The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1911-02-23
.LOR|MER IS
ELOQUENT
MAKES GREAT FOuR-HoUR TALK
IN DEFENSE BEFORE THE
CROWDED SENATE.
Recites Early Associations Between
Newsboys, Which Explained Aid
He Received in After Years
in Politics.

Washington. ID. c., Feb. 22.-Wfl
liam Lorimer, of Illinois, today in per.
son made his defense against the
charge that his election to the senate
of the United States was accomplish
ed by bribery and corruption of the
legislature of Illinois.
His defense was general and EN-
phatic denial, delivered with more
than ordinary eloquence and fervor
No vote was taken today. Imme-
diately upon the conclusion of Mr.
Lorimer's speech the senate went into
executive session on the japanese
treaty. and the answer to the Lori
mer speech which Senator Beveridge
was prepared to make, went over until
tomorrow.
With almost every senator in his
seat, and in the presence of a great
crowd of members of the house of rep.
fesentatives on the senate floor, and
of spectators in the densely packed
galleries, Mr.. Lorimer made a speech
of four hours duration, and even his
btterest opponents admitted that it
was a very able, well-sustained and
dramatic utterance.
Some or those who heard the speech
and who have been in and about tle
senate for many years, said there
never had been anything just like it.
Mr.. Lorimer's speech was disllnct-
~ human interest story" For, ex
ample in explaining the votes of demo
Gratis for him In the legislature which
elected him. he told of the beginning
of ais acquaintance with 'Hinky
Dinky" Kenna In Chicago forty years
ago.
1t was a homely story of one news
boy 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 audience from beginning to end
More than once there were evil
dences that the speech was moving
some of his hearers to tears.
What effect, If any. the speech will
have upon the vote in the senate, it is
impossible to say. The general i'm
preston about the capitol tonight Is
that Mr.. Lorimer and his friends nave
safely pledged the votes with which
to defeat the resolution which would
declare his seat vacant and that il
the matter comes ~ vote the result
will be 'Iorimer victory"
Senator Beveridge is expected to
make long speech tomorrow in an
swer to Mr.. Lorimer. How much
time the senate will be willing to give
to tnis subject in the present crowd
ed condition of the senate calendar
remains to be seen.
II is not impossible that Lorimer's
opponents may be able to prevent the
matter coming to vote at all before
adjournment. 1t was said today that
this was in fact the plan which the
anti-Lorimer people would try to
carry out.
During the four hours that Mr..
Lorimer occupied the floor he review
ed practically all the charges that
have been made against himself His
statement was in the nature both OF
testimony and of pleading. He re-
trained entirely from attempt to
analyze the testimony, but devoted his
attention entirely to arguments of the
other senators against him.
He took up in turn the opprobrious
inferences drawn from his intimacy
with Speaker Siurtleff and Lee O'Neill
Browne, his attendance upon the ses-
slons of the Illinois legislature and
his presence in Shurtleff's rooms, un-
dertaking to show that in each In
Stance his course had been natural
and in the line of the performances or
o'her Pubic men under Ike circuna
stances.
He explained his democratic support
on the grounds OF long standing per-
sonal friendships for himself and OF
antipathy for Senator Hopkins, who
was his principal antagonist in the
senatorial contest.
In the former Coz. ,ection, he related
more than one story going to show at
tachment running over many years.
This portion of the address appeal
ed strongly to the feelings of senator's
>Rut When Senator Crawford intimated
Illinois senator was making a
lor sympathy ne resented the I'M
Nm ard turned the question TO