The Detroit times., 1911-01-06
NOW LIKE
SEN.L0RIMERW |L['
GET THE HOOK
Gibson Gardner Says Illinois Man
Will Probably Lose His Seat in
Spite of Attempt To
Whitcwash Him.
Progressives Lead Fight and Stand
patters Are Joining Movement
To Gust Him.
BY gibson GARDNER.


Lorimer OF Illinois will probably lose
his seat in the United States senate.
This In spite OF the attempt at white
washing made by the special privilege
members of the jenate's committee
on privileges and elections.
That the majority report on the
Lorimer case will be rejected by the
senate is an astonishing fact which
now appears TO be well within the
grounds of belief. The decent ele.
ment in the senate, rejecting an
aroused public conscience, Is prepar-
ing to lay the majority report on the
table and send Mr.. Lorimer back 60
Chicago a private citizen.
Lorimer is in the peculiar position
OF finding himself damned by the re-
port which was intended TO be friend
~ Senator Burrows and his col.
leagues on the committee, like Depaw
and Joe Bailey OF Texas, rested their
defense of Lorimer On legal tech
nicalties. They did not deny that
an element of fraud entered into the
election, but they took the position
that there were enough votes to elect
without the purchased votes. They
fell back also on certain presidents
which they claimed were conclusive.
Finally they attempted to railroad
the verdict. The subcommittee which
made the investigation formulated Its
report, which was adopted by the ma
jority OF the committee before the
majority or anybody else had time to
even read the testimony.
Progressoives in the senate at once
took UP the fight. AS a member OF
the committee. Senator Beverage an
nounced on the floor OF the senate
that he refused to be bound by any
report made by the committee. expos
Ing in his statement the attempt TO
railroad the majority verdict He
announced that he would start in at
once to read the testimony and would
make his report when he had the
facts all well in hand.
Other members of the senate
men like IBorah, Bristow, and I.aFol-
lette-started in at once to read the
testimony. and to prepare speeches to
be delivered as soon as the report
should be brought up for considera-
ton early in January The con-
ciusions formulated by these sena-
tors were briefly these;
The session of the Illinois legisla-
ture at which Lorimer was elected
was VIGOROUSLY as corrupt a session
as ever seen in that or any other
state.
That the senatorial contest was
marked by all the evidences of the
use OF money in corrupt ways.
That the election of Lorimer was
accomplished In defiance of a sena-
torial primary which had indicated a
popular preference for another can
di6ate.
That the combination which elect.
ed Lorimer was a bipartisan affair
whose only coordination and amalga-
nation was the force of corrupting
influences.
That the plain inference from all
facts showed that Lorimer's selection
vas due to money.
That there is nothing to indicate
Lorimer's innocence or ignorance Of
the use of money in his behalf.
That creditable confessions and d.
rect testimony convinced even the
majority of the senate committee OF
the corrupt faint attached to num-
beI OF the Lorimer votes.
That there are no preceents bind
Ing on the senate, IndI DOuy DelnS
sole Judge of the qualifications of its
members.
That standards of ordinary hon
esty and responsibility require the
senate to protect itself against Lori
rnerism.
The fight which was taken up so
vigorously by the progressive group
in the senate has already found re.
.cruits among members OF the SEN
ate ordinarily classified as reaction
airy members. Burton Of Ohio Is said
to be preparing arguments in favor
OF a minority report in the Lorimer
case, and 1t has been reported in ad-
ministration circles that even Root
and Lodge were considering move
ment in the direction of the band
wagon.
One of the earliest speeches to be
delivered on the subject will be that
of Senator Borah, and II is safe TO
predict that some things which Borah
says will caus ethe old state Of Illl-
nois to sit up and rub her spectacles.