New-York tribune., 1911-02-23
Dramatic and Sensational Denial
Of All Charges Against
Him.
GREAT CROWD HEARS FIN
Saws He Has No knowledge That
Bribery and Corruption Were
Used 10 Promote His
Election.


sand to-day IN the fcht 10 retain the seat
witch he is alleged TO have oo'aIne'
through bribery and corruption. Ine
spsech he delivered in his defenee was
without precedent o. its kind. II couiu ho'
re called an argument. lie made no al
tempt 10 answer the charges involved In
the testimony taken by the Senate COM
mi,tee which Investigated the election
II was. fer the most part the personal
narrative OF the evolution OF the political
boss as developed n Chicago. recountec
with such skill. such apparent candor ana
sinlplicitS and fidelity 20 detail that 10Y
nearly four hours he held the interest OF
the crowds in the galleries and corridors
and the Senators and Representatives wnc
6llee the fiocr Of the chamber. Other work
AZ the Capitol was et q standsti!4 lhe
senate Committee on Finance postponed
heskinss on tie reciprocity bill in order
thst the members might listen 70 the e1-
tracrdinsry plea Members Of the House
crowded the rear of the Senate chamber
Corridors were TANNED with the people
who could not gain admission 10 the gal
lsries, and az every door auditors VINO
could catch a glimpse OF the floor $1,000
patiently for hours while the intensely
dramatic session wore on. Society a.
known in Washington. was out in force
Mrs.. Taft and & party occupied seats In
the executive fellery. The dfpiomat1c gal
lery was filed with representatives OF vari
Gus nations. From the Cabinet there came
Attorney General wickersham. He had
sest near the Vice-President
Tells Story Of His Life.
s,ns+or Iorinner vent far back into his
svn life 10 explain the friendships ana the
tnfuence 20 which. he asserted. ne o"eo
nfs election 20 the Senate. He began Win
the time he worked as q newsooy' IN Whlch
capacity he was thrown In with "Hlnky
pink" Kenna, the Democratic ward boss
In the streets Of Chicago, ss friend ana
mariner. He recounted bis experience as a
street car conductor on the West sioe'
when he laid the foundations for his innG'
.nce among the Jews by oefriending the
pedlers whona other conductors would not
osrrv. He narrated with effective skill his
experience as a young man setting out IN
poljtical life as voter, described the
method by which he organized his own
precinct and. one by one. other precincts
IN his district, until he became the recos-
rizsd leader anu dispensed the patronage
~ thousands OF places.
The persistence and patience which char
: -arize3 his earlier POLITICAL activities. &C
,rIing 10 his own story. were carried to
sweater len yths in his campaign for q
,.Aes-to-Gulf deep waterway. He told how
e, with others. made the trip from Chi
ago 70 New Orleans, organizing associ-
~ vi
how he went from end 70 end OF Illinois
70 stir public interest in the project.
Through the friendships made during his
younger days, when he gained the power
ful aid Of ''FIinky Dink" and became
l,nown as the father in the Jewish dis
trict on the West Side. and through The
influence ne gained in his deep waterway
campaign. the Democrats of the Illinois
Legislature. he asserted, came 70 his aid
and elected him Senator when all hope OF
otherwise breaking the deadlock had been
abandoned.
Al the close Of the intensely interesting
narrative he declared that. he had had
nothing 20 DO with any plan Of bribery or
corruption, that ne knew Of no bribery.
And this" he asserted in voice that
filed the hushed chamber and could be
heard far down the corridors. is the
truth"
Nh I.oriner took up in turn the infer
.nSes drawn from his intimacy with Speak
er Shur-leff and Lee O'Neil Browne. his
attendance on the sessions cf the Illinois
Legislature and his presence r. Shurtleff' s
rooms undertaking 10 show that in each
instance his course had been natural and
IN line with the performances OF other
public men under similar circumstances.
He SAID that ne had nade an effort 10
induce Governor Deneen 10 become a can
diGate 70 break The deadlock. ard, in effect.
he declared that IL Deneen had been so in
clineo he could have elected Hopkins by
throwing his vote 70 him. There were oc-
casional pointed references 20 the speeches
of opposing Senator'S, Messrs. Root and
Crawford coming in for especial attention.
The names Of many Democrats were
n,sntioned as among those who had voted
for him because OF personal friendship.
Among thern was Senator Broderick. who.
Mr Lorirney said. had been his friend for
many years even when newspaper as
sassins Of character were then, as since,
trying 70 destroy him. II never got one
vote under false pretences." said Mr..
eelved into the belief that I would co.
operate With the Democrats in Congress.
So II was not through deception that any
ot them were leo to vote for me"
Lorirer and "Hinky pink."
Most dramatic was Senator Lorinners re-
ei-al of his first acquaintance with "Hnky
p,ak'' Kenna. who when Loriner was a
bootblack and newsboy. came 10 his rescue
spo saved him from the loss OF a bundle
If Chicago TTihunes." :, meant a loss
n g. 50 70 him MIR. Lorimer said, and that
dollar and q half meant more TO rne. Senator
Root, thsn & million dollars would mean
- sor4e men now ] don't know whether
the Senator from New York (Sir Root or
the Senator from South Dakota (Air. Craw-
,or6l know what II means 10 come UP
through circumstances like that
5ensto- Crawford rose to hts feet The
iateresf was intense. Every person in the
galleries leaned forward. and many rose.
"Mr President. does the Senator imagine
timsel. the only Senator who came up
through hardship ana poverty? Is he ap.
rtaling for sympathy Oh ruat scorer" MIR.
c.rawfor1 asked
= wait 10 sympathy" shouted Senator
Lorime: A great sigh passed over the
.cnennbH.
This is not question OF sympathy: IT
IS O. quesu1n OF right and wrong. | am
only wondering II some Senators under
stand .!cw conditions like these can give
rise II lifelong friendships"
II this Senate" continued Mr. Lorimer,
With q sweep Of his arm taking in the
whole room. "can believe me 10 be the low.
vile creature that the Senator from New
York and the senator from South Dakota