Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-11-18
Visits The Willie House.

Shades OF President Roosevelt William
Lorimer returns to the White House, and
in Pennsylvania, Boss Bill" Ware. sue
cessor to the late Senator Boies Penrose
as head Of the famous Pennsylvania Ware
Mellon machine, is supreme. Surely. the
normally" for which the G. o. P. leaders
sighed in 1920 has been completely re-
stored.
William Lorimer, it will be remembered,
was expelled from the United States Sen
ate twelve years ago because a majority
Of fellow Senators were convinced he had
been elected on foul methods. Among
employed to bring about the election Of
Lorimer to the Senate bv the Illinois Leg
islature was former President Roosevelt.
The latter. in 1910, was invited to address
the Hamilton Club of Chicago. Taking
notice Of charges that Lorimer's seat in
the Senate had been purchased with brides.
Colonel Roosevelt notified the Hamilton
Club he would not attend II Lorimer, a
member of the club, was present. The
club withdrew its invitation to Mr.. Lori
mer and he resigned his membership
About that time, group Of Lorimer's
friends gathered to discuss the incident.
and the TOAST was made that Billy" Lori
mer would some day dine with q good
Republican President in the White House"
Mr.. Lorimer returned to Washington during
last week and was a guest at a White
House breakfast rendered by President
Coolidge. The boast had been made good.
Evidently, BILLY LOrimer who beat New
berry of Michigan. Smith Of Illinois, and
Ware of Pennsylvania. to the extremely
doubtful fame Of gaining a nominal right
to seat In the American Senate by cam
paign methods which have been exposed
TO the scorn Of the whole country, is again
persona grata at the White House.
Just prior to the White House breakfast
which Lorimer attended. Senator Smoot.
one Of the stand-bys of the G. o. P. "0ld
Guard" went to Philadelphia to be the
principal speaker at rally in behalf Of
the Ware mayoralty ticket in the city of
brotherly love" The Ware leaders in
Philadelphia had been asserting that the
election Of their ticket was essential as a
sort of ratification" of Wares alleged
election to the United States Senate, and
that a sweeping victory for the Ware
machine would serve notice on the Senate
that the people Of Philadelphia approved
the method by which he had been elected,
that is the expenditure Of fortune to &C.
complish his election, and would be re-
sarded as vote Of confidence" for the
Senator whose right to his seat is under
fire. The idea was conceived that for
some prominent Republican, close to the
administration, to visit Philadelphia and
address a big mass meeting would impress
the voters Of that city that the Republican
national administration was interested in
the success Of the Vare-Mellon machine
ticket. Senator Reed Smoot Of Utah, was
chosen for the job. The Senator accepted
the invitation. He attempted to talk of
taxation and the tariff. but he had little
success. He was howled down, and there
were cries Of choke him." The crowd
didn't care for discussion Of the tariff or
taxation or other governmental problems.
1t wanted riproaring speech in praise of
Ware. Mellon and the other leaders OF the
Pennsylvania machine, and a denuncia-
tion Of former Mayor J. Hampton Moore
and other independent Republicans and
Democrats who had dared to buck the
machine and were trying to rid Philadel-
phia of its domination.
No one has gone so far as to say that
the presence Of Lorimer as the President 8
breakfast guest at the White House, OF
the appearance Of Senator Smoot as chief
speaker at Ware Mellon machine rally in
Philadelphia means that the President
actually approves Of Lorimerism or Of
Varism. Nevertheless. 1t Is OF more than
passing interest that not once has the
President lifted his voice against Lorimer-
ism, or Newbenyism, or that he has ever
uttered word Of criticism Of the out
raseous expenditures Of money to accom-
plish the nomination and election Of
Smith of Illinois, or Ware of Pennsylvania,
to the Senate. There is also very strong
suspicion that "Old Guard" Republican
Senators. like Smoot, are getting behind
the effort to have Ware and Smith seated,
despite the proven expenditure Of millions
OF dollars in the primaries at which they
gained their nomination. Surely the
good old days Of normally" for which
the G. o. P. politicians have 90 ardently
lOnged have at last been restored