The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-05
.LORIMER'S
LAST STAND
He and His Friends Holding
Conferences
SEN. KERN IN OPPOSITION
A Long Discussion of the Case Is Ex-
pected--It May Delay the
Adjournment of
Congress. Ii.
SEN. KERN IN OPPOSITION

| Washington, June 5.-The second trial
of Senator Lorimer of Illinois on the
| charge of having been elected by cor
rupt methods was begun in the Senate
Yesterday with speech by Senator Kern
ct Indiana, o member OF the lnvestigat-
ing committee who signed the minority
report against Lorimer. Lorimer oceu-
pied seat near the speaker, and gave
close attention to him.
Senator Kern gave especially attention
TO the plea that the case had been set
| tied by the senator's vindication at the
! FIRST trial last year. That plea, lie said,
had been raised only at the last moment.
| EIe declined to admit its validity, de-
elarng it had come too late, and that
the plea itself was res judicata
/ Reminding the Senate that under tile
constitution il is the judge OF the quail
| iiications of its own members, Mr.. Kern
commended it was competent for that
| body to proceed at any time in any mat
ter involving the integrity OF its mem
bership.
| "There was" he said, "no suggestion
| by Senator Lorimer or any one on his
| behalf that the Senate had not ample
power to direct reinvestigation of his
case. He tactly aequiesced in the Sen
atc's action. He appeared in person and
| nv counsel before the committee in the
months of investigation, cross-eNamin-
ing all witnesses called by the commit
tee. and examining scores of witnesses
in his behalf on every possible phase
al the case"
Mr.. Kern declared that if any of the
committee believed that questions be-
inc investigated were "res judicata" they
were strongly reticent in not mention
ing IT," while permitting the continue
tion of the investigation at cost Of
more than $4,000. He refused to con-
eede that the proceeding was analogous
to civil action at law, but he argued
that. if it were. the granting of new
trial--even on the sole ground of new
ly discovered evidence opened up the
cast for a complete reinvestigation.
at is now too late for Senator Lori
mer to be permitted to urge this re-
markable defense" declared the Indian
senator
MIR. Kern said he believed the first in
vestigation had been utterly incomplete,
and had failed to develop facts which
rust have been accessible. He praised
the personal reputation of Mr.. Lorimer,
and said that but for his own convic-
tions regarding the gravity OF the
charges. he would not be found engaged
in the disagreeable task of proseeu-
tor.
Senator Kern's speech brings the ia
nous case actively before the Senate,
v here it is likely to be the principal
topic Of consideration for the next two
weeks at least, and possibly may pro-
long the session of Congress.
Senators Lea and Kenyon, who with
MIR. Kern constitute the minority OF the
Lorimer investigating committee, and
who hold that the senator's election was
brought about by corruption, are ready
to Join in the fight against the majority
report, which completely exonerates Mr..
Larimer.
Friends of Senator Lorimer are nego
tiating to have the resolution declar.
iny the election invalid postponed until
after the national convention.