The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-07-19
HISTORY OF
LORIMER CASE
Investigation Began In Illinois
Two Years Ago.
TRANSFERRED TO SENATE.
Inquiry by That Body Was Upon Re-
quest Of the Accused Senator Him
self-Taft's Name Was Brought In.
Roosevelts Part.

Sei1- airs Nane was brought IN
Roosevelt's Part.
The investigation of the Lorimer
scandal, which resulted in the unseat-
ing Of Senator William Lorimer by the
United States senate, began first in
Illinois, which Mr.. Lorimer on May 26,
1909, was chosen to represent. State
Attorney Wayman began in Chicago
on May /, 1910, an investigation of
certain bribery charges in connection
with the election of Senator Lorimer.
The most important charges were made
by Representative Charles \. White,
who declared that he got $1,000 from
Lee O'Neill Browne to vote for Lori
mer. His alleged confession was pub
lished in Chicago newspaper and at
tracted widespread notice.
Additional evidence came TO Attor-
ney Wayman's hands in the shape of
confessions of bribe taking to vote for
Lorimer from Representative II. ]. C.
Beckmeyer of Carlyle and Michael
Link, Democratic representative from
Mitchell. 1t was also said that the
district attorney obtained an allegation
that it cost 100000 to elect Lorimer
to the senate, of which the ringleaders
got $4,000 and individual members of
the Legislature the remainder.
The evidence in the investigation into
Lorimer'S election, together with one or
two indictments fer bribery and per
jury, were referred by an association
nf tl hn
senate. Lorimer himself requested that
his colleagues investigate the charges
and the senate committee on privileges
and elections was authorized to go TO
the bottom of the matter The sub
committee who undertook the investi-
CATION consisted of four Republicans
Burrows Of Michigan, Dillingham; of
Vermont, Gamble of South Dakota and
Hepburn of Idaho-and three Demo
crats-Frazier of Tennessee, Paynter
of Kentucky and Johnston of Alabama.
Senator Burrows was made chairman
Of the committee.
Report Cleared Him.
The report of the subcommittee made
to the senate on Dec. %, 1910, cleared
corruption. 1t was signed by all the
Republican members of the committee
except Senator Beveridge and by all
the Democratic members except Sen
atOr Frazier. Senator Beveridge i'm
mediately presented a minority report
from the committee of privileges and
elections holding that at least seven
and possibly ten votes In the Illinois
Legislature were tainted with cOrrup-
ton. Senator Beyeridge and Senator
Owen of Oklahoma also presented
resolution declaring that Lorimer's seat
in the senate was Invalid.
The second investigation of the Lori
mer scandal was ordered by the sen
ate on June 1, 1911, every senator in
the chamber voting for the reopening
Of the case. The resolution of the
minority leader, Senator Martin, pro-
viding for an investigation by the COM
mittee on privileges and elections was
adopted as substitute for a PROPOSE
ton made by Senator La Toilette Gre
ating to conduct the investigation a
special committee made up entirely of
new members who had not previously
passed on the Lorimer charges.
President Taft's name was brought
into the case on June 20, 1911, when
Edward Hines Of Chicago, president of
the Hines Lumber company, told the
senate that the president through Mel
son w. Aldrich, then senator from
Rhode Island, had favored Lorimers
candidacy and\had practically forced
the election on .Lorimer. A vehement
denial of Hines statements was issued
from the White House on the evening
of June 90.
RooseveIt's Connection.
ExPresident Roosevelts connection
with the case began on Sept 8, 1910,
when he angrily refused 10 attend a
dinner at the Hamilton club in Chi
cago to which Senator Lorimer had
been invited. Lorimer was advised not
10 show up at the dinner, and Roose-
Velt in his speech that evening told
why he had delivered so quick an ulti-
matum in regard to his attendance at
the dinner. Mere legal honesty is not
enough in public office, the eX-president
declared.
Lorimer answered Colonel Roose-
velts snub by resigning from Ethe
Hamilton club the day after the din
ner. On July l, 1912, when Lorimer
was In the midst of his personal de-
Tense before the senate, he attacked
Roosevelt, who had been speaking
against him throughout the country,
and presented three afidavits from
southern delegates to the Chicago con-
vention charging that Roosevelt's peo-
pie tried to bribe them to vote for the
colonel at Chicago.
1t was thought that when Vice Pres
hent James S. Sherman went to Chi
cago ON May %, 1912, with the aVowed
purpose Of obtaining Lorimer's resig-
nation the investigation would be
BROUGHT 10 q safisfnctorv close The