New-York tribune., 1911-01-10
ROOT TO LEAD FIGHT
TO UNSEAT LOR|MER
Will Oppose Acceptance of CON-
mittee's Report to Exonerate
Illinois Senator.
IN ACCORD WITH PRESIDENT
Fight to Gust Westerner Opens
with Skirmish Between Bev-
eridge and owen-Minor-
ity Report Presented.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, Jan. 9.-Senator Root has
determined to take the floor and speak
in opposition to the retention by Will
lam Lorimer Of his seat In the Senate.
Mr. Root has made a thorough exami
nation Of the evidence. and while he has
not completed his labors he has gone far
enough to warrant his assuring the
President that he will speak in opposi-
tion to the acceptance OF the committee
report generating the Senator from ILL
nois This is doubtless the most impor-
tant development Of the day, as the at
titude OF Mr.. Root will go far toward
effecting the unseating Of the Illinois
Senator. Both the legal ability and the
conservative character Of the Senator
from New York are appreciated by his
colleagues, and while the more conserva-
tive members Of the Senate might be dis
posed TO take with several grains OF al
lowance the charges and arguments or
some Of the insurgent Senators, they
will receive Mr.. Roots tudgme' . with
attention, ana Ills Nlc"S win t'f~
weight with all. In taking tbs p, Mr..
Root is acting in entire accordance with
the President. who has been for scme
time convinced that the finding OF the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
was not in accordance with the facts as
disclosed by the investigation. I
After a thorough review Of the testi-
mony a number of the more conserva-
tive Senator'S have come TO the conclu-
sion that the corruption Of the Illinois
Legislature to which Senator Lorimer
owed his election was such that II cam
not be overlooked. despite the fact that
II is not the business OF the Senate to
enter into the question Of corruption In
state affairs. The opinion that the ex-
tent of the bribery shown in the testi-
mony is sufficient ground for declaring
the election invalid has become convic-
tion with manv, and the pronouncement
of Senator Root, in view of his qualih-
cations as a lawyer, on the legality OF
such action by the Senate VIII probably
be the determining factor in the Sem
ate's decision.
Fiaht to Gust Lorimer Opens.
The fight to oust Senator Lorimer and
declare his seat vacant opened to-day
with a preliminary skirmish, IN which
Senator owen and Senator Beverage
scrambled for the distinction Of being
the first to enter the fray.
Senator owen submitted a resolution
declaring the seat vacant, but before ne
could deliver his speech in support OF MS
motion Senator Beveridge, by Insisting
on the observance Of the regular order,
cleared the way for his minority report
as a member OF the Committee on PrlV-
ileges and Elections. The report whlch
was read 10 the Senate, closed with
resolution that William Lorimer was not
duly and legally elected to seat IN the
Senate of the United States.
Senator Lorimer himself. foreseeing
the beginning OF the storm, took occa'
sion TO declare Immediately after the
opening Of the session that. knowing that
bis election was valid. he purposed to re-
main In the chamber in order later to re-
nlv TO the charges made against him.
We EXPRESSED the hope that his presence
would not embarrass any Of the Sena-
tors who chose TO speak on the subject.
The parliamentary tangle in the Senate
os N who OF the two Senator'S desiring
20 omen the attack on Senator Lorimer
sbould have precedence was not settled
until after an appeal had been taken
from n ruling by Vice. President Sherman
nd he had been reversed.
Report Reviews Testimony.
The Beveridge report reviews the testi-
roonv bearing on the alleged acceptance
~ bribes by four members of the Legis-
lature and the testimony OF these men
that the bribes had been paid by three
other members. The minority report de-
cIares that II is an undisputed fact OF
conclusive force. although the majority
IGNORES II, that the confessed bribe-
takers were shown to have had In their
possession. In bills OF large denomina-
tions. unusually large sums OF money
soon after the dates when they swore to
having received the alleged bribes This
statement is made in reply to the con-
tention OF the majority that the men
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