Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-23

Special by United Press Wire.
| Washington, Feb. 23:-It was
difficult early today to predict the
hour of the final vote in the senate
on the Lorimer case, as Lorimer
said he might reply to any one who
| questioned any of his statements.
Under the rules of the senate no
limit could be put on any of the
speeches and the prospect was for
another long session Of debate.
Reviewing his life from the days
when he was bootblack and news
boy On the streets of Chicago, Sena-
tor Lorimer, of Illinois, spoke In his
| own defense in the senate. He de-
| MED charges of bribery and corrup-
| ton in his election aind ascribed his
Democratic support In the Illinois
legislature to personal friendship.
Few men in politics have been called
| upon to tell how they built up ma
chimes or were willing, although forced
in tight places to reveal secrets that
Senator Lorimer passed over In detail
IN his recital. That he was a boss in
Chicago he did not try to conceal, and
the fact that his influence was power
full he ascribed to his efforts to be-
friend every person In need. He OBJ
tanned work for the unemployed, Kept
his word in politics and never turned
a deaf ear to any man who appealed
to him for financial or other assist
ance. Following these rules every day
made 1t possible to turn Chicago from
the Democratic to the Republican coli
rmn.
The most of this story senator Lori
mer told by way of explanation why
the fifty-thres Democratic votes were
cast for him for United States senator
by the Illinois legislature.
Senator Lorimer began by denying
accusations made by his opponents
that he conspired to organize the Illi-
nois legislature in his own behalf to
accomplish the defeat of Senator Hop
1ins. Almost at the outset of his
speech the Illinois senator found him
self in sharp colloquy with Senator
Crawford of South Dakota. Mr. Lori
mer had brought Governor Deneen's
name into the controversy, and Senator
Crawford insisted that the governor
ought to be called by the committee IL
any such statements as Senator Lori
mer was making were contemplated.
''It Is not my fault" he declared,
that Governor Deneen was not called
as a Witness"
This reply by Senator Lorimer put
check on any plan that his opponents
may have had to question him during
his speech.
Senator Lorimer took up the list of
Democrats who had voted for him
for senator, attributing the support of
most of them to personal friendship
and to the favorable impression he had
made on them by his advocacy of the
Mississippi valley waterway improve
ment plan. 1t was In this part of his
address that he gave an impressive
account of the growth of his political
machine in Chicago and of his own
power over that organization. The
accused senator explained his presence
at Springfield for d week or two pre-
ceding his election to the senate ON
the ground that he was there solely In
the interest of the passage of the pro-
posed waterway legislation.
In conclusion Mr.. Lorimer said:
tNo man ever charged, or can charge, |
that / was even remotely connected
with bribery or corrupt practices. /
was not. never have known of a !
dollar used to corrupt vote for me,
either for the senate or for any other
office. say this on my word of honor |
as a man. never gave promise of
anything, or knew of anything being |
given or promised. either of money or
anything else, as an inducement TO /
vote for me. | claim no more virtue
for myself than concede to any other
decent citizen. In my life of forty |
years | have tried as nearly as human
flesh can try to live life that would |
make me at least acceptable to the |
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