The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-01-13
LORIMER FIGHT NOW
ON IN The SENATE
SeveTidge and Owen Seek to
Gust Illinois Man.

elected William Lorimer to the senate
were bought with brides, Senator Rob-
ert L. Owen, of Oklahoma, introduced
in the senate a resolution asking that
the Chicagoan's seat be declared
vacant.
Immediately afterward Senator AL
bert J. Beveridge, of Indiana, pre-
sented minority report of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections
which made the same charges and con-
tended that Senator Lorimer was hold
ing his seat illegally.
After Mr.. Owen presented his reso-
luton there was a clash as to whether
he should be allowed to make a speech
in support of it. Mr.. Beveridge in
sisted that under the rules the resolu-
ton must lie over for one day and
ity report, filed prior to the introduc-
ton of the Owen resolution.
Vice President Sherman ruled with
Mr.. Owen, but the senate overruled
him and Mr.. Beveridge presented his
report. Afterward Mr.. Owen was per-
mitted to speak to his resolution. In
his address he named the ten Illinois
Legislators whose votes in the election
of Senator Lorimer, he said, were
tainted, viz:
d. W. Holstlaw, John Broderick, H.
]. c. Beckemeyer, Michael s.. Link,
Charles A. White, Lee O'Neil Browne
Robert E. Wilson, Charles S. Luke, 10
seph B. Clark and Henry A. Sheppard.
Before the. report was filed Senator
Lorimer made brief speech, declar-
ing his innocence of bribery and the
innocence of his friends OF any par
ticipation in corrupt practices in con-
nection with this election. He an
nounced his intention to be present
during the discussion Of his case.
Senator Lorimer said
81 know am not guilty and no per-
son was guilty of corrupt practices in
my election to the senate. My obliga-
ton to my state and to myself re-
quire that. should be present in this
body and hear what it said I hope
no senator will be embarrassed by my
presence here. At future day I ex-
pect to have something to say myself
on this subject"
Mr.. Lorimer prcfaced these remarks
by recalling that he himself had asked
the investigation of his election con-
Quoted by the senate and said that
there was now before the senate a ma
jority report generating him and CIV
ing him his seat in the senate.
The parliamentary tangle in the
senate as to who should open the at
tack on Senator Lorimer was not set
tied until after an appeal had been
taken from ruling by Vice President
Sherman and he had been reversed.
The Beveridge minority report re-
views the testimony bearing on the al
legged acceptance of brides by four
members of the Illinois legislature and
the testimony of these men that the
brides had been paid by three other
members. The document declares
that sit is an undisputed fact of con-
elusive force, although the majority
ignores it," that the confessed bribe-
takers were shown to have had in
their possession, in bills of large de-
nominations, unusually large sums of
money soon after the dates when they
swore to having received the alleged
brides.
This statement is made in reply to
the contention of the majority that
the men who confessed to having re-
ceived brides were not to be believed.
Senator Beverage devotes attention
to the claim of the majority that at
least three of those who confessed to
receiving brides had been compelled"
or driven to make these confessions
because of treatment received from Of
f1cers of Cook and Sangamon coun-
ties, Illinois.
Senator Beverage discusses the
statutes on the subject of election
frauds and says they uphold his con-
tention that Mr.. Lorimer must have
received 102 "untainted'' votes in or
der to be elected. AS his total vote
was 10S, the seven votes, which many
agree were tainted, were sufficient,
Senator Beveridge holds, to inv validate
the election.
1--WE can not consider the personal
fortunes or even the feelings of cam
didate, he adds THE candidate is
not on trial The election is on trial
The candidate is nothing, except as
the representative of the people"
Even if the corruption fund came
from sources higher up" Mr.. Lori
mer, in law, must be held, Senator
Beveridge holds, to have knowledge
of these transactions in his behalf.
The report concludes with resolu-
ton declaring Lorimer's election in
valid.
Pending the opening of the battle
on the floor it was reported Senator
Root of New York intended to speak
against Lorimer. There was a feeling
In senatorial circles that any opposi-
ton coming from Mr.. Root would
sarry great weight as representative
of the attitude of the administration.
Further discussing of the case will