Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-03-01
LORIMER SPEAKS
IN OWN DEFENSE
Tells Senate He Is Not Guilty of
Bribery.
GREETED BY BIG CROWD
Senator Declares Democratic Votes
Which Enabled Him to Obtain
Seat Were Given as Gifts
of Friendship.

Washington. - Before vast as
semblage of spectators and practi-
cally full membership Of the senate,
William Lorimer, senator from Illinois,
denied that he had either purchased or
authorized the purchase of votes in the
Illinois legislature that he might gain
a seat in the United States senate.
Throughout Lorimer's final exposi-
ton of his defense, he strove to make
it plain that the mysterious Demo
cratic votes which enabled him to get
his senatorial seat were given him as
the gifts Of lifelong friendship.
The defense offered embraced the
following questions, as announced by
Lorimer at the opening of his speech:
Did 1 organize the Illinois legisla-
ture against Hopkins?
Did l make Shurtleff speaker in or
der that I might be elected senator?
did 1 make Lee O'NeilI Browne my
agent-my corrupt agent?
why did I stay in Springfield during
the contest?
For what purpose did talk to
Shepherd in the So 5aker's room?
why did the Democrats vote for
me?"
Some of the answers given these
questions by senators on this floor
have been fanciful theories; some mere
guesses and surmises,' said Lorimer.
TT is the truth that I propose to lay
before the senate"
Lorimer then stated that an effort
ho IL 70 Ha
a cloud Of suspicion, and to make it ap-
pear that some man of great ability
had prepared plan to organize the
legislature of Illinois for the purpose of
defeating Hopkins and electing some
one else United States senator
Lorimer dealt with this part of his
text by reciting his whereabouts prior
to the election in question and detail
ing the dates when he was i'll with
blood poisoning, with the intention Of
showing that on account of absence
from the state and the condition of his
health, ne could not have taken aAy
part in organizing the legislature.
Has Tilt With Crawford.
In considering the second question in
his text, Lorimer engaged in a short
tilt with Senator Crawford, who dis
puted his course. The tilt enabled
LOrimer to score a point.
Edward Shurtleff was elected speak
er because of a condition which arose
there and If a similar condition had
arisen anywhere in the country, the re-
suit would have been the same" said
Lorfmer. Governor Deneen was op-
posed to the reelection of the speaker,
and said that some one else must be
elected. Under no circumstances was
any Republicans to vote for Shurtleff
representative Brady, who had pledged
his support to Shurtleff, was told that
If he did not join in with Deneen's
plans every employee who had obtained
his position at Brady's recommends
ton would be forthwith dismissed. In
other words, the governor of our state
undertook to dictate who should be
speaker"
Senator Crawford interrupted IF
this statement is true" he said, why
was not Governor Deneen called as a
witness in order that he might have
the opportunity of making reply to this
charger"
1T would have been impossible for
Governor Deneen to have been called
to refute that statement" said Lori
mer, "as the cause for making it was
not suggested until the senator from
South Dakota, Mr.. Crawford, made it
on the floor a short time ago"
Explains Democratic Votes.
Senator Lorimer then took up con-
sideration of the Democratic vote
which he received and the incident of
his presence in Springfield He told
the story of his interest in the Iakes-to-
the gulf deep waterway plan and his
effort to make it non-partisan propo-
sition. In this way, he said he gained
the friendship of the Democrats.
His presence in Springfield was
caused both by this plan and his desire
to win votes for himself in the race for
the senatorship, was the line of Lori
mer's argument. ct has always struck
me that if a man wants the votes of
the legislators he has a right to go
where the votes are" said Lorfmer,
and he declared that this is the usual
method Of procedure.
Senator Lorimer closed his speech
with an imprisoned appeal
No man has ever dared to charge
that | was even remotely guilty of
briber yor corrupt practices. 1 never
did, not only in this nor in any other
election, use one dollar or allow the
use Of one dollar, or have the remotest
idea Of the uSa Of ono dollar tho oox