Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-06
LOR|MER CASE
REOPENED IN
SENATE TODAY
Speech of Senator KernSup-
porting Minority Report.
Against Senator Brings
Matter to Issue Again.
NEW SENATORS MAY
CHANGE THE RESULT

Admission Of Two States
and Retirement Of Sena-
tors Who Voted for Lori
mer May Change Result.
Washington, d. c., June 4.--Senato1
Kern's speech today leading the at-
tack on Senator Lorimers election
brings that case actively before the
senate, where 1t Is likely to be the
principal topic Of consideration for at
least the next two weeks and possibly
may prolong the session OF congress.
Senators Lea and Kenyon, who with
Mr.. Kern are the minority of the Lori
mer investigating committee, holding
that the Illinois senator's election was
brought about by corruption, are
ready to join in the fight against the
majority report generating Mr.. Lori
mer.
While the whole question of the valid
ity of the election Is the principal
consideration before the senate, a fea-
ture which promises to precipitate the
first test Of strength Is the contention
that Lorimer's case In legal parlance
!, is res judicata," or has been once de-
cided by the senate and cannot be re-
opened. A majority Of the committee
which made the second investigation
holds that Lorimer cannot be tried
again on practically the same charges
on which the senate by vote Of as
to 40 acquitted him March 1, 1911.
The minority holds that this reason
ing does not apply to Senator Lori
mer's case.
The complexion Of the senate has
altered considerably since Mr.. Lori
mer's vindication and this leads to-
much speculation. It has been re-
ported that poll made by Mr.. Lori
mer's friends convinced them they
could not expect more than 40 sup
porting votes and that many senator's
had declined to indicate their views.
now that Mr.. Lorimer was advised to
resign. It was even said that Vide
President Sherman recently carried
that advice to Mr. Lorimer in Chicago.
Neither, however, has confirmed IT,
and Senator Lorimer today reiterated
his refusal to talk about resigning He
will be in his seat during the attack
and defend himself In speech, II his
health permits.
Lorimer Under Fire Two Years.
In the two years that Senator Lori
mer's election has been under fire 1t
has furnished probably more sensa-
lions than any other case Of its kind.
Mr.. Lorimer was elected by the ILL
nois legislature on May 21, 1909 after
a prolonged deadlock in which the
names OF more than one hundred candf-
dates, democrats and republicans. had
been presented unsuccessfully. How
ever, 1t was not until nearly year
later that the validity of his election
was challenged when the now famous
confession" Of Charles A. White q
member OF the Illinois legislature was
published, charging that he had re-
ceived $1,000 from Lee O'Neill Browne
democratic leader Of the Illinois house
Of representatives in return for his
vote for Senator Lorimer. and also
5000 as a share Of general cor
ruption fund"
Series Of "confesslons.'
Then in rapid succession followed
a sensational series of "confessions"
by other members OF the legislature.
These confessions. however, were
later modified or repudiated, with the
exception of Whites. The other men
claimed they had received the money
out OF general fund and not in re-
turn for their Lorimer votes, and In
some cases charged intimidation by
Cook county authorities to wiring the
confessions from them.
Lee O'Neill Browne, who was
charged with distributing "Lorimer
money" was acquitted by Jury and
other indictments were quashed.
Charges of jury bribing In the
Browne case were unsustained in
court.
committee OF the United States
senate reported that the charges of
corruption were not proved and held
Senator Lorimer's title to his seat
valid. Immediately thereafter the
Illinois senate appointed a commit
tee of its own to investigate and this
committee reported that Lorimer
would not have been elected without
bribery and corruption and the ILL
nois senate by vote of 80 to 10 in
dorsed that view.
New Senators May Change Result.
In the meantime, after series Of
notable debates in the United States
senate, Mr.. Lorimer was vindicated
there, 46 to 40. with Ave senators not
voting The quota Of senators was 90.
with one vacancy in Colorado.
Since then by the admission of New
Mexico and Arizona, the quota has
increased to 96, but the Colorado va
cancy still exists and there are 95
men to vote on the case this time. But
for the vice president, who voted to
retain Mr. Lorimer, eleven are not
now in the senate, and four Of the
five who refrained from voting are no
longer members. The ranks Of the 40
who voted against Lorimer have been
depleted by only Ave and these places
have been taken by men who seem to
have indicated that they will follow
the views of their predecessors.
Senator Curtis Of Kansas, who voted
for Mr.. Lorimer before, 10 said to be