The Washington times., 1911-05-07
TECHNICALITIES IN THE DE.
FENSE OF, LORIMER.

n SulCdSO JuuSc HdS losueu WElLS W
habeas corpus for persons who were
attached because they refused tt
produce certain documentary evidence
wanted by the legislative committee
investigating the Lorimer scandal
The effect of this action is to deny the
State senate committee the right t.
gather the only evidence that car
definitely establish whether there was
a corruption fund, and how it was
used.
1t is a most remarkable decision, il
the synopsis published in the news
reports do not give a misleading i'm,
preston. However, that a Chicago
court should so decide is not startling
to people who observed the proceed,
ings of those courts in the trials OF
men accused of corruption in this case
Illinois people have from the be,
ginning been perfectly confident that
their courts and court processes could
never get" Lorimer or the people be-
hind his election.
We might stop for some fearful
animadversions on the decadence OF
public conscience and community self.
respect; we might lecture the State
of Illinois, and the people of Chicago,
shifting our breasts, like the Pharisee,
and thanking God that we were not as
other men. But what's the user The
United States Senate Copmittee on
Privileges and Elections last session
gave us the finest possible example of
how not to find facts when you con-
duct an investigation. The Chicago
Judge did not flout all the decencies
any more strikingly than did the Sen
ate committee. If the Senate is will
ing to blindfold itself to everything
except technicalities, why should a
Cook county judge do better?
The Lorimer case has now reached
the status where it is perfectly ap-
parent that nothing can be done about
it unless the Senate orders a new in
vestigation. The La Toilette resolu-
tion is likely to come up on Monday.
If it is defeated the Lorimer case
may be set down as ended. Mr.. Lori
mer will have been vindicated, sustain
ed in his claim to his seat; and in
cidentalIy, there will have been written
a chapter in the history of brazen
corruption, utter defiance of law.
courts, Legislatures, and congresses,
beyond comparison with any that has
yet been set down.
This Lorimer case is not important,
now, because of Lorimer. He is neither
big enough nor bold enough to do much
harm. He is just one vote, and he ad-
mitted that he cast it as Aldrich
directed. With Aldrich gone, he will
find some other leader to follow; and
the worst he can do in. choosing a
new bellwether will make him no
more dangerous.
But it is desirable to know, right
now, whether such a record of scandal,
corruption, and disgrace can be heaped
up, and the men who have been re-
sponsible for it 60 scot free? The
United States Senate is the last court
to decide that issue. 1t will render
the decision when it votes on the La
Toilette resolution. Just one sugges-
ton to the Senate before it takes that
vote:
Six years ago a new Senator was
speaking, when the Senate ostenta-
tiously filed from the chamber. The
new Senator observed that he was not
expecting the Senate to listen; he
knew the country would, and he add
ed that seats now temporarily va
Gated will later be permanently
That prediction has received a
measure of fulfillment that might well
warn Senators not unduly to defy
the public's sense of decency in this
Lorimer case. Political mortality is
going to be very high among states
men who now vote to end, for all
time, the Lorimer case, before a real
inquiry has ever been held.