The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-01-26

the latter with some such telegram as
indicated, signed by the following
Democratic senator's: Bacon, Foster
| OverInan, Tanaferro, Paynter, Bank
head, Percy, Johnston, Taylor, Wat
son and Senator Fletcher added his
name. The above list OF signers on
| the telegram could have been greatly
enlarged among Senator Bailey's Dem
ocratic colleagues.
| The third reason given Is the Lori
mer case
"He has Endorsed corrupt elections
This statement is false in every word
as a statement of fact. AS a concIu-
sion or opinion it Is wholly unwar-
ranted The evidence cited to sustain
it is that Senator Fletcher voted
against the resolution Hnseating Sena-
tor Lorimer.
Upon the first investigation the reso-
luton was defeated and Senator Lor-
inner retained his seat. Another ses-
sion came up and new senators had
been elected, and contrary to all judi
cial procedure, another resolution to
declare his election invalid was intro
duced, and the same case was ordered
Investigated, and in effect Mr.. Lori
mer was again up on trial after hav-
ing been once acquitted.
A special committee of eight from
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions was selected to make the first
Investigate Democrats and
four Republicans. Senator Fletcher
was chosen to serve. over 5000 pages
of testimony was taken, covering 10
days in the hearing. Senator Fletcher
attended these hearings Conscientious
ly In Washington and during vacation
in Chicago. He saw and examined the
witnesses, heard all the arguments,
and sitting as Judge, on his oath,
voted against the resolution declaring
the election invalid. Senator Jones of
Washington, who voted and spoke in
favor of the resolution on the first
trial, was, I remember, of this special
committee, heard the evidence and ex-
amined the witnesses, was constantly
in attendance on the hearings, and as
result of his more thorough knowl-
edge Of the case, voted and spoke
against the resolution and IN favor Of
the election on the second trial.
LoRlMER'S PURSUERS.
Senator Lorimer was pursued by the
strongest combination Of money and
power 1t was possible to array against
any man. The Tribune, the Record
Herald and the News of Chicago, with
over twenty millions back Of them,
other big interests joining or sympa-
thizing, the press of the country sup
piled by false stories with which to
poison the public mind, had reporters
adhered to sending out matter pre-
judicial to Mr. Loriner continuously,
paid detectives which the Chicago
Tribune employed at cost of over
$40, 900 to hunt down every detail OF
Mr.. Lorimer's life from childhood, |
combined and conspired to "drive him |
out of politics In Illinois, against all
which he had to contend single hand |
ed and alone.
Both the managers Of the Tribune |
and Record Herald testified under oath |
that after all their searching by de- |
tectives and otherwise they had to |
swear regarding Mr.. Lorimer-'His |
home life, family life is ideal. He has |
a beautiful family of children which |
he has raised splendidly.' Finally they |
said it was not Lorimer, but Lorimer-
ism Of which we complain. Asked ,
what Lorimerism' was they answered, |
it was a bipartition combination by |
which offices were controlled. Under /
the constitution of Illinois the minor
ity is guaranteed representation there |
can be no escape from such bipartition |
as they complain OF. The |
man who is able and energetic enough |
to form such combination will have
in both parties because he
will help elect the majority and the
representatives. The Repub-
leans had a majority in the legislature
of fifty on joint ballot. There was
no hope of electing a. Democrat. The
Democrats did not want Hopkins, who
was the leading Republican candidate.
They went to Lorimer and further d.
vided the Republicans as the best they |
could do after five months deadlock.
Because Democrats voted for Lori
mer It was claimed they were bought.
There was no testimony evidence of
that and it turned out they played
good politics, since they could not elect
4 Democrat, to choose a man whereby
the Republicans would be divided as
proven by the fact that the state has
since gone Democratic. A standpat
sits in Lorimers former
seat. No Democratic gain was made
by unseating him. His congressional
district he always carried when a can
1idate has since been Democratic.
ga subject that a man who has read
the evidence is better able to Judge
Of the merits OF the case than man
who has not read it.
cRAWFoRD'S CRITICISM,
81 venture the assertion. Mr.. Craw-
ford has never read it and does not
know what the facts are. And I sub
nit it comes in poor grace and is the
height of presumption for him to criti-
Else a man whose opinion is based on
1 knowledge of the evidence and act
1al examination of the witnesses.
HE speaks of the disaster that has
aefallen senators who voted in favor
IF Mr.. acknowledgements there have
been two defeats Gin neither case was
he matter an issuel, two voluntarily
'etired Git cannot be claimed this case
had anything to do with tha), one
lied Ono one believes the vote in the
1orimer case caused that), one is now
L candidate and Tillman has been re-
elected. What these occurrences have
n do with the merits of the Loriner