New-York tribune., 1911-02-04
AnaIyzing the Testimony.

Turning 70 ,he testimony before the Sen
| ate Mr. Root undertook to show that. even
though incomplete, it did not Justify the
committees conclusions. Analyzing the
testimony supplied, he told of the difficulty
and delay which had marked the election
Of successor TO Senator Hopkins in 1909.
MI Root told of a Democratic member
of the Illinois Legislature who admittedly
had gone 70 Shurtleff's rooms which were
occupied by Lorimer to arrange about fed
eral patronage, and rapidly passed TO the
connection of Lee O'Neil Browne with the
case. This man declared TO be Mr..
Lorimers chief agent. "A fact which rests
on the testimony of Browne himself. and
is not the subject of dispute he said. lie
then undertook TO show that Browne had
been Instrumental in procuring the thirty
Democratic votes cast for Lorimer.
Picturing Brownies leadership over and
control of a certain large number Of mem
bers of the Illinois Legislature and the re-
lationship of Browne 10 Lorimer, which
was described as that OF campaign man
ager, Senator Root wanted 10 know how
this control was secured and maintained.
The answer" he said, furnished the
background against which all Of the testi-
mony in this case must he measured and
weighed"
Speaking again of the action Of the DEM
ocrats who followed the leadership OF
Browne and voted for Lorimer Senator
Root said that if motives of patriotism were
involved these motives were locked In the
bosoms Of these Democrats and were not
apparent TO his party colleagues.
The use by Browne of the term ready
necessary" in seeking Democrats 20 vote
for Lormer was made the most of by Mr..
Root He said that the testimony showed
that Nr Browne had recourse 10 this term
in Offering cash for Lorimer votes.
Describing the two meetings in St Louis
Of Brownies followers in Southern Illinois.
about which il was testified that at the first
each member present received $1,000 and at
tie second meeting held on July 10, each
received 5000 Mr.. Root said that the tes-
tinony Of witnesses differed He showed
that three witnesses testified to receivins
$500 each, and one, Representative Wilson.
who was charged with making the pay
ments on behalf Of Browne, denied that
ory money was distributed.
MIR Root ridiculed the testimony Of Wilson
that this meeting was held for the purpose
ner for Browne. and pointed out that the
two men were indicted on charges Of per
Jury before they would admit that they had
been present He said that LOrimer's law
ver tried 10 shut out all testimony concern
ing the July meeting on the ground that the
gathering was for the purpose Of distribut-
ing a legislative Jackpot which had no
connection with the election of Lorimer.
A Nickname for Corruption.
Think Of it, exclaimed Mr.. Root Cor
ruItion having been going on so long that
minds had become accustomed 10 il. men in
tie Legislature had become so calloused 10
the iniquity Of IT that they joked about il I,
They nicknamed their corruption fund as
admitted by Mr.. Lormer's own lawyer
Letters were read by Mr.. Root to prove
thai Browne had intended 10 attend the July
rreetinG but was prevented by case Of
ptomaine poisoning He said this disproved
absolutely that the meeting had been called
10 discuss the question OF dinner for
Browne.
Nov. what Is the effect Of the facts
plainly established. that four OF the votes
were cast und r. the influence Of money re
ceived and three others under tho influence
OF money paid?" he asked. II put IL TO tho
conscience Of any Senator 10 say whether.
n Il is shown that Browne and Broderick
and Wilson bri5ed White Link. Beckemeyer
and Holstlaw 10 vote for Lorimer they
themselves were pure snd free from tho
CORR ption they were employing to bring
about the election. they can reconcile their
innocence with his knowledge Of human
nature" He further oontended that II four
cases Of bribery had been proved there
mlst inevitably have been other cases. con
cerrinc which It naturally had been i'm
POSSIBLE TO obtain proof.
we are bound. continued Mr. Root TO
act upon the universal knowledge that the
facts we have established imnicate others
than those absolutely shown 20 have been
involved"