The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-20
Majority Of Senate Lorimer
Investigating Committee
Reports the Illinois Solon
Is Guiltless.
lob NOT PURCHASED
MAJORITY DECIDES
Minority of Members of the
Committee Are to Submit
a Report to the Senate in
Near Future.
(National News Association

(National News Association)
WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator
William P. Dillingham;. as chairman
of the senate committee which con-
Quoted the second investigation into
the charges of corruption in connec-
ton with the election of Senator Will
liam Lorimer of Illinois, today filed in
the senate report of that committee.
The verdict of the committee is in ia
vor of Senator Lorimer and holds that
his election was not procured by lille
gal and improper means.
This report is concurred in by five
of the eighth members of the investi-
eating committee, Senator Dillingham;,
Senator Gamble and Senator Jones,
Republicans, and Senator Fletcher and
Senator Johnston of Alabama, Demo
Gratis. The minority members of the
committee, Senator Kenyon, Republi-
can, and Senator Kern and Senator
Lee. Democrats, will submit the mi
nority views and a resolution declar-
ing that Senator Lorimer was not le-
gally elected, that his election was
procured by fraud and corruption and
that he is not entitled to his seat.
Res Adjudicata Plea.
The committee upholds the plea of
res adjudicata, which is in effect that
the case, having once been decided
by the Senate, cannot again be brought
into issue upon the same evidence. In
this connection it is strongly pointed
out that the claim of newly discovered
evidence was not substantiated. In
brief the basis of this newly discovered
evidence was the allegation of Clar
ence w. Funk, general manager of the
International Harvester company, that
Edward Hines, friend and backer OF
Senator Lorimer, had told him that
100000 had been expended in put
ting Lorimer over" and had told him
that he (Hines) had personally con
tributed $4,000 toward such fund.
The report sustains the plea of res
adjudicata, but in the event that the
senate should decline to accept it, the
committee submits it's conclusion up
on the evidence and finds in favor OF
Lorimer.
The report says in this regard: at
is charged that Lorimer was elected
corruptly This is the issue. Is this
charge true or is it false? If true he
should be denied a seat in this body
if not true we should so declare. We
have heard the evidence under oath
we have seen the witnesses as they
testified; they have been fully cross
examined; their evidence has been
carefully weighed; every suggestion
of possible proof has been followed
and nothing has been left undone tc
ascertain the truth of the charges
against Mr.. Lorimer.
! No Fraud Evidence.
There is absolutely no evidence in
/ all the testimony submitted intimat
| ing, suggesting or charging that viii
/ liam Lorimer was personally guilty oi
! any such corrupt practices or that he
authorized to employ corrupt practi
ces in his election.
I'VE are convinced that no vote was
secured for him by bribery; that what
ever money White, Beckemeyer, Link
Holstla or any other persons received
was not paid to him or them by any
one on Mr. Lorimer's behalf or in con
sderation of or to secure such vote ol
votes for him; that neither Edward
| Hines, nor anyone else raised or con
tributed to fund to be used TO secure
his election; that his election was the
logical result of existing political con
ditions in the state of Illinois and wa!
| free from any corrupt practices ant
therefore We must find, and We dt
! find, that William Lorimer's election
was not brought about or influenced
by corrupt methods and practices"