Omaha daily bee., 1912-07-14
VOTE OF SENATE
TO GUST LORIMER
MOST DECISIVE
Ballot on Long Drawn Out Contest
Case from Illinois Shows
IS to 28 Against.
EIGHT SENATORS ARE PAIRED
Roll Call Shows Number Of Changes
Since First Vote.
CLOSING SCENE rs DRAMATIC
Lorimer Finishes His Address and
Walks Slowly from Chamber.
LEA RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
Vote Taken on Minority Report
Declaring Election Invalid.
PASSES OUT OF THE RECORDS
Seat is Vacant and 1t Now Appears
"a RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
Vote Taken on Minority Report
Declaring Election Invalid.
PASSES OUT OF THE RECORDS
Seat Is Vacant and 1t Now Appears
that Lorimer Never Was Elected
to the United States
Senate.

WASHINGTON, July lS.-By vote OF
b to %. the United States senate today
unseated William Lorimer. the junior
senator from Illinois, and declared his
title to his seat invalid.
The end of the long fight to oust the
senator came after six days of pro-
Ilonged debate In which Senator Lorimer
himself had occupied the floor for three
sessions, making an inlpassioned defense
of his election.
The final vote was on the resolution
offered by Luke Lea, senator from Ten
nessee, declaring the Lorimer election by
the Illinois legislature in 1909 invalid.
The adoption of the Lea resolution car
lried with it the senate's verdict that Cor
irupt methods and practices were en-
ployed in the election of William Lori
mer."
Closing Is Dramatic.
The closing moments OF the trial were
intensely dramatic. Lorimer, holding the
floor, made a last defense Of his election,
and declared he did not appeal for the
votes of any senator, but asked for JUS
tice.
Senator Lorimer, when the vote was
announced. walked slowly toward the
back of the room and passed into a
"cloak room, Senator Smoot throwing an
arm over his shoulder
The vote ousting him was concluded at
e:Oa o'clock. The man who had occupied
a seat in the senate since June Is, 1889,
by the vote today passes out Of the rec
ords and never officially has held a seat
in the senate of the United States.
Vote on Lea Resolution.
The Lea resolution, adopted by a vote
of almost two to one, was as follows. !.
Resolved, That corrupt methods and
practices were employed in the election
of William Lormer to the senate of the
United States from the state of Illinois
and that his election was therefore in
valid.
In the closing sentences of his speech
Senator Lorimer expressed gratitude fol
tributes which senators had paid to his
private life.
Every man who has such a life has
his own reward-he has 1t here" he said
81 ask nothing on that account; it has
no bearing in the case. l hope it will
influence no senator in making up his
Judgment
He spoke of his family
Il have been the happiest Of men, liv-
ing and blessed by Gods son." he said
81 ask nothing because Of them, or be-
cause of my ideal home life"
hu bo
the worst foes of Lorimer have not i'm
'lpeached his integrity. They have said
that his word was as good as his bond;
that he never turned on a friend; that
he has been consistent, right or wrong.
But l ask no consideration for that.
When senators are making UP their
minds, when they are deciding whether
they will believe Lorimer or Charles A.
White, all l ask is to consider in con-
nection with record of forty years
my truth and veracity, as stated by
my enemies. l ask the consideration of
senators, akSyto whether they will believe
the bribetaker, who has lied time and
again, or believe me.
why He Refused to Resign.
.Much has been said about Lorimer' S
resigning.'" he continued. IF at the
beginning of this case had believed
that one man had been bribed to vote
for me, / would have laid my resigna-
ton on the vice presidents table. But
know the record. I know there was
not a corrupt vote cast for me.
ITO resign in the face of that knowl-
edge? In the face Of that conviction?
g Because they say, the senate has
been canvassed and enough votes have
- ; Irontinuad m Sacond pagao