Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-02-24
LoRIMER MAKES DEFENSE.
Remarkable Incident In United States
Senate Last Wednesday.


nesday in person made his defense
against the charge that his election to
the senate Of the United States was
accomplished by the bribery and cor
ruption of the legislature of the state
Of Illinois. His defense was a general
and emphatic denial delivered with
more than ordinary eloquence and fer
vor.
With almost every senator in his
seat, and in the presence of a great
crowd Of members of the house of
on the senate floor and
of spectators in the densely packed
galleries, he made a speech Of four
hours duration, and even his bitterest
opponents admitted that 1t was a very
able, we'll sustained and dramatic ut
terance.
Some Of those who heard the speech,
who have been In and about the
senate for many years said that there
never had been anything just like 1t.
Mr.. Lorimer's speech was distinctly
human interest story" More than
once there were evidences that the
speech was moving some Of his hear
ers to tears.
What effect, If any, the speech will
have upon the vote in the senate, 1t
Is Of course, impossible to say. The
general impression about the capitol
Is that Mr.. Lorimer and his friends
have safely pledged the votes with
which to defeat the resolution which
would declare his seat vacant, and
result will be a Lorimer victory.
It Is not impossible that Lorimer's
opponents may be able to prevent the
matter coming to a vote at all before
adjournment. It was said that this
was in fact the plan the anti-Lorimer
people would try to carry out.
During the more than four hours
that Mr.. Lorimer occupied the floor he
reviewed practically all the charges
which have been made against him.
self.
He took up in turn the opprobrious
differences drawn from his intimacy
with Speaker Shurtleff and Lee O'Neill
Browne, his attendance upon the ses-
sions of the Illinois legislature and his
presence in Shurtleff's rooms, under
taking to show that In each instance
his course had been natural and in the
line Of the performances Of other pub
lie men under like circumstances.
In the former connection he related
more than one story going to show at
tachment running over many years.
This portion Of the address appealed
strongly to the feelings of senators.
but when Senator Crawford intimated
that the Illinois senator was making a
bid for sympathy he resented the i'm
putation and turned the question to his
own advantage by declaring that his
only purpose was to set before the SEN
ate the truth. 1t was not a matter OF
sympathy, he said, but Of right and
wrong.
Mr.. Lorimer undertook to show also
how his advocacy Of the Lakes to the
Mississippi waterway had caused many
members Of the legislature to be par
tial to him. He said that he had made
an effort to induce Gov. Deneen to be-
come a candidate to break the senato-
rial deadlock, and, in effect he declared,
that If Deneen had been 80 inclined he
could have elected Hopkins by throw
ing his vote to him. One or two allu-
sions were made to the prosecution OF
the case and his enemies were referred
to as "assassns of character" Mr..
Lorimer asserted emphatically that not
only had he not used money to infiu-
ence his election, but that on his honor
he knew of none having been so en-
ployed.
The galleries would hold only small
proportion Of those who sought admit
lance Hundreds stood In line through
out the speech, devouring every word
that filtered through the galleries and
waiting for the seats of those who
might weary and leave.
The number of the spectators and
would be spectators was not their only
o1o, or HSnniptv"
known in Washington, was out In
force. Mrs. Taft herself, and a party
occupied seats in the executive GAL
lery. The diplomatic gallery was fill
ed with representatives of various ma
tions.
The crowd on the floor Of the SEN
ate itself was almost as great as that
which choked the galleries. Members
Of the house were massed In the rear
Of the chamber and around the side
walls. At one time 81 members of the
lower body were listening to the
speech. From the cabinet there came
Attorney General Wickersham.
On a few occasions laughter rang
through the chamber. Quite chuckle
spread among the less dignified In the
chamber, when the speaker with
sweep of his arm, knocked his glass OF
water on the floor, freely bedewing
senators in the immediate neighbor-
hood.
The names of many Democrats were
mentioned as among those who had
voted for him because Of personal
friendship. Among these was Senator
Broderick who, Mr.. Lorimer said, had
been for many years, even when
newspaper assassins Of character,
were then as now trying to destroy
him. II never got one vote under
false pretenses. No Democrat was
ever deceived into the belief that
would cooperate with the Democrats
in congress. So it was not through
deception that any Of them were led 10
vote for me-" Mr.. Lorimer declared.
Most dramatic was Senator Lori
mer's recital Of his first acquaintance
with "Hinky Dick" McKenna, who
when Lorimer was a bootblack and
newsboy. compelled at the age OF ten
to earn his living on the streets, came
to his rescue and saved him from the
loss of a bundle of Chicago Tribunes.
It meant a loss Of $3.50 to him, the
sneaker said, and that dollar and
half meant more to me, Senator ROOT,
than a million dollars would mean to
some men now. 1 don't know whether
the senator from New York (Mr. RooD
or the senator from South Dakota
(Mr. Crawford) know what 1t means to
come up through circumstances like
that"
Senator Crawford rose to his feet.
The interest was intense; every person
in the galleries leaned forward; many
rose.
"Mr. President, does the senator
imagine himself the only senator VINO
came up through hardship and power
ty? Is he appealing for sympathy on
that scorer"
Il want no sympathy" shouted Sen,
ator Lorimer. A great sigh passed
over the senate chamber. This is not
a question of sympathy; 1t Is ques-
ton of right and wrong. / am only
wondering If some senator's understand
how conditions like these can give rise
to life long friendships"
"Hinky Dick" McKenna 1t appeared,
was the Democratic leader in the DIS
trict represented by State Senator John
Griffin. Mr. Lorimer explained now
this lifelong friendship led Mckenna
to promise and deliver the vote OF
Griffin to Lorimer.
"If this senate" continued Mr.. Lori
mer, with a sweep Of his arm. can
halieve me to be the low vile creature