Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-07
SENATOR KERN OPENS
FIGHT ON LORIMER
Debate and Argument May
Last Two Weeks and Pro-
long the Session
CBy Associated Press. J

ate today with a speech by Senator
Aefh. or indiana, a member of the in
Vestigauns committee, who signed the
minority report aginst Lorimer.
senator Kern gave especial attention
20 the plea that the case had been set
Aei og the senate's vindication last
year That plea, he said, had been rate
ed only at the last moment He ss,d
ne would not admit its validity. II bao
come too late ana that the plea itself
was res judicata."
senator Kern praised the persopaI
reputation Of Mr. Lorimer ana sail
that but for his convictions regarding
me gravity OF the charges, he would
L 10Y De round engaged in the disagreea-
ole task OF a prosecutor.
Senator Kern's speech TO-DAY tesdi,.
the attack on Senator I,orimer;s eIectio,o
brings that case actively before the sen
dts' where II is likely to be the princi-
pal topic OF consideration for at least
lHe next TWO weeks, and possibly may
prOiong the session of Congress
senators Lea and Kenyon. who with
ar Kern are the minority of the Lori
ileI MVestigating committee, holding
tHat the illinois senator's election was
Drought about by corruption. are ready
20 JON IN the fight against the majority
Lorimer "a
HISTORY OF CASE.
While the whole question Of the valid
lty or the election is the principal con-
sloeration before the senate, an impor-
tant feature which promises 10 precini-
tate the first fight and the FIRST fest Of
strength is the contention that I,orinner's
case IN legal parlance, is res judicata"-
OF mas been once graded by the senate
ana cannot be reopened. A majority of
the
investigation holds that Loriner cannot
be tried again on practically the Same
charges on which the senate. by A vote
or 20 to 40. acquitted him March /. 1911.
me minority holds that this reasoning
does not apply to Senator Lorimer's
case at all But the complexion of the
senate has been altered considerably
since Mr.. Lorimers vindication, and this
condition leads 20 much speculation. II
has been reported that a poll made BY
Mr.. Lorimer's friends convinced them
they could not expect more than 40
supporting votes, and so many senators
had declined to Indicate their views now
that Mr. Lorimer was advised to resign
IL was even said that Vice President
sherman recently carried that advice to
Mr. Lorimer in Chicago. Neither. how
ever. has confirmed it. and Senator Lori
mer today reiterated his refusal 10 talk
about resigning. He will be in his seat
during the attack, and defend himself
with speech, If his health permits.
SERIES OF SENSATIONS.
In the two years that Senator Lori
mer's election has been under fire, it has
furnished probably more sensations and
sudden developments than any other case
OF its kind. Mr.. Lorimer was elected by
the Illinois legislature on May q, 1909,
after prolonged deadlock. in which the
names Of more than loo candidates. Dem
ocrats and Republicans, had been pre-
scented unsuccessfully. However, it was
not until nearly a year later that the
validity OF his election was challenged,
when the now famous Confession" of
Charles a White, a member of the nu-
nois legislature, was published charging
that he had received $1,000 from Lee
I O'Neal Browne. Democratic leader of
the Illinois house of representatives, i'm
return for his vote for Senator Lori
mer. and also 500 as a share of gen
eral corruption fund" Then. in rapid
succession, followed a sensational series
OF confessions" by other members OF
the legislature. These confessions. how
ever, were later modified or repudiated,
with the exception of Whites. The 9TH
er men claimed they had received the
money out OF a general fund. and not in
return for their Lorimer votes, and in
some cases charged intimidation by Cook
county authorities 70 wiring the confess
sions from them. However, Lee O'Neal
Browne. who was charged with distrib-
uting "Lorimer money" was acquitted
BY a jury, and other indications were
ouashed- Charges OF jury bribing in
the Browne case were unsustained in
court.
FIRST INVESTIGATION.
a committee of the United States
senate reported that the charges of cor
ruption were not proved and held Sena-
tor Lorimer's title to his seat valid.
Immediately after, the Illinois senate
appointed a committee of it's own to
investigate and this committee report
ed that Lorimer would not have been
elected without bribery and corruption.
and the Illinois senate by a vote Of
SO to 10 indorsed that view. In the
meantime. after a series Of notable de-
/ bates in the United States senate, MI.
/ Lorimer was indicated there, as to 40,
with FIVE senator's not voting. The
quota Of senators then was 80 and
\ there was one vacancy in Colorado.
| SITUATION CHANGES.
since then by the admission of New
I Mexico and Arizona the quota Of SEN
ators has increased TO s6, but the Cor
Jrado vacancy still exists and there are
/ IS men to vote on the case this time.
I But Of the IS who voted to retain Mr..
Lorimer, all are not now in the senate
and four Of the five who refrained
from voting are also no longer mem
I bers The ranks of the forty who
voted against Lorimer have been de-
pleted by only five and these places
have been taken by neil who seem to
have indicated that they will follow
the views OF their predecessors.
Senator Curtis. of Kansas. who voted
for Mr.. Lorimer bAfore, is said to
be ready 20 vote against him this
4 time, but this is counterbalanced by
Senator Jones, OF Washington. who
voted against Mr.. Lorimer but will vote
for him this time.
This alignment seems to throw the
balance Of power mainly with the
new senator's. and there has been a
great deal of speculation.
SECOND INVESTIGATION.
The second investigation brought oIt
the charge that Edward Hines, the mill
lionaire lumberman. mad raised a fund
OF 500. 900 to put Lorlmer over" Du,
the majority of the investigating COM
uaittee rejected this entirely and exon
Grated Hines as well as Lorimer.
The senator's election, the majority
report holds, was due entirely to poll
tics in Illinois which made Mr. Lori
mer the only candidate who could mus.
ter a majority.