The Washington herald., 1911-01-06
BBQERIDGB TAKES
ISSUE ON L0RIMBR
Will Offer Minority Report
to the >enate.
HOLDS ELECTION ILLEGAL
Indiana Statesman to Submit Find
ings Next Monday-Completes Long
Investigation of Testimony and
Prepares RepOrt-LOrimer Creates
Stir in the Senate Chamber.

A minority report from the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, de-
claring that Senator William Lorimer, Of
Illinois. is not entitled to his seat in the
Senate because of corrupt practices in
securing votes for him in the Illinois
legislature, will be submitted to the Senate
by Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, when
the Senate meets Monday.
The Senator from Indiana, who has
been working on the voluminous testf-
mony in the case during the holiday re-
cess and maintaining silence as to his
plans, let it be known yesterday that he
will submit report and lead fight to
ouSt Lorimer.
John Callan OIL aughin, in dispatch
to the Chicago Tribune, says:
Senator Albert j. Beveridge, of Indi-
ana, will submit minority report to the
United States Senate on Monday next
declaring that William Lorimer was
elected to the seat he occupies as re-
suit of bribery and corrupt practices.
The decision of Senator Beveridge is
important from many points of view. In
the first place, it will give regularity to
the proceedings of those Senators who,
from their reading of the testimony, have
become convinced that Mr.. Lorimer OBJ
tained his seat through corruption. OF
members of the Senate to introduce mo-
tionS declaring vacant the seat filled by
Mr.. Lorimer and for the Senate to act
thereon; but, conservative as the Senate
Is IN the observance of customs of long
standing, it prefers to follow the eStab-
lished order, and this means it will more
favorably view consideration of a matter
upon which a minority report has been
made. In the second place, the fact that
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions is not unit in believing Mr. Lori
mer as white as the driven snow justi-
fies Senator'S in studying the question of
his election independently and arriving at
and. expressing their individual conclu-
Sions.
Decision Not Hurried.
Mr.. Beveridge's decision was not
reached hurriedly, as was the case with
other Senators of the full committee.
notably Senators Dillingham;, of Vermont;
Depew. of New York; Bailey, of Texas,
and Fletcher, of Florida, who accepted
the views of six of the seven members
OF the subcommittee without that care
full consideration of the testimony and |
the law which the Importance of the case
required.
I'm explaining his refusal to sign the |
majority report, Mr. Beveridge stated in |
the open Senate that it was utterly i'm |
poSSlDle lot MIN TO examine with any |
kind of care the testimony taken by the |
subcommittee in the one and one-half |
working days allowed to him and other |
members of the full committee, a po-
siton readily understood by unbiased |
Senators when they learned that the !
testimony made up volume of 74S pages
closely printed, and the briefs of counsel
nearly 500 pages more
For sixteen days Mr. Beveridge de-
voted n of all
the testimony and of the law involved.
1t is now know that he has come to the
conclusion that the majority report should
not be allowed to stand.
''The lack of delicacy which has char
acterized Mr. Lorimer's conduct since the
investigation has been in progress was
emphasized to-day when he appeared on
the floor of the Senate, although he
anticipated that that body would resolve
itself into a court to discuss his right to
hold the title given him by the Jackpot
legislature. His appearance was greeted
with looks of curiosity and surprise. He
entered the chamber alone and slowly
and nonchalantly took his seat in the
far corner of Cherokee strip Save for
a noticeable paleness of feature. Mr..
I+orimer appeared to be as calm and
unconcerned with mundane strife as the
chaplain himself. Looking at nobody in
particular. and most of the time straight
before him, the Senator sat motionlesS
throughout the brief proceedings ending
with adjournment out of respect for the
death of Senator Elkins.
Presence Causes Comment.
The presence of Lorimer was noticed
by all and commented on by some of his
colleagues.
why doesn't the man resign Or keep
away said one of the regular Repub-
lican Senators from the West, who. after
reading the testimony, has decided to
vote against Lorimer. I'm sure that il :
1 were in his Shoes I'd want to be a !
hundred miles away
With adjournment the Senators broke ]
ur into groups and gradually left the {
chamber. But Lorimer remained in his V
seat, alone in that part of the chamber. q
and still immovable, save for Il slow
turning of the head as he looked about
at his departing colleagues. If this was G
intended by tina Senator for the pose of I
pathos. it must be admitted that he /
succeeded in obtaining the /
desired effect. For though he maintained O
his receptive attitude in a position of v
prominent loneliness for full ten min a
utes, not one of his colleagues ventured
forward to extend him greetings. Gradu- T
ally the gossiping groups of Senators b
dissolved John Hannah, secretary to v
Senator La Toilette, passed hurriedly s
but, but not without encountering Mr.. r
Lorimer, who smiled and grasped the p
hand. Then Senator Burton,
one Of the regulars who is scheduled to
,peak against the Illinois Senator turned
around and discovered Mr.. Lorimer sit
ing behind him. He shook hands with
he man under fire and hastened on. ! y
Lorimer then rose and sauntered out, | \
|haking hands as he passed with Senator
Beveridge, who will present the minority NJ
'eport. b
'Outside in the corridor Mr.. Lorimer E
'eceived no warmer reception than with 81
n, and after talking to one or two Ii
newspaper men he returned to his Office"