The Washington herald., 1911-02-04

and said he hoped that Senator Cullom
would come to its defense.
For a moment following the conclusion
OF Senator Roots stirring peroration, the
Senate was in absolute silence. Then a
wave Of applause swept the galleries,
which Vice President Sherman promptly
quelled by citing the rules Of the Senate
forbitting applause.
Senator Lorimer was not in the cham
Der during Mr.. Roots speech. Later in
the afternoon he came upon the floor and
took a seat in the rear row on the Re
publican side His face was almost pal
lid, and several Senators remarked upon
his manifest depressed condition.
Senator Roots speech was a deadly
blow to the hopes of Mr. Lorimer and
his friends. and it was wholly unexpected.
For long time they could not bring
themselves to believe that the Senator
from New York would oppose the re-
port of the committee generating Lor-
inner.
Points Out Facts.
Senator Root said in his consideration
Of the case that it was an important fact
that Lorimer himself was in attendance
at Springfield while his candidacy was be-
ing urged. comforting with members Of
both houses in regard to his chances:
also. that Lee O'Neiu Browne. the al
legged Democratic bribe gtver. was Lori
mer's accredited agent in getting Demo-
cratic votes to support Lorimers candf
dacy. The Senator declared that with
that fact established. the case narrowed
down to the question Of how Browne Sc
cured the votes Of thirty Democrats
He promptly put aside as unworthy of
credence the conclusion of the Committee
on Privileges md Elections that Browne
was actuated solely by desire to gain a
partisan advantage by splitting the Re-
publican ranks. He recalled the testi-
mony of number of Democratic legLla-
tors, not included in the thirty who voted
for Lorirner. which, according to them.
showed that they had been approached
with offers of money and with invitations
to support Lorimer. He pointed out that
the testimony showed that the air at
Springfield about this time was charged
with rumorS of briberv to secure Lorimer
votes.
Another important fact. not to be over
looked in the opinion of the Senator.
was as to the relations of Lorimer's
agent, Browne to his followers. Senator
Root declared that corruption in the
legislature Of Illinois had continued so
long that mems minds had been accus- |
toned to believe in it.
Defend Lorimer.
Immediately following Senator Roots |
speech, some of Senator Lorimer's sup
porters rallied to his defense.
Senator Bailey almost startled the Sem
ate by declaring that if Senator Roots |
argument was carried to its logical result, |
and his conclusions concerning the cor
ruption in the Illinois legislature ac-
cepted as invalidating Senator Lorimer's
title to his seat. then Senator Cullom was
likewise ineligible
81 believe said Mr. Bailey. that there
is no foundation in logic or authority
in law for the contentious of the Senator
from New York. but if that is the law,
II is the law in the case of Cullom as
we'll as in the case of Lorimer. If the
doctrine of the Senator from New York
Is to be followed, there has not been a
lawful election in the State of Illinois
for many years.
Senator Hale raised his voicce in the
debate long enough TO observe that Sen
ator Roots speech was a powerful, elo-
quent but melancholy arraignment not :
Of the Senator from Illinois, but of the
integrity of the great State OF illinois,"
Senator Hepburn Roasts Papers.
Senator Hepburn contributed a little
spice to the debate by denouncing the
activity of certain newspapers in the
Lorlmer case. He said that the whole ,
matter was a sensation taken from the
Undertaking market of vicious juor-
nalism.'
He declared that the evidence did NOT
lnNalidate Senator Lorimer's title to his
scat. and that the attack on him had
gradually developed into imam hunt"
He insisted that Senator Lorimer did not
want to be elected Senator, and paid a
nigh tribute to his personal character.
Senator Paynter, of Kentucky, was
very much aroused by Senator Roots
speech. and had few words to sav. bv
way Of warning. that he would be heard
from later in reply to the speech of the
Senator from New York