The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-17

Bailey. Bryan. Chamberlain. CuIberson,
Fletcher. Gardner. Hitchcock, johnson,
Johnston. Martin, MARITIME. Hughes.
O'Gorman, Overman, Percy. Pomerene,
Reed. Shively. Simmons, Smith Of Ari-
IONA. Smith of Georgia, Smith of Mary
land, Smith OF South Carolina. Stone.
Swanson. Thornton, and Tillnan-29: Re
publicans, Bourne. Clapp, Fall CALM
ser, McCumber. and Works.. Total, 81.
Noes-Republicans, Borah, Brandegee,
Bristow. Burnham. Burton. Catron.
Crawford. Cummins. Du Pont. Gronna,
Jones, Kenyon, Massey, Mclean, Nelson,
Oliver, Page. Perkins. Smith Of Michigan,
Smoot. Sutherland. and Townsend. To-
tai, g.
The resolution came up shortly after
the Senate met. and Senator Bailey took
the floor and made a bitter attack on
President Taft. He described the Pres
ident's activity in the Lorimer case as
''officious and meddlesome." The Texas
Senator said that ne had put OF intro
ducing the resolution until after the
Lorimer vote was out OF the way, be-
cause he wanted 10 avoid complications.
as he continued. Mr.. Bailey practically
denounced President Taft for language
used in the Presidents letter to Col.
Roosevelt about the Lorimer case
Bailey Wakes Bitter.
When the President penned an IN
famous Islander OF ME in this letter.
no one knew 1t better than the Presi-
dent of the United States"
Senator Bailey declared that It was
far better that ten corrupt Senators
should sit in the Senate than that the
Constitution should be ravished to
oblige presidential politicians"
1T concerns me personally vastly
less than 1t does the Senate" said Mr..
Bailey. II am going out IN a few
months, and. OF course. as a citizen I
will be interested. But I will not be
a part of the United States Senate, and
will not be subject to the criticism
that will be leveled at this body If il
yields to the influence that are seeking
to control 1t. The Senate should stand
up before the country and, by adoption
of this resolution, assert its indepen-
dence, or. by refusing to adopt 1t, ad-
NIT that It is as base as II has been
painted by the President"
Senator Borah, of Idaho came to the
rescue of the President. and con-
tributed some interesting history Of
the Taft-Roosevelt correspondence and
its inception. He explained that Pres
ident Taft would never have written
the letter to Col. Roosevelt about the
Lorimer matter but for himself.
II had heard from an entirely reliable
source that Col. Roosevelt had decided
to write an article for the Outlook on
the Lorimer case, and I decided that It
might do more harm than good, and
went to see President Taft to urge him
to use his influence with Col. Roosevelt
to prevent him from writing tie article"
said Senator Borah. Il went TO tbs
President because l thought that be had
more influence at that zine with Col
Roosevelt than any other one person IN
the country.-A And l want to say here
that 1 doubt II he would ever have writ
ten the letter had I not asked him to
do So"
Taft Had Record.
Senator Borah expressed the opinion
Col Roosevelt he probably had before
him the record of the Lorimer case and
had read IL.
One OF the criticisms aimed at the
President by Senator Lorimer's friends
vas that, at the time he wrote to Roose-
yelt, he could not have read the record
II the case because II had not been
printed for the use of the Senate at that
ime. But Senator Borah proved conclu-
lively that printed copies of the testf-
nony were TO be had at least a month
,efore President Taft wrote the letter
Senator Borah made his explanation OF
he Presidents attitude SO clear that
language he had used earlier In the day
oward President Taft. The Senator from
IDAHO explained that he had talked with
he President and that he knew the
President had no thought ~ rejecting
N Senator Bailey because OF his attitude
n the Lorimer case. Mr.. Bailey said
hat he would not only withdraw the
language. but would edit 1t out of his
peech as 1t will appear in the Congress
ional Record.
Il could not remain silent and allow
he President to take the whole respon-
'ibaity for having written the letter to
-ol Roosevelt about the Lorimer case
when knew that the letter was written.
At my suggestion" sid ssnatee- Beeah.