The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-19
SENATOR BURROWS
 DEFENDS LOR|MER He Declares There Is No Proof
 of Corruption BORAH'S VIEW DIFFERS Idaho senator Severely Condemns Lori mer's Election md Says There
 Is Every Evidence of
 Corrupt Voting
BORAH'S VIEW DIFFERS

1 Washington, January 1S-"There is ab-
 solutey no proof in the case, direct or in-
 direct, from which a legitimate infer ence could be drawn that a single mem-
 Der of the general assembly of Illinois
 was corruptly influenced to vote for MT Lorimer.
 This was the conclusion of Senator l Julius Caesar Burrows of Michigan in 9. speech in the Senate today defending the
 majority report of the committee on
 privileges and elections, of which he Is I chairman, confirming the right of Sem I ator William Lorimer of Illinois to his seat in the Senate.
 In introducing his speech Senator Bur rows reminded the Senate that it was a court of 92 judges and that no member of that tribunal should permit his judg ment to be warped by public clamor. however boisterous were private appeals, however potential and commanding" "The labors of the committee con tinued Senator Burrows, were greatly | frightened and the scope of the investiga- ton materially curtaied by the adms- sion of counsel for the prosecution that it was not expected to connect Senator Lorimer with any acts of bribery. With this avowal there was no evidence sub mitted to the committee obtainable so far as known, including Senator Lormer in the bribery oy attempted bribery, if such there was, of any member of the legislature, nor was there any evidence that Senator Lorimer had any knowledge whatever that such bribery or attempted bribery was perpetrated by anyone" Review of the Case
 Senator Burrows then related the in- quiry into the integrity of the cleo tion" The testimony of Charles A. White, former member of the Illinois legislature, who wrote the first article in the Chicago Tribune on April 30, 1910 charging that Lee O'Neil Browne paid him S1oo0 to vote for Lorimer, came in for severe denunciation by Senator Bur rows.
 "Whatever impression the testimony of White may make on the Senate to the committee, the conviction was ir- resistible that if he told the truth to them he was devoid of all sense of honor or Sndne ana was ready tO lndke merchandise of his position, violate his oath of office, betray the people who trusted and elected him. and barter his vote to anybody for anything which would bring to him personal gain
 Tt is evident from cereful exam ination of the case that the testimony of the other witnesses who claim to have received money from Browne and Frederick was purposely so shaped as to corroborate Whites testimony.
 Michael Link said in his testimony before the committees and before the grand jury that under all circum- stances that the money he received from Browne was not compensation for his vote for Loriner. The whole power of the people of Illinois acting through their legal representative was brought to bear on Link to compel him to admit that he had received money on account of his vote for Lorimer.
 An Important Witness
 Another witness upon whose testi- mony great reliance is placed by those who are opposing Senator Lorimer is H. J. Beckemeyer. His testimony is as impi obable as Linkt.
 .Furthermore, il Is important to note that he was compelled to invent this story. He was taken to Chicago; taken before the grand jury and there persisted in his denial that he had re- ceived any money. He was then placed in charge of an officer, piled with liquor, taken to theatre, afterward to dsreputable house and by these means was induced, or compelled, to change his story under an assurance of immunity in case he did so. Any tes- timony or any statement that might be made by him under such circum- stances would be of little value, even | if uncontradicted
 'rhe only other witness whose testi- mony could be considered supporting the charges made against Senator Lori mer vas D. w. Holstlaw. His testimony | as to bribery is contradicted by Senator Brodcrick, and is impossible of belief even | ii uncontradicted by anyone BOrah Condemns Election
 Senator Borah followed MT. Burrows, contendng that corruption had charac- l He agreed with the chairman of the elec- | ton committee concerning the character | of Charles A. White, but argued that the circumstances afforded ample substantia-
 tion Of bis testimony in impeachment of | the election of the Illinois senator. He | declared that the famous Jack pot had been distributed by the same man who circulated the Lorimer fund.
 | Support of Lorimer supplied the means of admission to that fund.- he said. Continuing to discuss MT. Whites opin- 1 ions, MT. Borah asked:
 What was it that persuaded him to vote for Lorlmer? Was it friendship? ?