The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-14
The Lori1aer Case.

This case has been discussed 4
great deal, and yet there are pst.rle
who do not seem to understand II
clearly, or why it is SO much talked
about. For the benefit of "A Read
or" and others, we will give brief
resume of the now notorious case.
When the term of Senator Hopkins,
of Illinois, was about to ey2ir'', a
primary was ordered to choose lis
successor. In this primary Hopkins
got a majority OF the votes, oni
would succeed himself when the Leg
islature confirmed the primary rcTi-
ination by formall, reelecting him
The people, of course, thought the
matter settled, but when the i+esis
lature met, subtle and tremendous
influences were felt to be at work
to thwart the viii! of the people, as
expressed in the primary. These
subtle and tremendous influences
were felt to be trgging, might and
main, for the election Of William
Lorimer, who had not BEEN candi-
date for Senator in the primary, but
who, as a member of Congress, had
been true and devoted friend Of all
the trusts that had been organized
to plunder the people. He was the
special pet of the Beef Trust.
Then there ensued long and
fierce battle in the Illinois Legisla..
ture,. and it finally developed that
Senator Lee O'Neill Brown, who was
the leader OF the Demo- in the
Legislature, was working most ener-
getically for Lorimer, Republican,
against the candidate Of his own
party for the Senate. According to
the sworn testimony before coii.
gressional committee Browne had
sS5,OOO in a blue belt around his
waist while the senatorial election
was on to control votes. That he con-
trolled them the sequel shows.
Seven members of the Legislature
confessed to having been bribed; and
stated the time, place, amount; to-
gether with tbs name Of the brlb"-
giver. Entries in bank-books, anu
the sworn testimony Of bank-officials
corroborated these confessions. Not
only this-but there was overwhelm-
ing evidence that the members of the
whose votes Browne
owned, were paid to vote for Lori
mer. There were between thirty and
forty Of these Democratic, Browne
owned legislators, who voted for the
election of Lorimer against the can
didate Of their own party, for a con-
Of course.
According to the testimony Of
Browne and others, these corrupt
Democrats held two meetings in st.
Louis, one after Lorimer's election,
and one, before. At the former,
they were each paid $1,000 from
the Lorimer "jacE-pot:" at the latter,
5000 each. The. efore, Gas the evi-
ience taken by the Senatorial Com
nittee Proved at least thirty mem
oers of the Democratic contingent in
he Legislature we're paid $1,000 each
'or their Lorimer votes, not counting
he seven Republicans who had to be
paid special prices. This is the way
.orimer was elected.
Yet Senator Bailey, who is said to
,e such brainy man and immaculate
Democrat, and seven other Southern
Senator's, voted for Lorimer to retain
lis seat, on the ground that the sew
n votes that were bought at special
prices, were indispensable to the cleo
ion of the corrupt Lorimer. 1t IS a
natter of regret to us that the name
If Senator Tillman appears among
ose who voted in favor Of Lori
ner's retaining his seat. We are
lfraid that honest Old Ben allowed
Bailey to bamboozle him into voting
or Lorimer.
The verdict of a jury is set asi:'s
f it be shown that one juror was
corrupted. Yet, says the JEFFERSON
an, here we have Southern Demo
ratio Senators, voting for a man
whose record reeks with infamy. anu
whose majority in the Illinois Legis-
ature is confessedly tainted with the
most flamboyant bribe-giving. The
Democratic Senators from the South
defeated the efforts of such Republi-
ans as Beyeridge and LaFoilette 10
urn a Republican rascal out. The
,enchman Of the Interests owes his
escape from expulsion tn Southern
Senator's, we are sorry to say.