Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-06-04
HIS CAUSE LOOKS HOPELESS
CHANGE OF COMPLEXION OF
SENATE TURNS TIDE AGAINST
HIM
CLAIM SECOND JEOPARDY
FRIENDS ASSERT soLoN WAS
TRIED ONCE AND CANNOT BE
TRIED AGAIN

Washington, June 4.-The second
trial of Senator Lorimer Of Illinois
on the charge of having been elected
by corrupt methods, was begun IN
the senate today with speech by
Senator Kern of Indiana, member
of the investigating committee, who
signed the minority report agains
Lorimer.
Senator Kern gave especial atten'
ton to the plea that the case had
been settled by the senate's vindica-
tion last year That plea, he said,
had been reached, only at the last
moment. He said he would not ad-
NIT its validity. it had come too late
and that the plea itself was res jul
dicata."
Reminding the senate that, under
the constitution. the senate is the
judge of the qualifications Of its own
members, Mr.. Kern contended it was
competent for that body to proceed
at any time in any matter involving
the integrity Of its membership
@There was no suggestion by sena-
tor Lorimer or anyone on his behalf
that the senate had not ample power
to make re-investigation of his
case" said Senator Kern. "He tacit-
" acquiesced in the senate's action.
He appeared in person and by coun-
sci before the committees during the
investigation, cross-examining all wit
nesses called by the committee and
examining scores of witnesses in his
behalf.
Mr.. Kern declared that if any OF
the committee believed that questions
being investigated were y'res judi
cata" they were strangely reticent in
not mentioning it, while permitting
the continuation of the investigation
at cost Of more than $4,000. He
refused to concede that the proceed
ings were analogous to civil action
at law, but argued that. if they were,
the granting of new trial, even on
the sole ground of newly discovered
evidence, opened the case for a com
piete reinvestigation.
1T now is too late for Senator Lori
mer to be permitted to urge this re-
markable Defense" declared Senator
Kern.
Mr.. Kern said he believed the first
investigation had been incomplete
and had failed to develop facts which
must have been accessible Senator
Lorimer occupied a seat near MIR.
Kern, giving careful attention to his
arraignment. There were many visit
ors in the gallery. Senator Kern
praised the personal reputation OF
Mr.. Lorimer, and said that but for
his convictions regarding the gravity
Of the charges, he would not be found
engaged in the disaglseable task Of a
prosecutor.
With LorImer holding conferences
with friends and organizing defense,
and Senator Kern of indiana ready to
open the fight against him with a
speech in the senate today. attention
has focused upon the noted election
case which is likely to be the princi
pal topic of consideration in the sen.
ate for at least the next two weeks
and possibly may prolong the session
of congress-
Senators Lea and Kenyon, who, with
Mr.. Kern, are the minority of the Lori
mer investigating committee, holding
that the Illinois senator's election was
brought about by corruption. are
ready to join in the fight against the
majority report exonerating Mr.. Lori
mer.
While the whole question of the va
lidity Of the election is the prinicapl
consideration before the senate, a feat