMITTEE GIVEN A RAP
Reverid0o Calls the Maioritv Finding
COMMITTEE GIVEN A RAP
Beveridge Calls the Majority Finding
Absurd and Grotesque."
BLONDE BOSS" MAKES REPLY
LOrIner Protests Innocence After Lis
teninE to His Election Called n
"PutrId Transaction" by Man
from NeiEhbOring state.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9--The fight to pre-
vent Senator I.orimer Of Illinois retaining
his seat in the United States senate was
opened today with a contest between sen
ators Beveridge OF Indiana and owen of
Oklahoma, both Of whom contested for the
right to fire the first gun in the cause.
Senator Beveridge, by virtue OF being a
member OF the committee on privileges and
elections which investigated charges of
bribery against Mr.. Lorimer, gained a
tactical victory by filing a minority re-
port attacking the position Of his col
leagues on the committee who voted to
exonerate the Illinois senator.
Senator owen, however introduced a
resolution to declare the election of SEN
ator Lorlmer illegal and void. but he was
not permitted to address the senate in its
support. The senate held that the resolu-
tion under the rules would have to go over
until tomorrow.
Mr.. BeverIdge then submitted his report,
the conclusion of which was:
! That this election was invalid under
any possible view OF the law IL the senate
so concludes II is our duty so TO declare.
Therefore l submit the following resolu-
! tion.
| Resolved. That William I,orimer was
not duly and legally elected to a seat In
the senate OF the United States by the leg
I'islature Of the state of Illinois
LOrImcr Denies Charges.
! Before the report was filed, Senator
| Lorimer made brief speech declaring his
innocence of bribery and the innocence of
his friends of any participation in corrupt
practices in connection with his election.
He announced his intention to be present
during the discussion of his case.
The parliamentary tangle in the senate
as to which Of the two senators desiring
to open the attack on Senator Lorimer
should have precedence was not settled
until after an appeal had been taken from
ruling by Vice President Sherman and
he had been reversed
Mr. owen was first recognized. He pre-
scented resolution similar to that which
| Mr.. BeVeridge had Incorporated in his
minority report. II was read and Mr.
owen prepared TO speak on It when Mr.
Beveridse demanded the regular order
which was the Introduction of morning
business.
The vice president ruled that the Owen
resolution was OF highest privilege and that
Mr.. Owen, having been recognized. had
the right TO the floor. Appealing from the
chair, Mr.. Beverldge was supported by a
majority OF lne senate IN MS contention
that the owen resolution would have to lie
over one day under the rules. This per-
mitted Mr.. Beveridge to submit his report
and have It read
BeVeridRe Reviews Testimony,
The Beveridge report reviews the testi-
mony bearing on the alleged acceptance of
bribes by four members of the Illinois
legislature and the testimony of these men
Ns.-fNs
other members
The minority report declares II is an un-
disputed fact OF conclusive force, although
the majority ignore it, that the confessed
bribe-takers were shown to have had in
their possession. in bills Of large denomina-
tions, unusually large sums Of money soon
after the dates when they swore 10 having
received the alleged bribes This state
ment is made in reply to the contention OF
the majority that the men who confessed
TO having received bribes were not to be
believed
Senator Beveridge devotes, considerable
, attention to the claim of the majority that
at least three OF those who confessed "a
having received bribes had been com.
pelied' or driven" to make these confes.
sions because OF treatment received from
officers OF Cook and sangamon counties
Illinois. In this connection the report
says:
What the senate must determine II
whether It believes as a matter of fac
that these men actually did receive tn,
; money which they testified TO having re
ceived and large amounts which wer,
found IN their possession in bills OF Iarg,
n denominations"
Mr.. Beveridge said the conduct of of
TT CCoptinu.d on second pa-oI