New-York tribune., 1911-01-19
BORAH SCORES LOR|MER
Idaho Senator insists Charges OF
Corruption Were Proved.
AN ANSWER TO BURROWS
Saws Conclusions of Senate Com.
mittee Exonerating Lorimer
Are III Founded.
Lrrom % Trihun. Hnrcan l

Il lNlu ANf ITlRuON 'uI'dAsl
Washington, Jan. 1S.--The fight TO unsea
Senator Lorimer approached dramatic
crisis to-day in a speech delivered by Sena
tor Borah attacking the conclusions OF th'
report Of the Senate committee which dis
missed the charges ot corruption anc
bribery
The speech was a scorching rejoinder K
The defence OF the committees action by
Senator Burrows earlier In the day, and
Scathing denunciation Of what Senator
Borah characterized IS a machine, "con'
trolled and directed by powerful mind,
which carried on its corrupt operations In
the Legislature and even in the courts W
TO the time II was exposed by the confes'
sons Of the witnesses summoned by tho
Senate investigating committee.
Senator Lorimer himself scarcely stirred
IN his seat at the extreme corner OF the
chamber throughout the session which was
practically given up TO the fight Although
apparently unperturbed during his defence
and the bitter attack by Senator Borah. his
cheeks were flushed and his eyes followed
intently every movement Of the speakers
The galleries filed as the fight wore on
Interest IN the dramatic proceedings was
50 apparent that Senator Hepburn. after a
tllt with Senator Borah, declared with some
heat that he did not purpose "to have the
effect OF Senator Borah.s speech measured
by the laughing and snickering Of the gal
lerieS"
Senator Burrows, in his long speech.
sought TO show that there was no testimony
connecting Senator Lorimer with the al
legged bribery. and that the character OF
The witnesses considered in conjunction
with the methods used by the states at
torney TO secure confessions. was such
that their testimony was not to be taken
literally. He referred TO the severe as
saults made upon the committee. and closed
by invoking the utterance Of Roscoe Conk-
ling In another bribery investigation: I'VE
must keep within the law"
Senator Borah took not only the oppo-
site view 10 Senator Burrows. hut drew
conclusions hostile TO Senator Lorlmer more
extreme than any yet suggested on the
hoor Of the Senate. BY careful analysis
of the testimony he sought to prove the ac-
curacy Of the confessions before the Lnves-
legations by circumstartiaI evidence Of
tered in confirmation such as letters. tele-
grams and the passing Of money. He de-
olared that In an investigation Of this kind
one could not expect 20 find witnesses Of
the highest character. hut that in this
case the circUmstoutial certainty with
which the transactions are related corrobo-
rated beyond question the veracity OF the
witnesses.
He found that the testimony connects
tho Jackpot" with the alleged bribery IN
the Lorlrner election snd that in the uni
verssl condition Of corruption which ex-
listed m the Illinois Legislature the men 10
whom the Lorimer money was paid were
admitted 70 share in the proceeds Of tho
.kpot.' He asserted that as White had
.-grrentIy managed the southern wing Of
'.o ,orrupt machine, not only his own vota
, ~ tho votes he delivered for Lori
r.r- were tainted and should be cast out
From the hour that the Senator from
Illinois decided 30 become a candidate" +"
Mr. Rorah continued. - stream of corrup-
lion began 10 how. and 81 never has ceased.
r. has gone into the courts: II has affected
Iuries: II has broken down lawyers; It has
eft broken populations in its wake. From
the beginning there has been evidence OF
combination and a well prepared scheme.
This was not the result OF accident but
evidence OF the organizing ability Of a
powerful mind