Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-16
End Of Long Fight to De-
clare Election of Illinois
Senator Invalid Comes
After Long Debate.
TWO IOWANS VOTED
AGAINST SENATOR
Cummins and Kenyon Were
Among Majority Mem
bers Who Sustained
Custer.

washington, -. u, july 1o.-Dy
vote Of 55 to 20 the United States SEN
ate today unseated William Lor1mer,
the junior senator from Illinois and
declared his title to his seat invalid.
The end Of the long fight to GUST
the senator came after six days OF pro-
tracted debate in which Senator Lori
mer himself had occupied the floor for
three sessions making an 1mpassioned
defense of his election.
The final vote was on the resolution
offered by Luke Lea, senator from
Tennessee, declaring the Lor1mer
election by the Illinois legislature In
1908 invalid. The adoption OF the Lea
resolution carried with it the senate's
verdict that corrupt methods and
practices were employed In the cleo
ton of William Lorimer.
The closing Of the trial was intense
" dramatic. Lorimer, holding the
floor, making last defense or his cleo
ton, declared he did not appeal for the
votes Of any senator, but asked for
justice.
Senator Lorimer when the vote was
announced, walked slowly toward the
back of the room and passed into
cloak room, Senator Smoot throwing
an arm over his shoulder.
Held Never to Have Been Senator.
The vote ousting him was concluded
at 2:O5 O'Clock The man who had
occupied seat in the senate since
June IS. 1909. by the vote today passes
out of the records and never officially
has held seat in the senate of the
United States.
The Lea resolutions adopted by a
o1rooot $vun IN ma vUoa QS fol-
lows:
Resolved: That corrupt methods
and practices were employed in the
election Of William Lorinler to the SEN
ate Of the United States from the state
of Illinois and that his election was
therefore invalid.S
speech Senator Lorimer expressed
gratitude for tributes which senators
had paid to his private life.
Asks No Quarter for Private Life.
Every man who has such life has
his own reward; he has 1t here" he
said
Il ask nothing on that account; 1t
has no bearing in the case. l hope 1t
will influence no senator in making up
his judgment"
He spoke of his family. II have been
the happiest Of men living and blessed
by Gods son." he said. II ask moth
ing OF them, or because Of my ideal
home life.
ut has been said by senators that
the worst foes Of Lorimer have not
impeached his integrity. They have
said that his word was as good as his
bond; that he never turned on a
friend; that he has been consistent,
right or wrong.
"But / ask no consideration for that
When senators are making up their
minds, when they are deciding wheth-
or they will believe Lorimer or Charles
A. White, all ask Is to consider IN
Connection with record OF forty years
my truth and varacity, as stated by
my enemies. ask the consideration
Of senators as to whether they Will be-
lieve the bride taker, who has lied
times again, or believe me.
Tells Why He Wouldn't Resign.
"Much has been said about Lori
mer's resigning,'' he continued, III at
the beginning of this case had be.
lieved that one man had been bribed
to vote for me, would have laid my
resignation on the vice presidents
table. But knew the record. knew
there was not corrupt vote cast for
me. Resign in the face of that knowl-
edge? In the face OF that conviction?
Why?
because they say, the senate has
been canvassed and enough votes have
been found to turn Lorimer out!
"Resign because they say defeat
stares you in the face. oh, what an
argument What sort of a man Is 1t
that runs in such a case!
'If the men who founded this coun-
try had run when defeat stared them
in the face, we would have had no
country, no flag. And he who Is so
cowardly as to run because defeat
stares him in the face has no place in
this body This chamber Is no place
for towards 1t was not built on COW
ardice.
20. senators though you vote to
turn me out, though every vote has
been found against me, yet will l not
resign. No, no, no, I'll not resign. If
l 20 from this body it will be because
more senators vote for that resolution
than against it.
"My exit will not be for fear; it
will not be because am coward. 1t
will be because of the crime of the
senate of these United States"
'I am ready" he added dramatically
as he took his seat. ....
The roll was then called on the reso-
luton.
Tillman Upholds Senator.
The ousting of Lorimer had been
fully expected but it was believed his
strong speech had swayed several
doubtful votes The taking of the
votes was preceded by pathetic Incl
dent.
Senator Tillman. taking the floor,
mst before the calling Of the roll be-