Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1911-03-03
l0RIMER SPEAKS IN
HIS OWN BEHALF
illinois Man Makes Deep I'm
1reSsi0n on Senators.

IN a notable four-hour speech be-
fore the senate, William Lorimer. of
Illinois, defended his right to a seat
in he senate. The accused senator re-
vie his entire life, from his humble
he .uning as bootblack and newsboy
on the streets Of Chicago to his elec.
ton finally to 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 Chi
cage 1t 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.
The most Of this story Senator Lori
msr told by way of explaining why
fity-three Democratic votes were cast
for him for United States senator by
tne Illinois legislature. He declared
that thirty-four Of these votes came to
him purely on the ground of friend
ship, and that these thirty-four influ-
enced the remaining nineteen Demo
Gratis to support him. With uplifted
hand he denied upon his word as a
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
to answer the evidence presented in
the case. He said that he did not
know of any bribery and then devoted
himself to 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 his address turned
toward him and pointed personal
questions.
Lorimer's speech made a deep i'm
precision on the senate and the opin-
ion seemed to prevail at the conclu.
sion that he had done much toward
saving his seat in that body. 1t was
not SO much the subject matter of
Lorimer's speech as the sincerity with
which it was delivered that impressed
the senate. Several times during
Lorimer's address a number of sena-
tors were in tears.
The senate was somewhat startled
at a statement by Senator Lorimer
as he advanced toward Senators Root
and Crawford, fairly shouting: "If
could be the foul wretch you senators
sought to paint me, regardless Of how
l came here, you should drive me from
ynndnr door with the brand of infany
on my back"
Senator Lorimer then counted a list
of thirty-four Democrats in the ILL
nois legislature who voted. for him for
senator on the ground of personal
friendship. He said that Lee O'Neil
Brown, the minority leader, did not
deliver these votes, but was himself
delivered by them.
"Thirty-four of the fifty-three Dem.
ocrats who voted for me-" said Mr.
Lorimer, "did SO for one personal rea-
son or another and pleaded with the
other nineteen until they voted for
me-"
"In my life Of 40 years have tried
as nearly as human flesh can try to
live life that would make me at least
acceptable to the decent citizens of
my community have tried for forty
years to live a life that would make
my neighbors, townsmen and people
OF my state have confidence in me. Il
may not have succeeded, but God
knows l have tried. But If l have
failed, no living man will come to my
door and lay the charge of practicing
bribery in any election l was ever in.
terested in. I say again on my word
IS a man and on my word as a sena-
tor that I am not guilty and that
have no knowledge in the remotest
degree that bribery or corruption was
practiced to secure a seat for me in
this body and l do not believe that
votes were bought by anybody to send
me to the senate. ] started out to
tell all ! knew about my election to
the senate and I have told nothing
but the truth"
It is doubtful when a vote will be
taken in the senate on the Lorime1
resolution. 1t Is now the unfinished
business" on the calendar.