The Washington times., 1912-07-14
DEcENcY WINS A LONG RACE.

March |, 1911, the Senate voted on the exclusion
Of Lorimer at the conclusion Of the roaring farce
that was denominated the first investigation Of Lor-
liners title. The result was 46 for Lorimer, 40
against, and Lormer retained his seat. 1t was
close victory, but the advocates Of machine politics
believed ii conclusive. The thought of the case be-
ing reopened did not remotely occur to them.
At the opening OF the succeeding session, how
ever, in response to the demands of outraged public
sentiment, the case had to be taken up again. The
personnel Of the Senate had considerably changed
on March a. changed, because decent sentiment
working in many States, had forced the retirement
wrought the defeat of long list OF the men who
had supported Lorimer
Some Of them were driven from the Senate be-
cause Of their support Of Lorimer; more, because
THEY HAD COME TO BE RECOGNIZED AS,
HABITUALLY, THE LORIMER KIND OF SENA-
TORS.
The extent of this revolution in Senate personnel
was really striking. Some we're defeated for re-
nomination, some for election; some voluntarily re-
tired under fire rather than risk the defeat that i'm
pended Those who for all causes have already
dropped from the Senate, or been placed the re-
tring list for retirement March next are:
Bailey of Texas, Bulkeley of Connecticut,
Burrows Of Michigan Carter Of Montana Crane
Of Massachusetts, Culom of Illinois, Depew Of New
York, Dick of Ohio Flint of California, Frye of
Maine, Gamble Of South Dakota, Guggenheim of
Colorado Hale of Maine, Kean of New Jersey,
Nixon Of Nevada, Paynter of Kentucky, Piles Of
Washington, Scott of West Virginia-lS.
Almost all of the new Senators who came in to
take the places of men who had supported Lorimer
on the first vote, opposed him yesterday. Why?
Because they were directly from the people and
knew what the people wanted.
Four Senators who voted FOR Lonmer last year
voted AGAINST him this year. They are Burton Of
Ohio, Curtis of Kansas, Simmons of North Caro-
lima, Watson Of West Virginia. 1t is needless to
say that considerations Of political hygiene had large
weight with these versatile gentlemen.
One Senator-just one-enjoys the unique dis
tinction of voting AGAINST Lorimer last year, and
FOR him this year. Let his name be writ up large
and soe let the people of his State contemplate it
prayerfully.
He bilked progressive State into believing he
was progressive, and got himself elected. He has
been a thorough going reactionary ever since.
No plea can be entered for him, that he didn't
know all the facts, and was misled. He was
member of the second investigating committee.
He was placed on that committee BECAUSE he
had opposed Lorimer the first time. The theory in
making up the second committee that it should
be equally divided between the pro and the anti
Lorimer groups. This Senator Topped to the pro-
Lorimer side and made it possible to produce a
pro-Lorimer report, by vote of FIVE to three, from
the committee.
Let the people of his State get busy with him.
They in the right frame Of mind to do good job
They will not forget. He will be a one-term Sen
ator. He is
WESLEY L. JONES OF WASHINGTON.
| The people of Washington are accumulating a
fine stock OF experience with reactonay officials
They provided Ballinger; they have recently been
edited with the nauseous details of the judicial
career of their Federal Judge Hanford; they saw
their honestly elected progressive delegation thrown
out OF the Chicago convention in order that thevery
and torysm might count majority and steal a
Presidential nomination.
The State of Washington surely has had ample
experience as goat and that sort of experience is
| just what makes States progressive. Pennsylvania
Ohio, Wisconsin, California, all had theirs; now look
at them! 1t will be the same with Washington.
BY vote Of 55 to 28, Lorimer is declared to
have been conuptly elected and therefore not elect
ed at all. 1t is in itself magnificent victory for
common decency. But it is vastly more The des-
perate fight which the powers of evil made to save
Lorimer impressed on the nation as nothing has
done in recent decades the solidarity of the forces
of corruption and the absolutism of the power they
hold their tools in public life. 1t was a shock
ing, an awakening experience.
i Lorimer is but an incident His case, viewed ir
the largest way, must be recognized as one of the
most potent inspirations to the political revolt tina
is now in progress throughout the length and breadth
of the land. Lorimer is gone. He has taken with
him to retirement and obscurity notable galaxy o
public men who will serve their country vastly bette
in obscury than they ever could in public position
His has helped, nothing else, to pull dowr
the temple of corrupt methods and vicious influences