The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-03-25
Let LorImer Now RESIGN

The best thing for Senator Lorimer
to do now that he has been confirmed
in his seat by a narrow majority, is
to resign that seat and appear before
the legislature which is now in SEES
sion in Illinois and ask for a re-elec-
ton. 1t would be still better for him
if some way could be devised by
which the matter might be fought out
in popular primary, Although there
is a primary system in Illinois, ii will
be remembered that Mr.. Lorimer was
not even a candidate before that pri
mary. Senator Hopkins received the
Republican nomination at that time
by the primary but large number
OF Republicans did not vote for him.
The mandatory plan, such as prevails
in Oregon, is not used in Illinois If
Senator Lorimer could secure from
the legislature or better, from the pri-
mary, a popular endorsement of his
course, ii would 20 far to convince
the public that he was guiltless of the
bribery used to secure his election.
That bribery was used there can be
no manner Of doubt, the only stick
ing point with the majority of the
Senate being whether Senator Lori
mer was conscious OF that bribery.
When one considers the senator's
thorough knowledge of the political
game, his long bossism of Chicago
politics. his continuous presence at
Springfield during the time the sena-
torship was being voted for and when
| no trau alarfaA uaavpu d..fdadf,. IA
culiar to say the least, that he should
have had no knowledge OF the forces
which brought about his success. The
public will be very greatly interested
/ in reading the names OF the senators
who voted for Lorimer, and If we are
not very much mistaken It will be
asking those senators some very en-
barrassing questions.
That the trouble began with the
slovenly, intellectually dishonest and
cowardly majority report Of the com
mittee on privileges and elections
goes without saying.
That the members OF this commit.
tee having committeda fatal error and
lost all sense OF proportion. should
now seek to shield themselves behind
the Senate Is only natural but the
American people may we'll hope that
there is enough spirit and virtue and
sense OF self-preservation combined
in the whole body OF the Senate "a
foil them in this their attempt upon
the very life OF our representative in
stitutions.
The inherent vice In the majority
report seems TO be simply this, that
the members OF the committee who
signed the report acting In contra.ven
ton OF both the letter and spirit oil
the constitution. evidently regard the
Senate as a narrow criminal Law
court, bound by strained construc
ton when as judges II suits theil
purposel OF all the trivial technical
ties In regard to the admission OF evi
dence. an attitude which has so Otter
resulted In the miscarriage OF justic,
in minor political oifenses. and ever
then, greatly to the scandal OF IN,
community at large.
At the bar OF public opinion, en-
lightened by all the revolving details
brought out In the Illinois crimina
courts. Mr. Lorimer was long ago nm
seated. and the Issue now at stake 4
neither more nor less than the dig
nifty, reputation. and even integrity o
the Senate itself
II Mr. Lorimer Is himself such al
exemplary citizen that the mere des
cripiion OF his many virtues bring
tears TO the ewes OF some OF your NOR
emotional colleagues. let him resigl
and rcsuhmit his case to the bod,
from which he claims title to his sea
Should All Baba and his thirty or for
~ Springfield associates again cleo
him the shame will then at least b.
confined 10 one state and not b.
spread over the whole Union BIOS
ton Transcript