Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-05-31
SEEKS new PROBE
IN LOR|NER CASE
Dillingham; Wants Inquiry by
Senate Elections Committee.
DEMOCRATS DECIDE ON PLAN
Ia Toilette, in Speech, DelVes Into
Alleged Bribery in Connection
With Election Of Illinois
Junior Senator.

washington. - A resolution call
ing for a prompt inquiry into the
charges against Senator Lorimer of
Illinois. was introduced in the senate
by Senator Dillingham;. chairman of
the committee on privileges and cleo
lions. The Democratic senators will
support the resolution, which is In
tended to be substitute to that in
troduced by Senator La Toilette.
the resolution was offered by Mr..
Dillingham; in recognition Of the res
olution adopted by the safe senate of
Illinois calling upon the federal SEN
ate to take action.
After quoting the at Of the IL
linois upper house in full the billing
ham resolution provides for a full in
yestigation by the committee on priv
ileges and elections or a subcommit-
tee. with special instructions to ascer-
tain whether corrupt practices or
methods were adopted by any person,
firm or corporation with reference to
the election.
Senator Dillingham; announced that
ne proposed to press his resolution as
substitute. Senator La Toilette
then said he would offer amendments
to his own resolution. He then under
took a brief review of the Lorimer
case which. he said, disclosed the fol-
lowing undisputed facts:
That Charles A. White confessed he
was bribed to vote for Lorimer, re-
ceiving $1,000 therefor
That grand turies investigated the
confession and that during their work
two other members of the legislature
confessed receiving 'Lorimer money"
leaving no doubt as To- their guilt.
That another member, since de-
ceased, was proved present at distribu-
lions of 'Lorimer money"
Senator La Toilette first discussed
representative government. He said
the government was representative as
long as senators obeyed the popular
will and were elected without the in
terposition of any outside power. He
asked senator's to conceive a man
holding such trust sitting silently by
with his title tainted. He said the de-
lay by Senator Lorimer had brought
great opprobrium on the senate itself.
Senate La Toilette attacked the SEN
ate system Of courtesy az helping to
veil and undermine representative
government. He said the system ex.
cused and palliated violations of the
high principles which senators brought
from home. He said there was some
purpose behind 1t. and that. moreover,
he could not understand how Senator
Lorimer could rest under the charges
against him.
Finally" said Senator La Toilette,
things came to such pass that 9th
ers threatened to speak for Senator
Lortmer in defense OF the senate. Then
on May 2S. Senator Lorimer spoke the
vindication of himself, Senator Hoist
law having confessed in Illinois that
he had also been bribed to vote for
Lorfmer. The previous delay" said
the senator. burned the brand into
this case
Senator La Toilette said he believed
he paid a compliment to Senator Gull
!om by saying that he was certain he
had demanded that Senator Lorimer
should explain the charges against
him. He said Senator Cullom had
served "a generation in the public in.
terests with clean hands" and he
could not conceive his acting other
wise. Senator La Toilette said the
senate owed somcAling 10 itself in the
Lorimer case. but owed more to the
country.
LAS long as live am going TO
cherish the idea that no other member
Of this body would have waited so
long TO make his protest of innocence
as did the sitting member in this
case" said Senator La Toilette
Senator La Toilette then reviewed
the successive steps OF the Lorimer in.
vestigatIon in the last congress The
speaker said that at the outset OF the
I.orimer case he had brought to 1t so
unbiased q mind as any other member.
and that he considered himself
Juror with the right to prosecute in
vestigations wherever they might lead
Now he said he based his judgment
on the evidence In the case.
ROGERS kIHNApEpS To pplcnM