The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-16
SENATOR LOR|MER IS VERY DRAMATIC He Tells Story of His Event
 full Life ARE HOMELY DETAILS Traces His Rise From Bootblack at Ten to President of a National Bank-In Politics From
 Constable to Senator
ARE HOMELY DETAILS

Washington, January 15.-Senator Lorimer, in his testimony today before the Senate committee Investigating his election, was dramatic in the extreme. He told the story of his life, not quite in the way he told it in his speech in the Senate, and with many homely de- tails
 Backing boots at the age of 10 to support a widowed mother and five brothers and sisters, then a cash boy, q laborer, wheeling coal, a house paint CT, street car conductor and build ing contractor, were the successive steps he detailed in his progress to his present position as president of na- tional bank. He traced his way in politics from a constable to a seat in the United States Senate
 Lorimer Cool
 The man under fire was the coolest person in the room while he told the story. His voice was unshaken except when he spoke of his mother-two years dead. Then his eye gllstened and his words were bit hoarse. The ticking of the clock was audible be- tween the sentences.
 "Why did Charles A. White vote for you as senator?' was ono of the ques- tions asked today. White was the for mer member of the Illinois legislature whose alleged confession of bribery, published in Chicago newspaper, formed the foundation of the inquiry into Senator Lorimer's election.
 He came to me and volunteered his vote,'' replied Senator Lorimer.
 s"Did White suggest he ought to have something for his vote?"
 'fHe never mentioned such thing"
 Conflicting Evidence
 This portion of Senator Lorimers tes- timony conf1icted with the statements of other witnesses. White testified to the committee that he had never heard Lori mer mentioned as a. senatorial possibility until two days before the election when, he testified, Lee ONeal Browne who was charged with having handled the Lorimer money" came to his room and fixed 1t up." Browne, in turn, before the committee, denied Whites story of bribery and declared that White pledged his vote to Lorimer a week before. White denied all that and swore that he had never seen Lorlmer or discussed his candidacy with any one
 why didn't you testify In your own behalf at the former investigations" asked Judge Hancey. The fact that he did not testify has done much to infiu- ence the Senate to order this hearing.
 Reasons for Not Testifying
 'Why, in the first place. counsel for the Chicago Tribune were prosecuting the case,'' replied MT. Lormer, "and they stated they did not intend to connect mo personally with any bribery or cor ruption. felt it was below the office was holding to go on the stand to deny charge which had not been against me and that 1t would establish a precedent of calling senators under oath to testify about charge or lie that might be made against them.'
 Did you take into consideration the country wide interest in your case?' asked Senator Jones.
 ''We had that in mind but 1t might not have the same effect on me now. I have lived through this sort of a storm a good many years and I suppose I thought if all the people lived in Chicago they would not think this assault unusual" The story of his life was given in re- sponse to a question from Senator Jones. At the close of the story Judge Hanecy turned Senator sLormer over to counsel for the committee for cross examination, which had only started when recess was taken until tomorrow morning.