Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-04-06
WILLIAM LORTNER

With kindest personal regards, am.
Very truly yours.
WILLIAM LORtMER
II his testimony before tho committee.
/ White admitted that in sending the letter
70 Senator Lormcr he hoped to receive =
reply that would be Of advantage
to him, adding. + had no evidence ar1inet
Senator T.orimrr directly and had up
dealing. with him" He subsequently sold
the article to the Chicago Tribune for
$500 ard tho publication Of a portion Of
tho same, that relating to his own alleged
infamv in accepting hrihe from Browne
became the basis for the Investigation
ordered by the Senate of the United
States
Upon the strength of Whites charges
Rrowne was indicted for having bribed
LIN to vote for Senator Lorimer and was
duly tried upon that charge, White testi
Tying at the trial. but browne was ac
quilted 10y a jury of his peers and it is
significant fact that he has a1ain been
elected to the legislature Of Ill:onis by
| his constituents and Is now member of
that body. Willie Wa not only impeaohed
H.. that verdict but stands inpeached by
rumherleSs circumstances surrounding
mis- actions. In addition to the money
which he says he received from Browne,
ic says he received t351 from one Wilson
aloo a member II the Illinois Legislature
and this he admitted he supposed came
ION corruption fund III the legislature.
hnown as tho lack pot, n FUN cXtortcd
rom parties Interested in pending lesiela-
ton IN considerable OF aid in rctardu-
or speeding legislation, as the case might
| Re
Three other members Of the Illinois
legislature We're dragged into the CON
! trovcrsy in ono way or another. charged
| with having received money in consider
alton for having voted for Senator Lori
nier all Of whom say that they received
| money either from Browne or Wilson or
from both, substantially at the same time
nd under the same conditions rs those
Narrated by White. The only question 10
Re determined was whether the money
which they and White so received was
| paid them because they voted for Lori
rer or whether It was from the so-called
lack pot" and for other aud entirely
! different reasons Upon this question the
seven United States senators before
ramed summoned and heard every wit
ness whose name was suggested. They
! came face TO face with all the witnesses
and had fun opportunity TO Judge OF
! their character and truthfulueSf
/ Having fully weighed the evidence an
/ reached their conclusions. senator Frazier
was found to stand alon- in his opinion
that tho facts and circumstances sur
: - ~
in believing that they received the money
as "A bride in consideration for their hnv
ing voted for Senator Lorimcr. although
as before stated, he lad failed to ind tina
! T,ormcr was personally guilty Of bribery
or other corrupt practices, or that he wa
cognizant OF such actions on the part OF
others. Senator Fraziers six associates
! however. were unable 20 agree with hin
! in his conclusions but were Of the op'n
| ion that these men did not receive sue
money In consideration for having vote,
| for Senator Lormer ! gave careful study
to all the evidence IN the case nnc
am impressed with the conviction tina
! however corrupt these persons may have
been, the money that was paid then
came from sources unconneCted with the
I.orimer election aud was received by
them for reasons wholly unconnectsd
with their reasons for voting for senator
| lorimer.
To analy2e the testimony In the case
! would he to occupy the entire space OF the
Herald and News and have been Obliged
to content my self with giving this hriei
outline Of tho case and the grounds upon
! Witch | reached my conclusions. wan
to add however, that II Is slSnlhcahI
| fact, and one that confirmed me IN my
Judgment, that when tho roll was called
IN the Senate. senator Cuilom, who ha'
served the state Of IllionotS for forty
years with distinction and courage and
whose private ne has been unblemshed
voted in favor oc the proposition that his
colleague was entitled to retain his seat
| was clear in MY Judgment that thu
charges had not been sustained, and Il
have voted to unseat Senator lorime'
| would have been against my judgmen
| and a violation OF my conscience.
Thanking YOU for your courtesy an(
| your kindnes. I'm this matter, am,
Sincerely yours,
| WILLIAM =. plLLlNGliA AN.
Montpelier, Vt, March p, 1911