New-York tribune., 1912-07-14
LORlMER TWICE ON TRIAL
Final Ousting Follows More than
Two Years Contest.

Washington, July l3.-For more than
two years the fight had been on to oust
William Lorimer from his seat as Sem
ator from the state Of Illinois. constant
newspaper agitation, investigations by TWO
Senate committees and one committee OF
the Illinois Legislature, millions of words
OF testimony and scores Of speeches Kept
the case Of Lorimer before the country.
Charges and counter charges OF bribery
and corruption, elimination and recrimlna-
tlon. indictments. trials and confessions
galore have filled the history OF the case.
To-day's vote in the Senate ended one OF
the most sensational legislative imOrogllos
the country has ever known.
The contest began on April 30, 1910 about
year after the election OF Lorlmer 10 the
Senate. with the publication in THE Chi
cago Tribune" Of a story by Charles a.
White member OF the illinois Legis-
lature. exposing corruption in that body
and charging that White had been bribed
10 vote for Lorimer for Senator. Lorimer
was elected by a combination Of Democrats
and Republicans in the Legislature. Soon
after the publication OF the White story
the new Senator arose In the Senate
chamber and demanded an investigation OF
his election.
Senate Investigation was ordered and
committee. headed by Senator Burrows
(Republcan). Of Michigan, took up the task
For nearly four months-September to De-
cember, l9l0-the committee took testl-
mony at Chicago and Washington, and
finally submitted n report generating
Lorimer. 4 minority report. however, pre-
sented by Senator BeveridGe, Of Indiana,
sustained the charges against Lorimer.
After a long debate, in the course OF
which Lorimer delivered a sensatonally
brilliant speech defending himself. the ma
jorlty report was adopted by the Senate
on March /. 1911. by a vote Of 46 to 20, five
not voting
Meantime the case had startled Illinois
and the state was ablaze with the devel-
opments Indictment after indictment was
found against the members OF the Legis-
lature which elected Lorlmcr White had
! confessed" that he was given sl,0oo by
Representative Lee O'Nenl Browne, Demo
cratic leader OF the Legislature. and S9OC
by Representative Robert o. Wilson "a
vote for Lorimcr. Browne was indicted FOR
bribery. At his FIRST trial the jury dis
agreed. and AT the second trial he was ac-
quilted. Charges OF Jury bribery In con,
nection with his acquittal were made. but
a jury which tried the jury bribery case
disagreed.
Representatives Wilson and Michael s
! Linn were indicted tor perjury
Ine Illinois Legislature took up the scan
ddI, aud the licIm InNestlgaunB COmmItte,
was appointed, after the United states sen
ate hdu cXuncratrd LOTlmtT. Nnue tnIi
committee was IN session clarence ). FUNK
general manager OF the lnterna, IOual Har
NcstcT Company, tcstincd mat ne mad beer
asked by Ld~ard Hines, Il wealthy lum
| herman, Who ndu been closely Interested IL
! the LOrlmcr case In the senate. To give .lO
! vcg OF a ylrJ.cp fund 10 help put LOriinci
| over at Springfield.
This caused another sensation. and re-
suited ia the rcupening Of the case in IN,
| senate. 4 special committee Ut eight be
| gan rcinyestigatiOn OF the case. OHc'
| more the sOrdid stories OF alleged bribery
and corruption were dragged out, and ono,
more the numerous 'CtnIcsslOnS md1'
their appearance. Nearly one hundred aGC
| sixty witnesses were examined.
Meantime. Senator Lorimer took his place
daily ~ the Senate chamber, and conducted
his own defence against the charges thai
| tnat place mad been bought
| The second committee, headed by Senator
Dillingham;. Of Vermont. brought In ma
JOTIty report again eNOntfdtlnB lSOllIntT dit
a minority report COndemning him. ABaIi
the debate began. and for months the mat
ter was under discussion. Finally an agree
ment was reached that a vote be taken or
the Legislative day OF July 6-last Satur
day But the debate again grew bitter. anC
by taking recesses. instead Of adjourning
the Senate kept itself on the legislative day
OF July until to-day. when the final vot,
was reached.
During tho second investigation Senator
| I ,Orlmers health failed rapidly. At on,
| time he was kept at his home In Chicago
for weeks by heart trouble, and his phy
slcian fiatly refused TO allow him 10 return
10 washington For this reason considera
| ton Of the second report H. the Senate wa,
| DELAYED from week 20 week, TO allow hin
| time 20 appear in his own defence. lie had
! been constantly In his place In the Senate
however. since the time for vote wa:
| fixed