The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-05-23
SENATOR LOR|MER
IS EXONERATED
Majority Report of investigators
Holds Him GuiItleSs.
NO EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION
Views of Minority, However, Declare
His Election Was Secured Through
Fraudulent and improper
Use of Money.

Washington, May Ex-senator Dill
bingham, chairman OF the committee
which investigated the election OF
Senator William Lorimer of Illinois,
submitted to the senate the majority
report of the committee.
The report is signed by Senators
Dillingham;, Johnston, Fletcher, Gam
Bile and Jones. A minority report was
also filed by Senators Kern, Lee and
Kenyon.
The majority report declared In
favor of the Illinois senator, holding
that the evidence does not show that
corruption and fraud were used to
procure the election.
Minority Report Charges Fraud.
The minority .eport holds that Mr.
Lorimer's election was obtained by
fraud and improper use of money. 1t
Is declared that ten of the votes cast
for Mr.. Lorimer we're obtained by cor
rupt methods and that Edward Hines,
the millionaire Chicago lumber man,
was influential in putting Lorimer
over"
The statement of the minority mem
bers is particularly sharp in its denun-
citation of the methods used in Mr..
Lorimer's election. According to these
senators the testimony taken by the
committee establishes Mr.. Hines as
"One who looked upon everything and
everybody as being purchasable, the
only question of doubt In his mind be-
ing the amount Of money necessary to
purchase this or that person"
Finds in Lorimer's Favor.
The majority report sustains the
plea of res adjudicata which is in eff
rect 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.
Continuing the report says:
1t is charged that Senator Lorimer
was elected corruptly. This is the is
sue. Is this charge true or is 1t false?
II true he should be denied seat in
this body: If not true we should so
declare We have heard the evidence
under oath; we have seen the wit
nesses as they testified; they have
been fully cross examined; their evil
dence has been carefully weighed;
every suggestion of possible proof has
been followed, and nothing has been
left undone to ascertain the truth Of
the charges against Mr.. Lorimer.
Had No knowledge Of Bribery.
There is absolutely no evidence in
all the testimony submitted intimat.
ing, suggesting or charging that Will
lam Lorimer was personally guilty Of
any corrupt practices in securing his
election or that he lad any knowledge
of any such corrupt practices or that
he authorized anyone to employ cor
rupt practices in his election.
I'VE are convinced that no vote was
secured for him by bribery; that what
ever money White. Beckemeyer, Link,
Holstaw or any other person receiv.
ed was not paid to him or them by
anyone on Mr.. Lorimer's behalf or in
consideration of or to secure such
vote or votes for him: that neither
edward Hines nor anyone else raised
or contributed to a fund to be used
to secure his election: that his cleo.
ton was the logical result Of existing
political conditions in the state Of
Illinois and was free from any cor
rupt practice and therefore we must
find. and we do find that William Lor-
liners election was not brought about
or Influenced by corrupt methods and
practices"