Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-09
FLETCHER OF FLORIDA coNTiN.
uEs TO DEFEND COLLEAGUES
TITLE TO SEAT.
TERMS FIGHT OF ANTS
ONLY NEWSPAPER WAR
Accuses Journals Of Calling for Rule Of
People and Setting Themselves UP
40 "ths Psopls"-Dsniss That Prsda.
tory Wealth Influenced Action Of I'LL.
neis Legislature.

WASHINGTON, July 9.-Continuing his
sneech in support of Senator Lorimer's
right to his seat, Senator Fletcher, OF
Florida, today declared the opposition
to the Illinois senator was due to GER
tain newspapers.
1T is a newspaper war;" ne SAID.
Let the people rule; We are the peo-
ple;' say the papers.
I'VE are given to understand tnat
there is q terrible situation. What ID
the evidence of it? They say that
Lorimer was elected by the aid OF dem
ocrats. Are there not other republican
senator's similarly elected. and are
there not democratic senators who
have been elected by the aid OF repubii-
cans? Are veto eject all such SEN
ators?"
Exoneratss Predatory Wealth.
He traced Mr. Lorimer's Di-partisaI !,
election to the Illinois constitution. He
contended that there was no evidence
whatever that predatory wealth had
been a factor either in Lorimer's cleo
ton or his retention Of his seat.
He is making his own fight unaided
and in a fair and honorable way, and
tU6TS lS no cNAucuSc W SAC SSAASA~~Ss
said Mr.. Fletcher.
When Mr.. Fletcher had concluded
Senator Dillingham; resumed and con-
tended that there was absolutely no
evidence that State Representative
Beckemeyer had received money for
voting for Lorimer.
Indeed" he declared. mo man has
ever confessed to bribery in the case
except Charles A. White. and he con-
fessed it for $780,"
Explains Corruption Fund.
Senator Fletcher speaking in defense
Of Senator Lorimer. gave the senate
his views regarding the source Of the
corruption fund from which he conced-
ed that Charles A. White. Michael 81
Link, H. ]. G. Beckemeyer. d. w. Holt
law and others received money. He
declared tho fund was scontrihuted,s by
liquor interests and others affected by
Legislation. There was no evidence. he
said, that the corruption fund had any.
thing to do with the election of Senator
Lorimer.
In the list of those who, he said,
profited from such a fund Senator
Fletcher named Cyril r. Jandus. John
Dewolf, w. c. Blair and Henry Wheel.
an, democratic representatives accused
In the minority report Of the senatorial
investigating committee Of having been
paid for their Lorimer votes.
Views Of Senators Change.
The attitude Of the senator's who are
speaking in defense Of Senator Lori
mer is different In this particular from
what 1t was during the former investf-
cation. A year ago the I.oriner lead
ers were reluctant to admit that White
and the others had received money
from any corruption fund whatever.
Senator Bailey even went so Tar at
that time as to charge that the foes OF
the Illinois senator had faxed de-
post slip offered in evidence to sup
port Holstlaw's statement that he had
deposited money paid him by John
Broderick. During the second investi-
CATION the payment of money to Hoist
law was SO well established that the
fact has been conceded by all the
speakers in the present debate.
Senators opposed to Mr.. Lorimer IN
tend to make capital out of the admis-
sion that the same Illinois legislative
leaders who were lining up votes for
Lorimer we're at the same time distrtb-
their wishes IN legislation.
Option Bill Up at Time.
Senator Fletcher is one of the demo-.
cratic members Of the investigating
committee. He. also was a member OF
the first committee, and his address
which occupied the greater part of the
afternoon. contained the first detailed
explanation from the Lorimer side 0f
~ hA
.That some money was apportfoned
out after the legislature adjourned and
paid over to certain members of the
legislature there Is evidence. SAID
Senator Fletcher. This record discloses
clearly defined trails leading toward
original sources Of such supply In no
wiae connected with the election OF
senator. Tracing II according to the
proofs, only blind alleys. unused paths,
into insurmountable obstacles.
lead In the direction OF the senatorial
election.
.'The clear solution of the mystery
surrounding Jandus and his cash, Ue
Wolf and his bible money. Blair and
his baseball bills, Wheelan and his
referred TO in the minority
Views, will be found in the fact that
they were each allied with the wet"
side in their respective counties. ar.
rayed against prohibition and In some
IL not all instances were elected on
that issue. The evidence shows local
option measures were before the legls-
lature Of 1900. Various other bills cal-
culated to draw forth contributions
were introduced. referred and disposed
Of.
er;nas In Reessvslt's Name.
IN Senator Fletcher's speech ire.
uuent reference was made to Theodore
The former president and
Senator Lorimer were compared, much
to the advantage OF the latter. Sen n
atcr Fletcher showed his southern. an
tipathy TO the negro by sarcastically
referring to Roosevelt - one Who
would sit 1t the same table with Book