Omaha daily bee., 1911-02-23
GENERAL AND EMPHATIC DENIAL
Touches Of Human Interest" Hold
Close Attention of Audience.
THOUGHT TO HAVE ENOUGH VOTES
Victory for Accused Man Expected if
Senate Records Opinion.
oPPONENTs MAY PREvENT vOTE
Beveridge VIII Make Ions Speech
Today IN Answer TO LOrimer and
Others May Continue the
Discussion.

WASHINGTON. Feb 22.-wiiiam Lori
mer OF Illinois in person made his defense
against the charge that his election to the
senate Of the United States was accom-
plished by the bribery and corruption Of the
legislature Of Illinois His defense was a
general and emphatic denial.
There was no vote today. Immediately
upon the conclusion Of Mr. I.orlmer's speech
the senate went into executive session on
the japanese treaty, and the answer to the
Lorimer speech which Senator Beveridge
was prepared 20 make went ever until to-
morrow. Nobody knows when vote win be
reached
With almost every senator In his seat.
and in the presence OF great crowd Of
members OF the house on the senate floor
and Of spectators IN the densey packed
galleries, Lorlmer made a speech of four
hours and even his bitterest opponents ad-
mitted Il was able, well sustained and dra-
matte
TELLS Dramatic story.
Mr., Lorlmers speech was distinctly a
human interest story For example in
explaining the votes for him in the leglsla-
ture which elected him 70 the senate. he
told OF the beginning OF his acquaintance
with "tiinky Dlnk Kenna in Chicago forty
years ago. II was a homely story Of one
newsboy helping another. .but It was most
effectively told and there were many other
touches of human nature in the speech
which held the interest Of the great audi
ence from beginning TO end
What effect, Il any. the speech will have
upon the vote In the senate Il Is impossible
to say. The general opinion about the capt
tol tonight is that Mr.. Isorimer and his
friends have safely pledged the votes with
which TO defeat the resolution which would
declare his seat vacant, and that II the
matter comes to a vote the result will be
Lorimer victory.
senator Beveridge Is expected to make a
long speech tomorrow In answer TO Mr..
Lormer, How much time the senate will
be willing TO give 10 this subject ip the
present crowded condition OF the senate
calendar remains TO be seen Il Is not i'm
possible that t.orimers opponents may be
able to prevent the matter coming to a
vote at all before adjournment, II was said
today this was the plan which the anti
Lorimer people would try to carry out
reviews All Charges.
During the more than four hours that
MIR. Lorimer occupied the floor he re-
viewed practically all the charges which
have been made against himself. His state
mcnt was in the nature both OF testimony
and Of pleading, He refrained entirely from
NRttempt 10 anaiyzs the testimony. but de-
voted his attention entirely to the argu-
ments Of other senators against hlvt.
lie took up IN turn the opprobriots infer
ences drawn from his intimacy with
Speaker Shurtleff and Lee OMEN Browne.
his attendance upon the sessions OF the
Illinois legislature and his presence In
ShuFtleffs rooms, undertaking to show
that IN each instance his course had been
natural and in the line OF the performances
OF other public men under like clrcum-
stances. lie explained his democratic sup
port on the ground OF long-standing per-
sonal friendships for himself and OF an.
tlpathy for senator Hopkins. who was his
principal antagonist in the senatorial con
test.
In the former connection he relates more
than one story golng to show attachment
running over many years. This portion OF
the address appealed strongly to the feel
ings Of senators. but when senator craV
Ford intimatod that the senator was maxi
ing bid for sympathy he resented the
tmputation and. turned the question to his
own advantage. by saying the only pur-
pose was 70 set before the senate the
truth. II was not a matter OF sympathy,
no said, but Of right and wrong.
The number OF spectators and would-he
spectators was rot the only unusual
characteristic. Society" as known N
Washington. was out IN force. Mrs Tar,
snd party occupied seats IN the executive
ssiefY' The diplomatic gallery was filled
WIN representatives. o. various nations
Resides The members or the house former
= senators, such as sopator Teller OF colo
rado. and senators-elect. such As work -,
California, Townsend OF Michigan and
Hitchcock Of Nebraska visited the chamber
In the course OF the speech From tha cahi.
net there came Attorney General Wicker.
snam- He was accommodated with q sea,
near the vice president
senator Lorimei at the outset OF his re-
MARKS indicated the general lines ~ HE
defense by allusion "a questions eopeern
ms ms election as senator from piincis
which he recognized az having been RAISED
oy senator's IN the discussion OF his title 40
hls scar ena which he evidently felt called
upon 20 answer
MANY Questions have been surgss,.d h,
the statements Of senators in the s.nat.
in this case" the senator said. These
suggestions. or questions. concern mostly.
the actual condition Of my election 10 this
body.
ibid I organize the Illinois assembly
against Hopkins? Did I make shurtlefl
speaker IN order that ! might he elected
SENATOR pid I make Lee OMEN Browne
minority LEADER
Was Lee OMEN Browne my ssen,-my
corrupt agentg
''why did ! stay in sphngfield during
the senatorial contests
"Why did I SIT in the speakers room?
For what purpose did ! talk there with
shspperdg
'Why ala the democrats vote for met
These are some % the uuestons slR-
Eestod hy statements Of senators pa upao-
. sition 20 the committee repori o. onqnh
put by them lI the course ~ iho debate.
ITO these osesdons many sorts of an
Swers have been siven by M opponents
Some Of these sns0ers have been fame fu
continued on Ehth Pase)