The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-02-04
Root Opposes Senator
Lorirner Holding Seat
Continued from First Pas


careful analysis of the testimony
taken by the committee
The argument was almost entirely
legal.
ANTAGoNiSTic TO LORIMER.
The speaker lost little time in indi-
eating the conclusion he had reached,
which was entirely antagonistic to Mr.
Lorimer. He took the position thai
the investigation committee has been
at fault in permitting either the attor-
ney for Mr.. Lorimer or the attorney
for the Chicago Tribune to direct .ts
course in the matter Of connecting Mr.
Lorimer with the corruption of mem
bers Of the Illinois legislature but
agreed that even in the face of IT'S
fault in this respect, the committee
had used sufficient evidence to talnt
and to invalidate the election
Citing the resolution under which
the inquiry was directed, Mr.. Root
said the committee had failed to Ana
the testimony sufficient to justify the
conclusion that Mr.. Lorimer's seat had
been rendered invalid by the employ
ment Of corrupt methods or practices.
Tt is fair to infer he said. that
the committee was Of the opinion that
corrupt methods and practices were
resorted to, but that their legal effect
was not such as to invalidate Mr.
Lorimer's election I regret to say that
l am constrained to disagree with the
members of the committee"
THE COUNTRY DiSGRAcED.
Mr.. Root expressed the opinion tina,
both the state and country had been
0lSPrQ NV ha ar dc af he
mer election
| the conclusions. but as to the methods
OF the senate committee. He did no;
believe that that organization had
| properly interpreted the scope of its
instructions, but felt that it had gone
100 lar in interpreting the charges rs
private complaint by the Chicago
Tribune. The committee should, h.
thought, have borne in mind that the
reputation. the honor, the purity and
the authority OF the senate were in.
volved
Mr. Root said he had not intended
to really criticize the committee. bu
merely point out the result Of it's con.
| ceptlon of its duties--a view witt
which he did not agree.
| turning then to the testimony be.
fore the senate, Mr.. Root undertook t.
snow that, even though incomplete. il
ola not justify the committees con.
| illusions.
Entering upon an analysis Of the tes.
timony supplied, he told of the diff.
Guilty and delay which had marked tn.
selection of a successor to Senato
Hopkins in 1909.
1 MT. Root told of Democratic mem
Der or the Illinois legislature who ad
United going to rooms occupied b,
Lorimer to arrange about fedora
patronage, and rapidly passed to tn.
connection OF Lee O'Neill Browne with
the case
rms man was declared to be Mr.
Loraner's chief agent "a fact which
rests with the testimony of Brown.
himself and is not the subject of dis
pute' ne said. The senator then un.
oertook to show that Browne had beer
instrumental in procuring the thirt,
democratic votes cast for Mr.. Lorimer
| recurring Brownies control OF a Ger,
| tam large number of members of tn,
Iliinois legislature ana the relation.
snip OF Browne. to Lorimer. which h,
described as that OF a campaign man,
aser' senator Root wanted TO know
now this control was secured ane
maintained.
The answer. he said, "furnishee
the background against which all o.
the testimony In this case muA d,
measured and weighed"