The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-14

Lorimer's fight for his own official life began in the Senate chamber early Thursday afternoon. When he con cluded his eloquent declaration that he was not coward and would not run in the face of certain defeat" at ? o'clock this afternoon he had held the floor for l ? hours with intermissions and recesses to restore his strength. The moving character of Lorimer's appeal was admitted on every hand, but 1t apparently swayed no votes.
 Instead of the pleading defense that had been expected, it was throughout ringing defiance to those who had opposed him. a declaration of his un- faltering belief in the purity of his election in Illinois and a promise that he would not give up his fight with his eviction from the Senate.
 He Is No Quitter
 "lt has been suggested that I re- sign.g he said in his closing declaration. "He who is so cowardly as to run be- cause defeat stares him in the face has no place in this body Though you all vote to turn me out; though every vote has been canvassed and is against me, I will not resign. My exit from this body will not be from fear; 1t will not be because I am q coward. It will be because of the crime of the Sen ate of the United States"
 Only two incidents marked the few minutes between. the termination of Lorimers speech and the taking of the roll call, which resulted in his defeat. One was the charge of Senator Dixon, Colonel Roosevelts campaign manager, that the affidavits Lorimer had intro- duced to show attempted corruption of delegates to the Chicago convention were malicious and deliberate false hoods."t
 The other was the request of Senator Tillman of South Carolina, feeble from the effects of paralysis for permission to have the clerk read a statement from him. It was an affirmation of his be- lief in Lorimers innocence and a pa thetc statement of his own feebleness. Tillman wept as it was read and other members of the Senate exhibited deep feeling.
 Since I was stricken with paralysis 30 months ago. said MT. Tillman, T have thought often and seriously about death and the hereafter. That i am here at all is in some respects a miracle and l know I must go hence and meet the Great Judge face to face very soon. l cannot do otherwise than vote as my con- science dictates and 1 believe this man is innocent of the charges brought against him.
 Tillman Believes in Lorimer
 Senator Tillman expresset the hope that MT Lorimer would consecrate the re- mainder of his life to the purification of politics in Chicago and to the uplift of ais fellow citizens in Illinois.
 q believe if lie does bravely fight for A purer and better government in Illi- panf a Gai " arm and he will return to the Senate yindicated by the people of that great atAts."
 The Senate as constituted when the Lorifner vote was taken had 94 members. The vacancies caused by the deaths of Charles J. Hughes, Jr., of Colorado, and George s. Nixon of Nevada had not been filled immediately after the vote. However, the Nevada vacancy was filled when w A. Massey, appointed by the governor of Nevada to fill Senator Nixon's unexpirel term, was sworn in. He had been waiting three days to take the oath of office, bu; was prevented by consideration of the Lorimer case.
 The closing moments of the trial were intensely dramatic. Lorimer, holding the floor, making d last defense of his seat declared he did not appeal for the votes of any senator but asked for justice
 The vote denouncing him was closed at 2:50 o'clock. The man who had held a seat in the Senate since June 1S 1909 passes out of the records and never off ciallv has held a seat in the Senate of the United States.
 The Lea resolution. adopted by a vote of almost two to one, was as follows:
 Resolved, That corrupt methods and practices were employed in the election . of William Lorimer to the Senate of the United States from the state of Illinois and that his election therefey was in- valid.
 Vote on Question
 These w;lo voted to oust Lorlmer were Ashurst Bacon, Borah. Bourne. Briggs Bristow Brown, Bryan. Burton, Cham bsrlain. Clapp, Crawford. Cullom, Cum.