The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-12
illinois Senator Makes Supreme Effort Of His
Life IN Speech Today to Hold His Seat
and Vindicate Himself.
Three HOURS OF DRAMATIC ORA7ORY
Just Before the Vote Was Taken to Gust Him
From Senate on Charge Of Gaining
Seat by Corruption.

William J. Bryan; the trust press Of
the country all joined in conspir-
acy to destroy one man and satisfy
the malice Of the most corrupt set OF
newspaper owners known to this coun-
try. The men prosecuting this case
are capable Of conspiring to do any
thing. even to taking a life, to de-
stroy the man marked for elimina-
ton 2
Discussion OF the Helm committee
was then taken up by Lorimer. He
said the men composing it were
'creatures of Governor Deneen" and
the press trust" Healy, its counsel,
he said, was the most bitter enemy
Of Lorimer In Illinois,"
He knew the political situation
and was In a position to ferret out
fraud and corruption Lorimer CON
tinued. The committee was not ap-
pointed until the senate adopted its
resolution declaring Lorimer entitled
to his seat. Then began the shame
less hippodrome the calling Of Hines
and the asking Of questions to bring
out testimony that might be i'm
peached by Funk and Kohlsaat.
/,
The PrIestiy kohlsaat.
81 |. And then came the. priestly Kohl
saat, the man who never betrayed a
confidence, and he was interrogated
concerning his editorial relating to
the alleged 100000 corruption fund.
4 believe the senate violated =
fundamental law OF this country BY
appointing another committee OF in
vestigation, but l have no complaint
to make OF that action"
The minority view Of the investi-
eating committee was next taken up,
Lorimer declaring he would point out
mis-statements Of fact, evidently
made for the purpose Of poisoning
senators"
1t was explained by Lorimer that
he did not take the stand during the
first inquiry because he believed "it
beneath the dignity Of senator to
take notice of insinuations"
Addressing himself to Senator
Crawford Republican, South Dakota)
1t was explained that Governor De-
neen evaded answering a telegram OF
inquiry sent by Crawford.
II was taught a. my mothers knes
that to act lie is more heinious
than to tell one" the blond boss ex-
claimed.
Before noon every seat in the visi.
tors galleries was taken up, and
there was long line waiting outside
the doors. Special policemen strolled
through the halls to keep quiet. In
the front row of the diplomatic gal
|lery was Mrs. P. c. Knox, wife OF
the secretary of state.
i Lorimer said Senator Kern "insin-
uated' that Charles Luke had died
since he testified. There can be no
Iother purpose than to slime the minds
OF senators and make them believe
Luke had testified that he received a
bribe," Lorimer asserted. THE fact
lis that before the first resolution OF
Investigation was adopted, Luke had
passed away. He never testified be-
fore any committee.
There is no statement in the rec.
ord to indicate that Jandus was cor
|rupted to vote for Lorimer He testi.
fed that he made from $1,000 to 49,
600 a year and combined with other
people to buy farm lands. There was
no intimation anywhere that he had
been bribed. 1t was regarded as sus.
picious that Shepherd and Tippett had
safety deposit boxes. We have them
in Chicago by the hundreds OF thous-
ands and we are not millionaires by
the hundreds of thousands.
"The effort was made to poison the
minds OF senators and make them be
|lieve these men obtained safety boxes
to hold the corrupt money given them
for voting for Lortmer.'
I Lorfmer read from a letter by John
la. Beaman, written in June. 1911,
saying he had Just visited Joseph S.
Clark and asked him, about the three
afidavits read in the senate by Owen,
(dem., Okla.) declaring Clark voted
for Lorimer under promise that he
should have the postoffice at vandalia.
Clark denied the charge. Beaman's