Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-02-25
LORIMER ACCUSES
Gov. DENEEN
Drags Illinois Executive Into
the Controversy.
STORY OF HIS LIFE

Cduseu beaotoCk W ttIUotb 6eH'e'
lature.
William Lorimer, Of Illinois, arose
IN the senate and delivered n notable
speech In his defense. The accused
senator revealed his entire life, from
his humble beginning as a bootblack
and newsboy on the streets of Chi.
cago. to his election finally to q seat
In the United States senate.
In telling his story. Lorimer dis.
closed the secret of his career and
the methods by which he has built
up his powerful political organization
In the city OF Chicago. II was the
story Of the rise of political boss.
told with details that impressed every
senator.
According to Senator Lorimer's
story. kindness to others was the
foundation upon which his political
power was builded. Befriended as
newsboy in Chicago by one OF the very
men who figured In his election TO the
United States senate. he learned early
In life how much could be accomplish.
ed by doing n good deed for others,
and he tried to practice that through
life. He had found work for the UNI
employed. succored the needy. protect
ed the prosecuted Jew peddler. kept
his word In politics and upon his
friendships had founded an organiza-
tion which had turned Chicago from
tho nnpan0R0tfr ~ tho Danphttaau COL.
umn.
The most OF this story Senator Lor-
inner told by way of explaining why
the flfty-three Democratic votes we're
cast for him for United States senator
In the Illinois legislature.
All the galleries were crowded and
there was an unusually large attend
ance of senators when. following the
customary reading OF Washingtons
Farewell Address, the blond boss"
arose to answer his opponents and
clear. If possible. his right to seat in
the senate of the faint of bribery.
Mr.. Lorimcr never reached a pitch
of oratory. but he did make n bitter
attack on Governor Deneen, declaring
that the Illinois executive had sought
to force the election Of his own choice
as speaker OF the lower branch of the
legislature by threatening to with
draw all patronage from those who
would not do his bidding.
AS a result, declared Mr.. Lorimer
members of both parties rebelled,
crossed the party line" and elected
Shurtleff as speaker. The accused
senator denied that Shurtleff was his
choice. declared that the speaker was
in reality a Hopkins man." and as.
serted that his own Illness would have
prevented him from engineering the
organization of the house. even II he
had mind to do so.
Renewing his attack on Mr.. Deneen
later In his speech, Mr.. Lorimer de.
clared that the governor was the real
cause of the deadlock In the legisla-
ture; that votes for Deneen at several
stages of the fight were sufficient to
elect Hopkins; that Lorimer's name as
a candidate for senator first came up
at a conference he had with Deneen,
and that Deneen tried to prevent men
whose pledges he had obtained to
elect Lorimer from fulfilling those
pledges.
Mr.. Lorimer said there had been
an effort to cover the case with a veil
of suspicion. II had been charged
that some one person with a powerful
mind had organized the legislature to
defeat Senator Hopkins.
Senator Lorimer then took up the
list OF Democrats who had voted for
him for United States senator. at
tributing the support OF most OF them
TO personal friendship and to the ia.
vorable impression he had made on
them by his advocacy of the Missls-
sippi valley water way Improvement
plan.
AT one point In his speech Mr.. Lori.
mer said: IF senators believe me to
be the low and vile creature the sena.
tors from New York and South Da.
kota say I am. then you have a plain
duty staring you in the face"
The senate was somewhat startled
at this statement. but not so much so
as by the one that followed. as Sena.
tor Lorimer again advanced towards
Senators Root and Crawford and fairly
shouted: IF can be the foul wretch
you senators sought to paint me. re.
CARELESS OF how came here. you
should drive me from yonder door
with the brand of infamy on my back"
The general impression about the
capitol Is that Mr. Lorimer and his
friends have safely pledged the votes
with which TO defeat the resolution
that would declare his seat vacant
and taht II the matter comes to a
vote the result will be Lorimer vic
tory.
n. Ia L.. l..