The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-14
THE TIMES DsPATCH RICHMOND VA SUNDAY july a. 1912

lief. my unswcrvinr conviction. that
no man who voted for Lorimer did so
Tor corrupt motives" he said slowly.
to emphasize each word.
During tbs utterance no stood with
one foot forward. his face and hands
raised to the dome OF the Senate cell
ing. his eyes wide opei6d and strain
ing upward in supplication.
Then ho turned suddenly and fierce
ly upon his colleagues. Much ha,
been said about Lorimers resigna-
ton" What?" he shrlckod Re
sign. quit even in the face OF defcatp
Never. This is not n chamber Cor
towards. I'll not resign"
When Lorimer had indicated his
hnal. Senator Lea called for the roll
call Senator Dixon. OF Montana
Welt. interrupted to deny LorImer's
charge of bribery OF Southern dele.
gates for Roosevelt
Then tho aged Senator Tillman
asked that the clerk cad a state
ment explaining his vote In Lorimer's
favor by the declaration that he was
convinced OF his Innocence
Il am too sick to read it myself
the erstwhilc 'Pitchford Ben" declared
In quavering accents
Thlnnn's sobs rnrcstrnlncd.
AS tho clerk sonorously droned
through Tillman's culogy OF ;he
Carolinan twice went unestTained.
lis sobs were plainly audible when
the clerk read his declaration that hs
expected soon 10 meet his Maker"
According TO records OF tho Senate.
Lorlmer is the eleventh member OF
the upper branch OF ConE'ess to b,
expelled During the civil War many
Southcrners were oustcd because OF
their espousal OF the Confcuera,s
cause. The last celebrated case was
that of Senator John z. Stockton. OF
New Jersey. in 1866 senator Clark.
OF Montana. resigned Nay II, 1900.
but was resented March g. 1901.
Tho Senate's Vote to-day was &.
reversal OF Its decision OF March l.
1911. when 1t voted 80 to 30 In OK
oncrating Lorimer of ally wrong do
lns In connection with his election.
Closes Long Fight.
lac unseatins Of Lorimer closed
fight that had not ceased since the
OF the charges OF Charles
a. White by the Chicago Tribune
early In 1910.
Mr. Lorimer was elected as junior
ture OF that State May 26, 1908 He
was at that time member Of the
United States House of Representa-
tives. having been elected first to the
ttfty-fourth Congress i'm 1897 lie
continued to hold his seat In the
house of Representatives. until Juno
II. 1909. nearly a month after his
election In tho Senate lie then re-
signed nnd was sworn in ms Senator
the next day.
sworn in as Senator the next day
His election came after the state
wide primary had indorsed senator
Albert J Hopkins for TO election y
deadlock IN the LEGISLATURE prevented
tho election of Hopkins ana Loriners
ELECTION ultimately was brough; about
hy tho support OF hfiy-threc Demo
crats.
Tho charges Of bribery In connection
with tho Lorimer election We're made
public by the Chicago Tribune April
90 1910. when it published "A confession
Of state Representative Charles y.
White that he had received $1,000 to
vote for Lorlmer Senator Iorimer
spccincnllv denied these charges I'm 81
speech in the Senate ON May 2S OF that
ear. md said he coIrted an invest'
cation Tho Senate authorized an i'm
June 20. and II began IN
Chicago September %, 1910. under tho
7ircction of Senator Julius {. Burrows
~ Michigan AS a result OF that first
Investigatiou. Lorimer was exonerateh
~ tho Senate committee. and on March Z
!, l9ll. the Senate. ny a vote OF 50 to
30. affirmed his title to sent
he second Investigation began June
20, 1911, as result Of charges that
lew evidence mad been found. parricu
arly the statement OF Clarence s. /
Funk. OF tho International Harvester.
Company. that Edward Hines had
asked him to contribute to o 100000
Lorimer fund The second investigat-
Ing committee. presided over by Sen
ator Dillingham;, of Vermont. again
affirmed Mr. Lor!mer's title to his seat.
but the vote In tho Senate TO-DAY was
an overwhelming defeat of the commit.
tee report a 5 we'll a of Mr.. Lorlmer.