St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-06-10
Interview With Col. Mulhall.

Interview With Col. Mulhall.
Col. Martin NJ. Mulhall of Baltimore,
Md, who for % years has been an
active member of the National Republi-
can Congressional Committee, visited
St. Johnsbury last week in behalf of
Hon. Kittredge Haskins. He was
especially requested to come here at the
solicitation of James S. Sherman, chair
man of the Republican National Con-
gressional Committee, and other
prominent leaders of the Republican
organization of the House of Representa-
tives. Col. Mulhall stated that he was
greatly surprised at hearing that there
was any contest in the Second Vermont
District against Hon. Kittredge Has
kins, for many reasons. First, that
MIR. Haskins stands second to no man in
the present Congress as constitutional
lawyer; that Mr.. Haskins is an active
and respected member of the Judiciary
Committee, which is comprised OF the
best lawyers in the House of Representa-
tives. And second, that he is chairman
of the great committee of War Claims,
besides member of the committee on
labor, being also a member OF the sub
committee, which is a very important
one. At a late decision given this
winter at hearing on the bills that
were before that committee, which came
to the notice of Col. Mulhall, Mr. Has
kins gave an opinion which was OF
great Importance to the business
interests of the United States in general,
and the opinion of Mr.. Haskins was
later sustained by the constitutional
lawyers of the Judiciary Committee.
The Colonel stated that in his opinion it
is unfortunate that Mr.. Haskins' con-
stituents are not better posted on the
great work that he has done in the
House on numerous occasions. He
believes that if Mr.. Haskins was a resi-
dent of the great states of Ohio, Indiana
Illinois, or the central west that he
could continue to represent any dis
trict in those states for as long a time
as he wished to remain in Congress-
And this for the splendid ability he has
shown while a member; for his natural
diplomacy, and his qualifications as a
gentleman, and for his faithfulness to
his constituents in the Second Vermont
District. Col. Mulhall strongly refutes
the statement that Mr.. Haskins in any
way was opposed to any of the
measures advocated by the President
in this or any other Congress. There
were times, he believes that Col. Has
kins honestly differed with the President
on some questions in relation to certain
bills that came before the different COM
mittees of which Mr.. Haskins was a
member and frequently those bills were
amended in such way as clearly
showed that Mr.. Haskins was right
upon all law questions involved, and
when those bills were rightfully placed
before his committee he always voted
for them, as his record in the House
shows.
No man in Congress stands closer to
the President than Kittredge Haskins
This the Colonel positively states to be
fact, and he feels positive that at a
later date a letter coming from the
President will confirm this fact. Besides
he SAYS that he is very close to Speaker
..,1.oL olaorf ch0u,e fka Cr1la,,
did diplomacy of Mr.. Haskins in keeping
close to these great leaders so he car
better serve his constituents by getting
through the senate any bill that ht
thinks will be of benefit to them. The
Colonel also states that Mr.. Haskins
is a close and warm friend of James E
Watson, the whip of the house, James S
Sherman, Chairman of the Nationa
Congressional Committee, and of othel
leaders of the House organization, be
sides having many prominent friends
among members on the Senate side.
Col Mulhull feels that it would be {
great loss to the District and to the
State of Vermont if Col Haskns was no
renominated and elected to the next Con
gress, knowing full we'll that there is {
certainty of tariff revision at the com
ing Congress, and the great business
interests of the District would requir
an able and experienced member to lool
after them. He believes it would b.
a very bad business stroke to send ;
new member to Congress at the incom
ing session for this very reason. Their
is no man that is better posted on TIL
tariff than Kittredge Haskins, and if h
remains a member of the next Hous
Col. Mulhall says he is positive anC
certain that all interests of the SeconC
Vermont District will be splendidly
looked after before the committee OF
Ways and Means by Col. Haskins.
Col Mulhall has left for the Nationa
Convention which is to be held il
Chicago on the 10th, but before leaving
ST. Johnsbury he assured some of thu
gentlemen, friends of Col. Haskins in thi
District, that there would be severa
prominent business men of differen
organizations, who would come to thi
District, and who are residents of tn,
state, to lay before Mr.. Haskins' con
stituents the many good things he hac
done in Congress.