Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-20
SENATORS INVESTIGATING LORI
mER o,scREo,r TESTIMONY
OF ALL WITNESSES.
WHITE CALLED PERJURER
AND HoLTsLAW MIsERLY
Loris,sr Upheld az Having No Part in
Crooked Political Conditions in ILL.,
nois and Therefore elamsless-com-
mittee Says No New Facts Were
Developed and Action Should Stand.

Washington, May 20.-The case CT
Senator Lorimer, of Illinois, whose
election was alleged to have been
brought about thru corruption, was
placed before the senate today for final
action. Majority and minority reports
were made by the special investigating
committee, the former upholding the
latter and condemning the senator.
The majority reported:
That all the rules of law, judicial
procedure and Justice required that the
senate's former judgment in Senator
Lorimer's favor be held final and coz
clusive."
That there was absolutely no new
and substantial evidence discovered on
this reinvestigation, his election being
1.-The logical result of existing political
conditions in Illinois,"
The minority reported:
THAT the evidence presented at the
second investigation was broader and
more far reaching than the previous
inquiry brought out.
THAT it conclusively established
that at least ten of the votes cast for
Lorimer were corrupt and that his
election therefore was invalid"
The minority report was signed by
Senators Kern and Lea, democrats.
and Kenyon, republican.
Washington, May 20.-Why Senator
Lorimer should be permitted to retain
his seat in the senate was set forth
today by the majority of the senate
special Lorimer committee in their re-
port to the senate. It was submitted
by Chairman Dillingham; and had the
approval Of Senators Gamble and
Jones, republicans, and Fletcher and
Johnston, of Alabama, democrats.
The majority took the position that
the senate having once "solemnly and
deliberately" passed upon the charges
against Senator Lorimer, he should be
permitted to retain his seat unless new
and convincing evidence had been pro-
duced establishing corruption in his
election. Absolutely no new and sub
stantial evidence" had been produced
at the reiIwestigation, the majority
said, and consequently they declared
the rules Of justice required the for
mer judgment Of the sentae, upholding
Mr.. LOrimer to stand.
The report dealt at leangth with the
evidence in an endeavor to show moth
ing substantial had been produced
against Senator Lorimer. 1t also re-
viewed the local authorities to show
that the first investigation of the sem
ate should be taken as final.
Regrets Funk's Story.
The controlling factor i'll the action
A. 20 tn, 10
the majority said. was reports that a
or thru the efforts Of Edward Hines,
the Chicago lumberman. to secure the
election of Senator Lorimer.
The majority rejected the version
Clarence S. Funk, general manager Of
the International Harvester Company,
gave of a conversation he held with
Mr.. Hines in the Union League CLUB at
Chicago just after Senator Lorimers
election. 1t was during this conversa-
ton that Funk claims Hines asked for
a $4,000 contribution to a s1OO,ooo
Lormer fund. The majority said that
Mr.. Funk's testimony stood uncorrooo-
rated either by other Witnesses or by
any circumstances.
Whitewash For Hines.
"In view of the fact that it was
known to Mr.. Hines" said the commit
tee, chat the relations existing be-
tween the officers of the international
Harvester Company, and Mr.. Lorlmer
were those of opponents rather than
friends. it is improbable that he would
seek from Mr.. Funk, the representative
Of that corporation. a contribution TO
aid in the election of Mr.. Lorimer: ana
It is inconceivable that Mr.. Hines II
guilty of an infamous crime would
have unrescrvedly revealed 1t undef
tho circumstances described by Mr.
Funk and in any case to person with
whom he had so slight an acquafnt-
ance and at time when the election
was so fresh in the MINDS Of the pub
lie. And particularly when it appears
that at no previous time not even at
that time did Mr.. Hines know whom
Mr.. Funk preferred for a United States
senator"
In discussing Mr.. Funk's testimony
that he had heard reports of Mr. Hines
activities at Springfield. the majority
declared that such reports must have
had birth in Mr.. Funk's imagination
Comment was passed on the fact that
for many months H. HI. Kohlsaat. edi-
tor of the Chicago Record-Herald;
James Kelley, editor Of the Chicago
Tribune; Victor F. Lawson. owner OF
the Chicago News. and Col. Theodore
Roosevelt knew of Mr.. Funk's version
and none saw fit to bring the informa
ton to the attention of any person
conected with any investigation.
Say Funk Was Flattsred.
I'm fact the Funk testimony" 1t was
said later in the report. "has been
taken cum grano sails by nearly every
one who has heard it. Mr.. Funk him
self admitted that he thought his story
would not be believed"
The committee reported that It Md
find that Mr.. Hines was fattered by
consulted hv. Senators Aldrich
and Penrose in regard TO the desire "a
have some republican elected to the
senate from Illinois.