Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-07
OHIO SENATOR SEES RANK COR.
RUPTIoN IN ILLINOIS LEalsLA.
TURE AND HINTS AT THIRTY
TAINTED VOTES.
DEFENDS CULLOM,S
ELECTION TO SENA Tk
SENATOR BAILEY,
BURTON SAYS LoRlMER's COL.
LEAGUE WAS CLEARLY THE
CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

Washington, D. G., Feb. GA de-
Tense of Senator Cullom of Illinois
formed part of an address made In the
senate today by Senator Theodore
Burton Of Ohio. in opposition to the re-
port Of the committee on privileges
and elections, by which Senator Lori
mer was exonerated from the charge
of obtaining his seat by means of bril-
berry.
The reference to Senator Cullom,
who Is Senator Lorimer's colleague,
was called out by a statement made
by Senator Bailey of Texas in the SEN
ate last Friday. Mr.. Bailey, who sup
ports Mr. Lorimer, said that the
means used to elect Mr. LOrimer were
the same as had been employed in the
election OF Mr.. Cullom.
Mr.. Burton said:
"The senator from Texas, no doubt
unwittingly, did an injustice to the
senior senator from Illinois in aver
ring that If Mr.. Lorimer's election is
invalid. SO Is that OF the senior sena-
tor. Mr.. Cullom was nominated at =
primary by majority OF $4,000 votes.
1t would be most unjust to him to COM
pare the circumstances with the COT
rupt methods Of the legislature OF
1909."
Precedents Invaildate Election.
The senator took position against
Senator Lorimer largely on legal
grounds. He proceeded upon the the
ory that certain facts had been proven
and then undertook to show through
precedents established in the United
States and Great Britain that the cleo.
tion by the Illinois legislature had
been tainted and was therefore In
valid
Among other points discussed was
that as to whether the receipt OF
money after the casting Of vote con-
stitutes bribery, and it was held that
1t does.
"If," said the speaker, chose who
received such money were free from
corrupt intent, they certainly would
mot have received it after the votes
were cast"
Meeting the contention that the evil
dence given by bribe takers cannot be
maintained in connection with the case
the Ohio senator declared that no such
rule now prevails. 1T belongs rather to
crude state of society" he proceeded.
"To maintain it would mean that the
most serious offenders against the
public must go unpunished; 1t ignores
the difference in the comparative guilt
Of those engaged in the same unlawful
enterprise"
Says Lorimer Shared In Corruption.
Mr.. Burton did not accept the state
ment of Mr.. Lorimer's friends that II
there had been bribery that gentle
man had not used 1t. He said:
"Who will assert, In the face Of all
the testimony of Mr.. Brownies prom
ises of money, of his control over these
members and HIS previous transactions
that his action was not corrupt or that
Mr.. Lorimer did not share in that cor
ruption? 1t is conceded by the defend
ers OF Mr. Lorimer that a state Of cor
ruption was rife in the Illinois legisla-
ture. While conceding the rank cor.
ruption which prevailed, In which
Browne and others Of those who voted
for Lorimer were prominent figures.
they deny that this applies to the sem
atorial election.
tTn the first place, there is little or
no testimony showing that fraud was
prevented or prompted by the exls-
tence of this Jackpot II there was
anything for which money was paid.
1t was for the election of senator.
without their votes Mr.. Lorimer could
not have marshalled majority"
Secs Thirty Questionable Votes.
Summing I'D his conclusion, Mr.. Bur.
ton found it particularly evident that
fraud was so rampant in this election
that it is impossible to separate the
sound votes from the unsound votes
When" he added, there is indubitable
proof as here, that bribery had been
resorted to, no one can drive from the
cesspool OF corruption any conclusion
that no election was had. Undoubted
proof is available, not only to show
that sufficient number Of bribed per.
sons cast the votes for Lorimer to In.
inyalidate his election, but also that on
other grounds than this there was NOT
a valid choice. There are strong argu'
ments to sustain a presumption that
possibly thirty votes were cast under
the influence Of bribery"