The Washington times., 1912-07-13
Lorimer'S Plea
Before the Vote
Was Called For


along lines similar to those he has pre-
viously followed. 1t was dramatic,
forceful. and appealing. 1t was in the.
presence Of crowded galleries Of the en-
tire Senate and many House members.
Large numbers of women attended.
Lorimer assailed the minority of the
committee, Senators Kern, Kenyon, and
Lea. He charged them in substance
with misrepresenting the record. He
drew parallels between his own case and
the case Of Senator Percy and the old
charges against Senator Crawford.
He led the Senate through various
phases Of the case, covering the last
two and one-half years, which he said
Senators did not know Of
One of these was the charge that
Charles White had been paid $500 to
testify against him. He ascribed the
votes for him of the Democrats in the
Illinois Legislature to old friendship on
the part of friends and playfellows of
his toyhocd days.
Lea Case Taken Up.
In this connection he said: Must
man be charged with corruption be-
cause he has secured the votes of his
playfellows, the friends of his boy
country would lay that charge to the
door of any citizen II they were
familiar with the history and the life
that / have lived and the record Of
this case"
He then took up the case of the
election Of Senator Lea of Tennessee
and pointed out that Senator Lea.
though Democrat had been elected
by the help OF thirty-two Republican
votes, which had not been given him
political conditions in Tennessee. He
mphasized this as showing that a BIZ
partisan combination did not neces-
sarily point to corruption.
Lea, Lorimer dramatically explained,
as he stood in the aisle and faced the
Democrats! Il want you to know that
I am not pleading for votes. I wouldnt t
that I came here corruptly. l don't
want your votes unless you believe that
my certificate Is as good and clean es
that Of any man that ever sat in this
body"
No Tool of Interests.
Abiding to the fact that it was
charged that special interests were
trying to keep him in the Senate. Lori
mer said one of the largest interests in
the country, the International Har-
vester Company, had left no stone un-
turned to throw him out of the Senate.
Reports were current through the
morning that Senators friends to Lori
nner were making last desperate ef-
= fort to convert enough votes to save
him, and that the case was being al
lowed to drag along because of the be-
lief that he was changing the views OF
some Senators and perhaps gaining
some votes.
Scores His Enemies.
Senator Lorinier began today by
reading the testimony of Michael Link
one OF the members of the Legislature
Of Illinois alleged to have been bough
TO vote for Lorimer. In his testimony
Link denied that he had been bribed
In dealing with this and other testi
mony Lorimer challenged the construc
tion put on the record by the minorit!
members of the committee, Senators
Kern, Kenyon and Lea.
After. reading Links denial. Lorime
shouted: And yet for two and one
half years the Impression has beel
sent out over this country that Linl
confessed that he had been corrupte,
to vote for Lorimer. The minoris,
ed in creating the impression that Lin
confessed In the face of this record.
"I now call on you, one or all, to re
flute this testimony. You are in tn
chamber today and were not here yes
terday."
Senators Kern. Kenyon, and Lea, 1
their seats, listened in silence.
Lorimer then took up the testimony c
II. ]. c. Beckemeyer, one of the me
alleged to have been bribed, and VIII
said Here's your Lorimer money"
reference to money alleged to have bee
given him by Lee O'Neil Browne.
The record showed that Beckemeyt
said he had voted for Lorimer at tn
request and solicitation OF George A
achuler, a Democratic colleague.
"Will some member OF the minorit
refute this statement" shouted Lor
mer. And II you can't do II now let
not have discussion OF II Rfterwar'
You're all here In tnfs chamber now.
He proceeded to read from Beck'
meyers testimony to show that Beck'
meyer said he was not bribed.
This is Beckemeyer's testimony,