The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-02-25
LOSIMER SPEAKS N
HIS OWN BEHALF
Illinois Man Makes Deep I'm
preston on Senators.

In notable fourhour speech be.
fore the senate, William Lorimer. or
Illinois. defended his right 10 seat
Ia tie senate. The accused senator re.
viewed Ls entire lie. from his humble
tegintiue Ltotl.ach and neNsboy
en- t4e streets IL Chicago To his e,ec.
tion finally 70 seat in the United
states senate
In telling his story. Lorimer dis
closed the secret of his career ard the
methods by which he has built up his
powerful poli,lCal organization in Chi.
cagu II was tie story OF the rise OF
political boss told with details that
Impressed every senator. According
10 Senator Lorimers story. kindness
70 others was the foundation upon
which his political power was builded
The most Of this story Senator Lori
mer told by way OF explaining why
fifty-three Democratic votes were cast
for him for United States senator by
the Illinois legislature lie declared
that thirty-four OF these votes came 70
him purely on the ground of friend.
ship, and that these thirty.four ihflu.
enced the remaining nineteen Demo.
Gratis 10 support him With uplifted
hand he denied upon his word as
man and a senator that he had ever
resorted to bribery In any election, or
had ever had any knowledge OF the
use of money In corrupt practices.
The Illinois senator did attempt
20 answer the evidence presented In
the case He said that he did not
krow of any bribery and then devoted
himself 10 telling all that he did know
about his election and why the Demo
Gratis had voted for him. Senator
Lorimer was severe on Senator Root
and repeatedly In hts address turned
toward him and pointed personal
questions.
Lorimer's speech made a deep inn
preston on the senate and the opin-
ion seemed 10 prevail at the conclu.
sion that he had done much toward
saving his seat in that body. II was
not SO much the subject matter OF
Lorimers sreech as the sincerity with
which II was delivered that impressed
the senate Several times during
Lorimers address a number OF sena.
tors were in tears.
The senate was somewhat startled
at statement by Senator Lorimer
as he advanced toward Senators Root
and Crawford, fairly shouting: IF I
could be the foul wretch you senators
sought TO paint me, regardless OF how
| came here. you should drive me from
yonder door with the brand OF infamy
on my back"
Many senators were deeply moved
by this statement and the galleries
started to applaud. but were quickly
suppressed by the vice president.
Senator Lorimer then counted list
OF thirty-four Democrats In the I'LL
nois legislature who voted for him for
senator on the ground of personal
friendship. lie said that Lee o'Neil
Brown, the minority leader, did not
deliver these votes, but was himself
delivered by them,
"Thirty-four OF the flfty-three Dem
ocrats who voted for me" said MIR
Lorimer. did so for one personal rea
son or another and pleaded with the
other nineteen until they voted for
me"
I'm my life Of 40 years have tried
as nearly as human flesh can try 10
live life that would make me al least
acceptable 10 the decent citizens OF
my community have tried for forty
years TO live a life that would make
my neithhors, townsmen and people
OF my state have confidence in me. u
may aot have succeeded, but God
knows Rave tried But IL ] have
failed. No living man will come to my
door and lay the charge OF practicing
bribery In any election | was ever In.
terested IN say again on my word
as d man and on my word as sena
tor that | am not guilty and that !
have no knowledge In the remotest
degree thar bribery or corruption was
practiced 10 secure a seat for me In
this body and ! do not believe that
votes were bought by anybody 10 send
me TO the senate started out 10
tell all knew about my election TO
the senate and | have told nothing