The Washington times., 1912-05-20
LOR|MER LAUDED
> IN REPORT MADE
TO SENATE TODAY
Illinois Man Cleared of
Bribery Charge by
Committee.

mer's counsel before the close OF tho
hearings.
Counsel raised the contention that alr
issues relating 20 the election and
qualifications OF William Lolimer as n
Senator fr1m Illinois. had teen finally
determined by the ) .nate ~ it's action
on Mer'h h I. 1oll," the report states,
and that such adjudication and deter
| niratirn n was in law ana justice bar
| to any further proceedings designed 10
"all. in question the legality 3f Mr..
| I orimers election and his right to n
| seat in the senate.
| Your committee Is OF the opinion
that all issues touching the election and
| qualifications OF William Lorimer were
finally adjudicated by the Senate March
| !, 1911, recognizing the right of Mr..
and its action is a bar to any further
proceedings In the Senate"
Public hearings occupied actually lO2
working days, according to the report.
One hundred and eighty witnesses testi-
fled, and the record contains S,5SS print
The committee desires to call atten-
well known I to the Senate, Sen p but appaf.
emily unknown to large proportion of
the people. that the investigation was
not complicated by any charges liz
acter, the discharge of his public du-
ties, or any other charge upon which
his expulsion from the Senate could be
| predicated
'"The only issue involved was to inves-
tlgate whether the election of William
Lorimer was due to corrupt practices"
Exonerates Hines.
The committees report devotes eleven
pages to a discussion and exoneration
Of Edward Hines, and the charges that
he told Clarence S. Funk that "slush
| fund" of 100000 had been raised to
cupied in a long account Of the i'm
portance of breaking the deadlock In
the Illinois Legislature on the Senator
| ship In order to get vote for protec-
tive tariff. Lorimer, the report pro-
ceeds. seemed to be the only man who
could break the deadlock, and Hines,
interested in the tariff on lumber. the
Senators say. procured the approval OF
the President and Senators Aldrich and
Penrose to Lorimer's selection:
The report discards the testimony OF
William Burgess, who claimed {. f.
Wiehe, secretary OF the Hines Lorimer
Company, had admitted on a train that
he contributed to a "slush fund" 1t
holds there was no evidence of leEis-
lative jackpot in the Legislature. Con-
gressman Charles A. Whites charges OF
corrupt methods in the Senatorial cleo
} ton were denounced as unworthy OF
belief.
Result of Conditions.
The ma aiority OF the committee finds
nothing in connection with Lorimers
own actions in connection with his
election which 1t thinks can be Just
ly criticised" 1t holds his election
was the result of political conditions
in Illinois, and 1t declares Lorimer
personal character is above reproach
The following passage from the re-
port bears on Lorimor's character:
"The committee patiently listened &c
equal patience have studied the tes-
timony, and have carefully and, thoy
think, judIciaily considered the same
1t finds no evidence that in the elec.
tion of William Lorimer as Senator
of the United states from the state
of Illinois corrupt methods or prac-
tices were employed and 1t is fac
that ought not to be overlooked OF
go unnoticed,. that nowhere in thu
entire mass of testimony Is there any
evidence showing that Mr.. Lorimer
by word or by act. ever said or die
s ton by the Legislature of Illinois
: which can be Justly criticised.
"One thing stands out most consplcu
ously, this whole record considered; an
n that is that throughout the long dead
s lock and all the pressure, temptations
Y opportunities, strain. and excitement In
cident to the election OF Senator. not
e withstanding the persistent effort mad
to fasten something of the kind on Mr.
@ Lorimer, not one word was said or on
thing done which in any wise refiecte'
on him.
:. Not an indiscreet remark, not a sus
{. picious suggestion. not an improper &C
: ton or an impropriety on his part, Il
Springfield or elsewhere, during tina
contest has been testified to by a singl
witness. The fact is, the personal In
tegrity, the habits, and life of Mr.. Lori
mer appeared wholly exemplary, and hi
personal character above reproach. HI
, most relentless political enemies con
; cede that. The Tribune, the mornin
after his election, editorially spoke O
:, his many merits and ability"
The minority report. signed by Sena
: tors Lea, Kern, and Kenyon, was intro
n duced in the Senate this afternoon.
"a holds that corrupt methods and prac
:, tees in the Senatorial election invaH
dates Lorlmer's selection. The repo
= declared:
believing that the confessions O
g members of the Legislature, strength
/ ened by corroborating circumstance
], and by other evidence relating to mem
It bers of the legislature who did not con
1, fess. established conclusively not onl
Is that at least ten votes were purchase
for the purpose of electing william
n Lorimer to the Senate, but that tn
q record reeks and teens with evidenc
Is of a general scheme of corruption W
have no hesitancy in stating that In
vestigation establishes beyond contra
diction that the election of Williar
Lorimer was obtained by corruI
means"
1