Omaha daily bee., 1912-07-12

WASHINGTON, July Ex-senator Lori
mer today began his speech defending
his right to his seat. He followed Eena-
tor Reed of Missouri who had made a
bitter attack on him and his election by
the Illinois legislature.
The senate chamber was filled up slowly
under the call for a quorum, but only
fifty-six senators answered to their
names. The senate galleries were not
half filled as Senator Lorimer began his
speech. he read from manuscript and his
voice was for the first few sentences
somewhat indistinct. He declared he
proposed to give the senate an insight
into the character of the men who, he
said, had tried to ruin him.
ut Is true that the senate has the
right to deny me seat in this body" he
began, ION the flimsiest pretext or no
pretext at all. / intend to snow that
no votes cast for me was influenced by
fraud.
'Mr. President" he said in measured
tones, this is no joke. This is solemn
and serious question. II the senate de-
cides to follow the views Of the minority
Of this investigation committee. 1t will be
a traversity on civilized jurisprudence, a
mockery on justice. It will be declara-
tion that the senate has decided to fol-
low the red flag; that 1t has become the
advocate of anarchy; has adopted the
doctrine of the recall as advocated by Its
arch-champion."
Attacks Chicago Papers.
Senator Lorimer departed from his
manuscript for moment to refer to the
Chicago newspapers He declared GER
tain of the newspaper owners and pub
fishers there would be in prison If the
public prosecutors had been active.
The senate gave the Illinois senator
close attention. He spoke slowly ant
with great emphasis Finally he dis.
carded his manuscript and took up 6
place in the center aisle from which ht
could be heard on both sides Of thu
chamber.
On the back walls of the chamber
were two diagrams Of Chicago streets
One showed the location of the Chicago
Tribune building with the valuation O.
other property at Dearborn and Madison
streets; the other showed property OF
Madison between LaSalle street ant
Fifth avenue, comparing the assessed
valuation of the Chicago Daily News
property and that adjoining.
From these diagrams Senator Lorime
made his attack on the Chicago news
papers which had opposed him.
| Senator Lorimer charged that while tn,
Tribune property was worth from $1,000
Geo to $10,0O0,0Oo, 1t paid taxes only ol
$4,000. He called these newspaper
robbers of the public treasury of Chi
cago' He attacked Victor Lawson o
the News and charged that the News oc
cupied school land at rental of 81 pc
square foot and paid no taxes. while les
valuable land across the street rented
for $3.50 per foot.
| Mr.. Lorimer charged that Mr. Lawson
| had secured unlawful reductions in tn,
taxes upon his home and business prop
erty and added that Mr. Lawson was try
ing to drive him out Of public life.
| "If States Attorney Wayman would
treat Victor lawson as he would trea
William Lorimer IL he were the trans
gressor," he declared, Victor Lawson
and the chief clerk in the assessors of
flee would be in the penitentiary toda.
for conspiracy to commit fraud
| Senator Lorimer launched into a spir
tied attack upon Geovernor Deneen ant
his fees In office as states attorney.
Some day the people Of my state vii
put into the states attorneys office.
he said, "a man who will go through
the records and make Governor Dennel
pay back into the school fund 5000 90
or more that belongs to him no NOR
| Continued on Second Page.)