OCR Text |
Show LAUDS CULLDM: RAPSLORIMER Senator Burton Points Out Difference Dif-ference in Manner . of Their Election. BELIEVES BRIBE TAKERS MUST BE GIVEN CREDENCE Confession of Persons Impli cated Should Receive Due Consideration. WASHINGTON. Feb. 6. A defense of Senator Cullom of Illinois formed the most striking part of an address mado In tho senate today by Theodore Burton of Ohio in opposition to tho report of tho committee on privileges and elections by which Senator Lorlmcr of Illinois was exonerated from tho charge of obtaining hlB Beat by means of bribery. The reference to Senator Cullom. who is Mr. Lorlmer's colleague, was called out by a statement mado by Senator Bailey of Texas In tho senate during the excitement ex-citement incident to the close of Senator Sena-tor Root's arraigmcnt of Mr. Lorlmer last Friday. Speaking of the existence for years of a "Jackpot" fund in connection connec-tion with tho sessions of the Illinois legislature. leg-islature. Mr. Bailey, who supports Mr. Lorlmer, said that the means used to elect Mr. Lorlmer wore tho snmo as had been employed In the election of Mr., Cullom. Burton Exculpates Cullom. Mr. Burton did not dwell long on the Texas senator's Inferences. He said: "The senator from Texas no doubt unwittingly un-wittingly did an Injustice to tho sonior senator from Illinois In some remarks last Friday, In averring that If Mr. Lorlmer's election Is Invnlld. so is that of tho senior sen-ior sonator. One conclusive answer to any such groundless Inference is the method of the election of Mr. Cullom. He was nominated at a primary by a majority ma-jority of 50,000 votes and It would bo most unjust to him to compare tho circumstances cir-cumstances under which he was chosen with the corrupt and dishonest methods prevalent In the legislature In 1909." The Ohio senator discussed the allegations allega-tions against Mr. Lorlmer largely on Io-gal Io-gal grounds. Without attempting lo unravel un-ravel the testimony, ho proceeded upon the theory that certain fact3 had been proven and then undertook to show through precedents established In the United States and Great Britain that the election by tho Illinois legislature had boon tainted and therefore was Invalid. Among other points discussed was that as to whether the receipt of money after tho casting of a vote constitutes bribery', and It was held that it did. "If." said tho speaker, "those who received such money wero free from corrupt Intent, they certainly would not havo received money after the votes wero cast. It Is Impossible lo separate the receipt of money after tho election from other facts and circumstances In the conduct of these members, which go to mako up ono dishonest dis-honest transaction." Bribe TakerB' Testimony. Meotlng the contention that the evidence evi-dence given by brlbe-takora cannot bo considered In connection with tho caso, tho Ohio senator declared that no such rule In law now prevailed. "It belongs rather to a crudo state of society," ho proceeded. "To maintain it would mean that the most serious offenders offend-ers against the public must go unpunished. unpun-ished. It Ignores the difference In tho comparative guilt of thoso engagod in the same unlawful enterprise. It regards re-gards tho man guilty of a crlmo as absolutely abso-lutely nn outcast and disregards aliko his reformation and the welfnro of society. It closes the door of repentance for the criminal, oven for him who has been misled by tho superior influence of others into doing something against which his better Judgment rebels." Mr. Burton did not accent tho state ment of Mr. Lorlmer's friends that If thoro had been bribery that gentleman had not authorized it. Summing up his conclusions. Mr. Burton Bur-ton found It "perfectly evident that fraud was so rampant and dishonesty so widespread wide-spread In this election that It Is Impossible Impos-sible to sepnrate tho sound votes from tho unsound votes." |