Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-04
.LOR|MER FACES WAR
Nine Senators to Oppose His
Retention of Seat.
THREE METHODS IN VIEW
No Settled Policy. However, Has
Been Agreed Upon.
BEvERIDGE MAY LEAD FIGHT
Indianian Is Member Of Committee
on Privileges and Elections.
His Views Desired.

I Ills V4CwS OGSlICUs
! Three methods of challenging the right
of Senator William Lcrimer of Illinois to
his seat in the upper house of Congress.
despite the report of the Senate COM
mittee on privileges and elections up
holding the legality of his election, are
being considered by his foes.
One is to call for a direct vote of the
Senate on the adoption of the report in
favor of Mr.. Lormer, or upon minority
report in opposition to him. Thi. course
might also be taken by a motion declar-
ing his election illegal, as Senator Borah
has suggested
second Is to move that the whole
matter be recommitted to the committee
on privileges and elections, which made
the investigation, for further considera-
ton. In opposition to this plan, 1t is
suggested that the committee would de-
cline on the ground that 1t has done all
the investigating 1t regards necessary.
Third Alternative Suggested.
A third is to move the appointment of
an entirely new committee either to COM
plete the investigation or to make an
Ch'liUlS lc" CuppOII VI Tic
second plan urge that the third plan is
too direct slap at a Senate committee
a number of conservative senator's have
talked over informally the advantages
and drawbacks of each plan, but they
have arrived at no decision. Some OF
them want to make further study of
the record before they determine upon
the course they will pursue. There Is no
doubt that many senators have been
spending much time in poring over the
record and law precedents which are
cited
One of the difficulties in the way of
united action among those opposed to the
acceptance of the majority report Is the
divergence of the views upon the investi-
CATION and the conclusions held by diff
ferent senators. Senator Crawford, for
instance, says that he is convinced by
the record that there was corruption in
the election of Mr.. Lorimer and that his
election was not legal. Senator Burton,
OH the other hand, is quoted as saying
that the investigation lacked thorough
ness.
Differences in Committee.
Another divergence of views was shown
in the committee on privileges and cleo
tions which made the report favorable to
Mr.. Lorimer. The majority held that the
number Of tainted votes was not sufficient
to cut down the total number cast for
Mr.. Lorimer below a majority and
thereby nSIllify the election. Senator
Frazier took the view that sufficient
number of votes were shown to be taint-
ed to cut the total below a majority.
1t is suggested by some. also, that any
corruption in the election, even II 1t
tainted directly only one vote. was suf-
ficient to nullify the election, on the
pered with if election were possible with
out. Others. however. contend that an
election by untainted votes ought not to
be made invalid simply because there
was corruption of some votes not needed
for the election.
There are some, too, who are not in
favor of the immediate adoption of the
majority report. because they believe
whole matter. While the White House
has been officially silent on the matter,
it is understood that President Taft is
urging such a course. He has told Sena
tors. it is understood, that he is strongly
opposed to any whitewash, and that the
situation can best be clarified by an open
discussion.
Object to Form of Report.
Some senators who have been poring
over the briefs and records in the case
are making adverse criticism of the in
vestigation They say. in the first place
that the record has been presented to the
Senate in bad form. thrown at the Sen
ate like a deck of cards for the Senate
to arrange i'll order. There is practically
no index Of the record. it is contended
and start in an examination of the
case involves the reading of many hun
dreds of pages of printed testimony and
legal citations.
1t is also believed by some that ths
committee has not given due cOnsidera-
ton TO general principles of law involved.
It.
be considered in determining the legality
Of the election. they say, and they must
be regarded in arriving at just decision.
There is also some dissatisfaction with
the precedents which appear to have been
followed by the investigating committee
1t is cOntended that some Of the decisions
cited as precedents were made for purely
political craftsmanship. and no weight
should be given to such decisions In
opposition to this view, 1t has been said
that questioning of these precedents
might involve retrial of the old cases,
and such proceedings have no proper
place in the current matter
| Nine Senators in Opposition.
Statements made by senator's today and
during the past few days indicate that
eight and possibly nine senator's will
| favor one of the three plans of opposition
to the majority report or some similar
action III oppOSltlOU lie eight are Sena-
| tors Crawford, Owen. BOrah, Bristow.
| Cummins, Burton, Warner and Frazier
| The ninth, whose course is still not
| known. is Senator Beveridge The In
diana senator has been devoting himself
| almost exclusively to study of the Lor-
| inner investigation since Congress ad-
jOurned for the recess two weeks ago
He is going into every phrase of the case
| AS he is a member of the committee on
| privileges and elections. it Is believed
/ "a Of
tor Lorimer will be postponed until his
decision is known. Should he conclude
| that the election was illegal, upon him
would naturally fall the leadership of the
opposition fight. Should he, however, de-
eide TO support the majority report 1t Is
| thought the leader of the opposition will
| be progressive
! The fight against the retention of his
| seat by Senator Lorimer is likely to begin
tomorrow upon the reassembling Of Con-
| gress.
N0EC tn uAnnE TDYnYYNaY