The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-10
FIGHT
OPENED IN THE
SENATE
Beveridge Filed Minority Report
Yesterday
LORIMER DEFENDS HIMSELF
Manner Of His Election Scathlngly
Arraiqned by Senator Owen Of
Oklahoma

Washington, Jan. 1O.--The fight to
prevent Senator Lorimer of Illinois
retaining his seat in the United
States Senate was opened yesterday
with a contest between Senators Bev-
eridge of Indiana and owen Of Okla
homa, both Of whom contested for the
right to fire the first gun in the same
cause.
Senator Beverage by virtue of be-
ing member of the committee on
privileges and elections, which inves-
tigated charges of bribery against
Mr.. Lorimer, gained a tacit victory
by filing a minority report attacking
the position of his colleagues Of the
committee who voted to eXonerate
the Illinois senator.
Senator Owen, however. introduced
resolution to declare the election OF
Senator LOrimer 10 have been Illegal
and void but he was not permitted to
address the Senate in its support. The
Senate held that the resolution, under
the rules would have to so over.
Mr.. Beyerdge then submitted his
report the conclusion of which was:
That this election was Invalid un-
der any possible view OF the law. II
the Senate so concludes II is our duty
so To declare Therefore. submit
the following resolution:
Resolved. That William Lorimer
was not duly and legally elected to "a
SCAT In the Senate of the United
States by the Legislature of the State
OF Illinois"
Before the report was fl ed Senator
Lorimer made a brief speech declar.
ing his innocence OF bribery and the
| innocence of his friends of any parti
cipation In corrupt practices in con.
nection with his election. He an
nounced his intention to be present
during the discussion OF his case.
After the morning business had
been concluded in the Senate Mr.
owen again gained the floor and
made the speech which he had at
TEMPTED to deliver earlier In the day
Mr.. Owen made a scratching arraign
ment of the manner in which Mr.. Lor
liner was elected, and asserted the
Testimony taken by the rules commit
tee which Investigated the case show
ed that at least ten votes of the Jos
received by Mr. Lorimer should no
have been counted Other senators
who are known TO oppose the reten
ton by MIR. Lorimer OF his seat have
not claimed that more than sever
votes we're tainted. Under the Gil
cumstances attending the election o
MIR. Lorlmer by the Legislature of Il
lnois. Mr.. owen said that he be
lieved II to be his duty to the peop
! OF Oklahoma, TO the Senate OF th
, United States and to the American
/ people to move the Senate TO decar
the "so-called election of Mr.. Lorime
void on account OF the corrupt pfa'
tees above set forth
At the close Of his speech and Il
I presenting his resolutions declarin
the election OF Air. Iorimer to hay
been Illegal and void Mr.. Owen said
Il believe there was wholesal
corruption and bribery used in pre-
curing the election of Mr.. borime
and that Il has been abundanuy prov
en-, and that the effort to break dow
, the corroborating mass of Intervene
evidence above cited by rebuttal ha
failed.
Il believe II Mr. Lorimer should r.
: tain his seat under these painful eli
cumstances Il would lower the Unite
. states Senate IN the esteem Of tn
: American people. | believe the tim
: has come when the American peopl
will approve stern measures In dea
INK with bribery and with CORFU
!. conduct in public affairs, and ! thin
9 II better for all the people that ther
!: should be an end made to the ele
[ ton OF sensators by The sinister con
!. mercal forces Of the republic