Evening star., 1911-05-27
SENATORS ARE UNITED
FOR l.0R|MER INQUIRY
Both Parties Go on Record in
Favor of Reopening
the Case.

Practically all Of the afternoon was de-
voted by the Senate yesterday to discuss
ing the Lorimer case with the result of
drawing out expressions indicating that
there will be practically unanimous de-
mand for another investigation.
Senator Dillingham;, chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections,
said:
Il am not authorized to speak for the
republicans Of this body; I can only
speak for myself personally and for such
of the senators on this side OF the cham
Der as I have by chance conversed with;
but if there be any senator on the repub-
lican side who is opposed to the reopen
ing OF this case and the prosecution of
further inquiry l do not know who he
may be.
Senate's Responsibility.
1T has been known to everybody that
an investigation by the upper branch Of
the legislature of Illinois has been in
progress for some time past. and 1t Is
undoubtedly true that every senator has
closely watched, as have done. the daily
press to learn what developments have
been made. l was only expressing the
conviction which I had reached and which
probably others had reached. when on the
I'D instant l introduced into the Senate
a resolution providing for the reopening
Of the Lorimer case and for the reference
of 1t to the committee on privileges and
elections
II did that. sir. because / thought 1
understood the character of this body and
it's duties under the Constitution. a body
that is the sole Judge OF the elections,
returns and qualifications Of It's members
and. being the sole Judge, is clothed with
tremendous responsibilities, which call
for the exercise not only of conscience.
but of wise judgment and just action
Senator Bailey said:
Il speak without their authority. but
am sure that I speak with absolute ac-
curacy when l say that in view Of the
testimony elected by one OF its commit
tees, and in view of the resolution adopt
ed by the state senate of Illinois, every
democratic senator favors a further and
a thorough inquiry into the election Of
Senator Lorimer. That was the mind of
democratic senators before the senator
from Wisconsin began his extended ad-
dress. and that is the mind Of democratic
senator's since he has concluded it.
Regards New Evidence.
II think. Mr.. President, that I have
fairly expressed the opinion OF every
democratic senator the opinion of every
said. but in what I am now about to say
I state the position of only part Of
them. We favor this investigation be-
cause it Is alleged that new and material
evidence Of corruption has been found.
and we feel that IL that allegation can
be established the Senate owes it to is
self, and owes 1t to the country, to hear
it and consider it.
1T is upon this new evidence we base
our votes and not upon any dissatifaction
with the former Judgment of the Senate,
nor upon any criticism with the work OF
the subcommittee which conducted the
former investigation. In my judgment,
with some inImaterial exceptions, that
committee did it's work as we'll as any
committee of this Senate could have done,
and it is no fair subject Of criticism
against 1t that some of the witnesses of
those transactions concealed their knowl-
edge from that committee and afterward
impaired 1t to another committee or to
other people"
Senator La Toilette concluded his four
day speech and the Senate adjourned
until Monday. when the subject will come
up again.