Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-01-13
HOLDS LOR|MER'S
ELECTION IS VOID
8everidge Files Minority Report,
Says Votes Tainted.
ILLINOIS MAN DENIES GUILT
Makes Short Speech Declaring Him.
self and Friends innocent of
ticipatina in Any Cor
rupt Practices.

Washington.-The opening of the
fight to GUST Senator Lorimer from his
seat in the senate began with clash
between Senator Owen of Oklahoma,
who demapd ed the floor on a question
Of the highest privilege" and Mr.. Bev-
eridge, who insisted upon his right
first to file minority report, in order
that the record in the case might be
complete.
Senator Beveridge, by virtue Of be-
ing member of the committee on
privileges and elections which investi-
gated charges of bribery against Mr..
Lorfmer, gained a tactical victory by
filing minority report attacking the
position Of his colleagues on the com
mittee who voted to exonerate the ILL
nois senator
Senator Owen, however, introduced
resolution to declare the election of
Senator Lorimer to have been illegal
and void, but he was not permitted at
that time to address the senate in it's
support. The senate held that the
resolution under the rules would have
to go over one day
Mr.. Beveridge then submitted his
report, the conclusion of which was:
That this election was invalid un-
der any possible view of the law. If
the senate so concludes it is our duty
so to declare. Therefore | submit the
following resolution:
Resolved, That William Lorimer
was not duly and legally elected to a
seat in the senate Of the United
States by the legislature of the state
Of Illinois,"
Before the report was filed Senator
Lotrmer made 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
The parliamentary tangle as to
which Of the two senators desiring to
open the attack on Senator Lorimer
should have precedence was not set
tied until after an appeal had beer ia
ken from ruling by Vice-President
Sherman and he had been reversed
The Beverage minority report re-
views the testimony bearing on the
alleged acceptance of brides by four
members of the legislature, and the
testimony of these men that the
brides had been paid by three other
members
The report declares that it is an I'M
disputed fact of conclusive force, al
though the majority ignores it, that
the confessed bride takers were shown
to have had in their possession, in
bills of large denominations, unusual
ly large sums of money soon after the
dates when they swore to having re-
ceived the alleged brides.
This statement is made in reply to
the contention of the majority that
the men who confessed to having re-
ceived brides were not to be be-
lteved
The minority report argues that
only majority vote under the cir
cumstances in the Lorimer case would
be necessary to declare the seat va
that the evidence in the case requires
the senate to consider whether Mr..
Lorimer was informed of what was
going on in his behalf IF 1t were
shown that Mr.. Lorimer possessed
such information, Mr.. Beverage ar
CUES that the senate shokld vote to
expel, which would require a two
thirds vote.
Discussing Mr.. Lorimers connec-
ton with the election, Mr. Beveridge
points out that Mr.. Lorimer was "a
seasoned politician" and that he was
ION the ground during the session of
the legislature" Mr. Lorimer Is de-
clared to have been the intimate" of
Browne, charged with having been
one of the principal bride givers.
The report concludes with a resoIu-
ton declaring Lorimer's election in
valid.