The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-01-12
Washington
LORIMER TAINTED
WITH BRIBERY IS
BEVERIDCE'S VIEW
Two Senators Clash Over the
Honor of Firing Charge at
the Man Accused of
Boodling.


r. washington, Jan. 10,-The hight 10
prevent Senator Lorimer, OF Illinois.
rom retaining his seat In the United
States Senate, was opened today with
contest between Senators Beveridge,
II Indiana. and Owen. Of Oklahoma
both Of whom contested for the right
10 fire the first gun in the cause.
Senator Beverldge, by virtue OF be-
ng member of the committee on
privileges and elections, which inves-
agated charges of bribery against SEN
itor. Lorimer, gained tactical victory
BY filing a minority report attacking
he position Of his colleagues on the
committee who voted to exonerate the
illinois senator.
Owen Has Resolution.
j. Senator Owen, however, introduced
4 resolution to declare the election of
Senator Lorimer illegal and void, but
ne was not permitted to address the
Senate in its support. The Senate held
hat 1.-THE resolution under the rules
would have to 60 over until tomor-
cow.
Mr. Beveridge then submitted his re-
port. the conclusion of which was:
THAT this election was invalid UNI
| der any possible view of the law. If
The Senate so concludes It is our duty
% so declare. Therefore, I submit the
following resolution:
Resolved. That William Lorimer
| was not duly ard legally elected to
seat in the Senate Of the United States
by the legislature OF the state OF I'M
aois'."
Loriner Makes Talk.
Before the report was filed Senator
| Lorimer made brief speech declaring
| his innocence of bribery and the inno-
! sence of his friends of any participa-
| lion in corrupt practices In connection
/ with his election. He announced his in
| IGNITION to be present during the discus
SIGN Of his case.
The parliamentary tangle in the Sem
ate as to which of the two senator's
| desiring to open the attack on Senator
Lorimer should have precedence was
not settled until after an appeal had
Deen taken from ruling by Vice Pres
ldents Sherman and he had been re-
yersed.
| Mr.. owen was first recognized. He
presented a resolution similar to that
which Senator Beveridge had incor-
pora ted in his minority report. 1t was
read, and SENATOR Owen prepared to
spenk on 1t when Senator Reveridge
| demanded the regular order, which was
i the introduction of morning business.
The vice president ruled the Owen
resolution was Of highest privileges
and that Senator Owen, having been
recognized, had the right to the floor
Appealing from the chair, Senator Bev-
sridge was supported by majority OF
| the Senate in his contention that the
owen resolution would have to lie over
,ne day under the rules. This permitted
Mr.. Beveridge to submit his report and
have II read.
The Beveridse Report.
The Baveridge report reviews the
testimony bearing on the alleged &C.
.eptance of brides by four members OF
the Illinois legislature and the testi-
mony of these men that the bride,
had been paid by three other members
The minority report declares 1t Ii
an undisputed fact OF conclusive force
although the majority ignores it, thai
he confessed bribe-takers were shown
20 have had in their possession, in bills
Of large denominations, unusually large
sums Of money soon after the dates
when they sworey to having received
he alleged brides. This statement Is
made in reply to the contention of the
majority that the men who. confessed
20 having received brides were not te
be believed. "''''
Senator Beveridge devotes consider
able attention to the claim of the ma.
iority report that at least. three o.
hose who confessed to having received
bribes had ~ been compelled" Of
driven" TO make these confessions be
cause of the treatment received from
officers OF Cook and Sangamon coun
ties, Illinois. In this connection, tn,
report says:
what the Senate must determine Il
- whether it believes as a matter of fac
that these men actually did receive tn,
j money which they testified to having
received and to large amounts which
II 4 ~ 80. -
of large denominations
f. Senator Beverfdge said that the con
duct of the officers OF justice ha,
nothing to do with the case.
Owen Makes His Speech.
Later In the day Senator owen Sc
cured the floor and delivered hi
speech against Lorimer. A scathin,
arraignment OF the manner in which
I,orimer was elected was made by Mr.
owen. who asserted that the testimon.
taken by the subcommittee which in
yestigated the case shows that at leas
10 votes of the 10S received by Lorime
should not have been counted. Othe
senator's who are known to oppose tn
retention OF Mr.. Lorimer in his sea
have not claimed that more than sever
votes were tainted. The 10 votes con
. demned by Mr.. Owen and the reason
assigned by him for his belief that the.
v should not have been counted were a
follows:
Senator d. w. Holstlaw, who con
! fessed that he had received money fron
Senator John Broderick,
John Broderick, because OF his re
fusal to testify In the investigation o.
} the ground that his testimony nigh
incriminate him.
Representative Fl. j. G. Beckemeyel
who confessed to- an alleged corrus
! agreement with MINORITY Leader lie
O,Neil Browne and to receiving none
from Robert F.. Wilson.
r. Representatives Michael 8. Lin
and Charles A. White, because Of cor
fessions that they had received none
from Browne and Wilson.
Representative Henry A. Shephar,
/ who is said to have agreed to vote fC
MIR. Lorimer because OF the latter
promise to prevent the appointment
o certain man as postmaster at Jerse,
Vile, Ill.
Messrs. Browne and Wilson becaus
Of the testimony of the others this
they had handled the alleged corruI
ton funds.
The late Representative Charles
Luke, because of his presence In S
Louis at the time the corruption fun
was said to have been distributed. an
. the fact that he was known to hav
, | ,acatyad IN unusual sum OF money q