Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-11
Galleries Rapidly Fill.

never succeeded in controlling.
THE only man who stood up against
them" Senator Lorimer continued, was
the senior Carter Harrison, who was as
sassinated
Long, long ago / would have been the
fair-haired boy he continued. had l
climbed the steps to the offices of the
newspaper editors, Bonded my knees and
become their subservient tool and helped
them to plumber the public treasury OF
illinois,
Thornton Speaks for Lorimer.
That the second investigation had
btrengt rened the case in Mr.. I4orfmer's
favor was the position taken by Senator
Thornton OF I.ouisins. When the ques-
Sion of reopening the case was up, he
said, a majority of the Senate was that
day ready to vote against the Illinois
senator, and for that reason. he main
tanned, the case should not have been re-
opened.
The minority report of the investigating
committee against Mr.. Lori1ner virtually
admits that there was no guilty knowl-
edge on the part OF Mr.. Lorimer, and
does not show the sources of any cOrrup-
ZION fund 1t is highly probably. he con-
finued. that money was distributed to
members of the legislature of Illinois out
of jackpot fund, but there is nothing to
show that Mr.. Lorimer is even remotely
connected with that fund.
Admitting that public opinion is over
.whelmingly in favor of the conviction of
Mr.. Lorimer, Senator Thornton declared
that the great body of the people can
know little of the testimony taken in the
case and know little about the facts ex-
cept from editorials written by persons
who know nothing or little of the testi-
mony.
Says Vote Defeated Cul1om.
Senator Thornton mentioned the vote
of Senator Cullom Of Illinois in favor Of
Senator Lorimer at the former trial.
Senator Cuilom was defeated for re-elec-
ton to the Senate after fifty years OF pub
lie service for the state, he said, because
OF that vote.
II am sure, however, he added. that
he would rather have received that I'M
merited blow than be untrue to his con-
victions. l believe the state of Illinois
dishonored herself by defeating the man
who had so long and SO faithfully served
her"
Senator Thornton reiterated the state
ments of many of the other speakers
in speaking of the home life and private
character of Mr.. Lorimer.
Il cannot vote to degrade this man." he
concluded. for my conscience would
give me no rest.
Lea Opposes Illinoisan.
GOhotOk LuhS 1ccs WHO IOuOWcu senator
Thornton. and opposed the right OF Mr.
Lorimer to his seat in the Senate, de-
clared that he could not accept the doc
trine that the Senate had already dis
posed Of the case by its first decision.
He declared the action of the majority
Of the Lorimer committee in consenting
70 take up the case again was wholly in
consistent with such q plea.
Senator Lea was q democratic member
OF the Lorimer investigation committee.
He contended that with the case before
the Senate the entire record must be
considered that the testimony of the
previous hearing could not be excluded.
An election case 10 never finally de-
icided until 1t Is decided right he said.
The facts. said Senator Lea. were suf-
Aoient to justify a verdict against the
Illinois senator. and he reviewed the tes-
timony to gain support for this position.
referring to the 'slush'' fund story, he
tty between Clarence s. Funk and Ed
ward Hines. The former had given his
testimony reluctantly, he said, while
there was every inducement to Hines to
mony, he said, in support of Funk's YER
sion.
"The difference Is that Funk would
have to lie to escape the crime of perjury,
while Hines would have to lie to escape
The majority Of the committee was
charged by Senator Lea with refusing to
give credence to any witness opposed to
Lorimer; and in addition to Funk, the
speaker mentioned in this connection
Senator Holstlaw, Charles A. White and
Michael 8. Link.
He declared that the majority Of the
Lorimer committee had rather discredited
the laws for the punishment Of bribery
II both the briber and bribetaker
would confess both would be disbelieved
and the story doubly discredited" he
said.
The position of the minority on the
korimer committee he outlined briefly.
Four members Of the Illinois legislature
had confessed to having received money
Tor voting for Mr.. Lorimer, and the
bride givers being equally guilty, seven
were found guilty Of bribery.
Inc deduction of these would leave
Lor1mer less than a majority Of the legis-
lature, rendering his election invalid. ana
requiring that his seat be vacated.
These confessions cannot" he said,
be thrust lightly aside; they bear the
earmarks OF truth. The whole record
must be considered It cannot be read
without convincing the reader that there
was a wholesale scheme OF corruption
and that Mr.. Lorimer was the beneficiary
of it"
Mr.. Lea closed with a plea to the Sen
ate 1or the expulsion Of Mr.. Lorimer and
the publication Of its membership He
ridtculed the pleas of pro-Lomimer SEN
etors that they were making, as he said.
martyrs OF themselves by taking posi-
ton with the Illinois senator.
Reed Urges Expulsion.
Mr.. Reed OF Missouri supplemented Mr.
Lea's Argument with q plea for the adop-
ton OF the expulsion resolution. He de-
MED the alleged influence Of the Chicago
newspapers in the case
I have never known Of great news
papers conducted by great editors" he
said. deliberately entering into a con-
spiracy to fasten foul crime on q man,
or to suborn perjury.
II the charges made in this case are
not true. then 1t must be true that the
chicago newspapers are in the hands of
-arrant knaves. But / must have further
proof before 1 will accept this view, Such
. defense is proof to me that there r.
great lack OF other and better defense"
Richmond Detectives Death.