Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-07-18

White had been brIbed to vote for
Lorimer for senator.
Eorimer was elected by a combina.
ton of Democrats and Republicans in
the legislature. Shortly after the pub
lication of the White story, the new
senator arose in the senate chamber
and demanded an investigation of his
election. A senate committee headed
by Senator Burrows Republican,
Michigan) took up the task. For ear
ly four months, September to Deem
Der, 1910, the committee took testi-
mony at Chicago and Washington, and
finally submitted a report generating
Lorimer. A minority report, however,
presented by Senator Beyeridge of
Indiana, sustained the charges against
Lorimer.
INDICATED at First Inquiry.
After a lengthy debate, in the course
of which Lorimer delivered a sensa-
tIonally brilliant speech defending
himself, the majority report was
adopted by the senate on March l,
1911, Ivy a vote of 46 to 40, five not
voting.
Meanwhile the east had startled
Illinois and the state was ablaze with
the developments. Indictment after
indictment was found against the
| members of the legislature which
elected Lorimer. White had con
fessed" that he was given $1,000 by
Representative Lee ONeil Browne,
! Democratic leader of the legislature,
and $500 by Representative Robert O.
Wilson to vote for Lorimer. Browne
was indicted for bribery. AT his first
trial the jury disagreed and at the Sec
ond trial he was acquitted. Charges
of jury bribing in connection with this
acquittal were made, but a jury which
tried the jury bribery case disagreed.
Representatives Wilson and Michael
S. Link were indicted for perjury.
The Illinois legislature took up the
scandal and the Helm" investigating
committee was appointed, after the
United States senate had exonerated
Lorimer. While this commission was
in session, Clarence S. Funk, general
manager of the International Harves,
Ter company, testified that he had
been asked by Edward Hines, the
wealthy lumberman, who had been
closely interested in the Lorimer case
in the senate, to give 100000 of a
500, 900 fund to help put Lorimer
over at Springfield" This created
another sensation and resulted in re
opening of the cas- in the senate. A
special committee of eight began a re
investigation of the case. Once more
the sordid stories of alleged bribery
end corruption were dragged out, and
once more the numerous Confessions
made their appearance. Nearly 16(
witnesses we're examined.
Conducts Own Defense.
Meantime Lorimer, the calm-faced
object of the bitter attacks, took his
place daily in the senate chamber a2t
conducted his own defense against the
charges. that his place had beer
bought.
The second committee, headed by
Senator Dillingham; of Vermont
brought in d majority report again ex
GENERATING Lorimer and a minority re
port condemning him. Again the de
bate began, and for months the mat
ter was under discussion.
Throughout the second investiga
ton Senator Lorimer's health faile'
rapidly al one time he was KEEP
at his home III Chicago for weeks b.
his failing neart, and his physician
fatty refused TO allow him to return
to Washington. For this reason tn
consideration of the second report il
the senate was delayed from week t.
week to allow him time to appear il
his own defense. He has been con
stantly in his place in the senate
however, since the time for a vote wa
fixed.