Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-01
ATTORNEYSFOR
GRANGE BEFORE
FINANCE BODY.
Senate Committee Also
Questions President Bach
elder of Organization Re-
garding Fight.

Washington, D. c., May 81
Shortly after 4 o'clock this after
noon the finance committee con-
cIuded it's hearing on the Canadian
reciprocity bill. The committee
then went into executive session
TO consider Its report OF the
measure, whish will be made to
the senate at an early date.
Washington, D. c., May 31.-What
was expected to be the last day VI
hearings on the Canadian RECIPROCITY
bill by the senate finance commlttee
was featured today by the appearance
of John H. Allen and Whldden Gra-
ham of the firm of Allen and Graham'
New York, who are said to have been
employed to manufacture sentiment
among the farmers of the country III
opposition to the agreement.
It was at the instance OF Senator
Stone that they were summoned to ap-
pear before the committee to tell ex-
actly what part they have taken IN the
program of opposition to reciprocity.
Senator Stone declared that Alen
and Graham were promoters thal
they were not "practicing attorneys
or lawyers" thus controvertlng tne
declaration made to the committee
recently by N. P. Hull, master OF the
Michigan grange, that Allen and era
ham, had been acting as legal adVls-
ers for the National Grange. The nrm'
it was learned, was sending out from
some of the offices of the National
Grange. literature warning farmers in
all parts of the country that the reci-
procity agreement would inJure tnem
and asking them to contribute to the
cause. Manufacturers also were asked
for financial aid.
President Bachelder Questioned.
fz Before Allen and Graham We're
heard by the committee, N. j. Bacnel-
der, president Of the National Grange,
made a statement, declaring that Al
len and Graham had "acted only under
the direction of the legislative execu-
tive committee Of the Nat1onal
Grange"
Are not many members OF the
grange" inquired Senator stone,
women and children and others VINO
are not farmers?"
Mr.. Bachelor said he did not know,
but could secure a list that would
show.
In answer to numerous questions by
Mr.. Stone as to various features OF
the oranges activity and membership.
Mr.. Bachelor said he could not re-
call, whereupon Senator Stone asked
him to prepare statement giving
figures showing the membership OF
the grange. He said that members
were often carried for years after they
had ceased to pay their annual dues.
did you employ Allen and Graham
as legal advisers?" asked Senator
Stone.
Yes, to a certain extent" was the
answer.
Admit Their Are Not Attorneys.
Whidden Graham, of the firm Of Al
len and Graham of New York, admit
ted to the senate finance committee
today that he was employed by the Ma
tional Grange to oppose Canadian reci-
procity. He declined to answer wheth-
er his concern was working for any
other interest in opposition to the bill.
Graham also admitted that neither
he nor Allen was lawyer, but that
they had assisted manufacturers and
others in securing the enactment or
defeat of legislation by preparing for
them literature and pamphlets for cir
culation.
Joseph H. Allen Of Allen and Gra-
ham told the committee that Leonard
Bronson of the National Lumber Man.
ufacturers' association and Arthur G.
Hastings, president of the American
Paper and Pulp association, had Of
fered to contribute to the fight against
reciprocity.