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Show Michigan Senator Says Lo rimer's ri-mer's Seat Was Not Obtained Ob-tained by Bribery. IDAH0AN SAYS "JACKPOT" MAN CIRCULATED FUNDS Insists That Corruption Characterized Char-acterized Election of Illinois Senator. "WASHINGTON, Jnn. 38. "Thero is absolutely no proof, direct or indirect, from which a legitimate inference could he drawn that a single member of tho general assembly was corruptly influenced in-fluenced lo vote for Lorimer." This was the conclusion of Senator Julius Caesar .Burrows of Michigan, in a speech in the senate today defending defend-ing the majority report of the commit-leo commit-leo on privileges and elections, of which he was chairman, confirming the right of Senator William Lorimer of Illinois to his seat in the senate. After summarizing tho testimony of Witnossos White, Link, Bcckomcyer and IIolstlnw, Senator Burrows declared that "it is obvious there is nothing in tho statements of any ono of them, or in tho statements of all of them tnkon together, which would justify a conclusion con-clusion that their testimony as to bribery brib-ery is true, or could be relied upon in n matter of even minor importance." Committee's Labors Lightened. "Tho labors of tho committee," said Senator Burrows, "wero greatly lightened light-ened and tho scope of the investigation materially curtailed by the admission of counsel for tho prosecution that it wns not expected to connect Senator Lorimer with any acts of bribery." Dismissing the matter of tho integrity integ-rity of Senator Lorimer, Senator Burrows Bur-rows related tho details of the inquiry into "tho integrity of the election' Tho testimony of Charles A. White, a menibor of tlie Illinois legislature, who wrote the first article in tho Chicago Tribuno on April 30, 1910, charging bribery in the election of Sonator Lon-mer, Lon-mer, came in for severe denunciation bv Sonator Burrows. He said: "Whatever impression tho testimony of White may make upon the senate, to the committee the conviction was irresistible irre-sistible that if hetold the truth to tho committee, he was devoid of all sense of honor or shame and wus ready to make merchandise of his position, "violate "vio-late his oath of office, betray tho people who trusted and elected him and bartor his voto for anything to anybody who would bring to him ner6onal gain. ' ' Senator Borah followed Mr. Burrows, contending that corruption had characterized charac-terized the election of Senator Lori mer. TTe agreed with tho chairman of the elections and privileges committee concerning the character of Charles A. White, but argued that the circum stances alTorded ample substantiation of his testimonj' in impeaching the election elec-tion of the Illinois senator. He declared that the famous "jackpot" had boen distributed by the samo man who circulated cir-culated tho Lorimer fund. Galleries Anger Heybuni, Discussiug Representative White's operations, Senator Borah asked: "What was it that prompted him to vote for Iiorinier? Was it friendship? friend-ship? Was it honor? Or was it corruption' corrup-tion' Ask yourself the question and sec what tho answer will be." "I suggest." said Mr. Hey burn; "that it is possible that Whito voted for Lorimer with a viow of holding up Lorimer." "It is possible," responded the other Idaho senator, "but it is so improbable im-probable that T had nut thought of it." This colloquy aroused a burst of laughter in the galleries which was displeasing to Mr. HcyJburn and he protested, "I do not inlond," he said, "that the galleries shall determine tho merits of this debate by their snickers and giggles." "I cannot, control the snickers and giggles," responded Mr. Borah. "We can the senate can," retorted Mr. Heyburn. "and I give notice that these signs of approval or disapproval will not be tolerated." Continuing his speech, Mr. Borah analy.ed tho testimony of the various witnesses before tho investigating committee. Ho declared there had been unmistakable .bribery. He declared de-clared it had boen shown conclusively that, at, least four of the Lorimer votes had boon obtained by bribery. Instead of regarding the testimony as flimsy, he thought it surprising thai, the "committee had hoard from as many members of the legislature as had testified. He expressed I ho opinion opin-ion that, in some instances (he committee com-mittee had not pressed its inquiries as fur as it might have done advantageously. advantage-ously. Discussing the part played by Leo O'Neill Browne, the minority leader in tho Illinois house, Mr. Borah declared that, without Browne's thirty Democratic Demo-cratic cohorts. Lorimer 's election would have .been impossible. "The election could not have been pulled off without fixing Browne," he said. |
