The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
Employers Probably Now
Realize That They Had a
Genuine "GoId Brick"
COUNTRY is GLAD
STORY NEARS END
Has Had the Single Good Result of
Bringing Lobbying at the Ma
tional Capital Into
DisfavOr
BY c. e. STEWART

Senate will soon conclude its labors and
that is one thing to be thankful for
Washington, Congress and the country
have long ago become tired of the lobby
investigation. President Wilson's charge
that there was a numerous and insidi-
Gus lobby actively engaged against the
tariff and other important legislation
in Washington has been proven long
ago. The later developments, and the
senatorial entry of Mr.. Mulhall of Bal
timore into the investigation, has added
nothing to the sum of general informa-
tion.
There is little doubt but what the
National Association of Manufacturer
ers' biggest .blunder was the retaining
of man of the Mulhall stripe in their
employ as their Legislative agent" Any
statement that Mulhall may make or
has made before the committee, is COM
ceded by every one to be absolutely
worthless unless that statement is ac-
companied with the very strongest cor
roberative evidence. His wholesale ac-
cusations against prominent members
of Congress on both sides of the politi-
cal fence have most of them crumbled
before the strong light of publicity and
a searching investigation.
When Mulhall stated that he had in
his employ the messenger for the COM
mittee on ways and means and that
he had had talk with the majority
leader concerning the appointment of
William L. Wilson as chairman of the
committee on labor, he reused the ire
of Mr.. Underwood, who promptly went
before the lobby investigating commit
tee and put a permanent crimp in the
said Mulhall.
Bamboozled His Employers
Mulhall bamboozled his employers for
years just exactly in the same manner
he is now trying to bamboozle the coun-
try. Drawing big pay from the National
Association of Manufacturers for look
ing after their interest in Washington
which was to keep a protective duty on
every conceivable article manufactured
in this country-as far as possible Null
halls influence toward that end prob
ably did not amount to a hill of beans.
Through his shrewd manipulation,
however. and with great show of ac-
tivity Mulhall succeeded in convincing
his employers that the legislation which
Sw6s enacted was largely due to his
efforts. As matter of fact, the gem
eral opinion in this city by those who
ought TO know that Mulhall probably
did not exert influence over suffi-
cient number of representatives in Con-
gress to have added to or taken from
the tariff bills as passed by the repub-
lican Congress a single dollar in rev.
enues. There is no question but what
the National Association of Manufac
turers through their appropriations in
regard to the tariff did have some
weight with those who We're framing
the laws.
But it must be understood that the
republican party We're making the tar
iff laws of the country during the time
that Mulhall was most active in Wash
ington according to his own state
ments. 1t took but little lobbying TO
influence a republican Congress to stick
a high protective tariff on any article
of American manufactures Mulhall' $ con-
tributions toward tariff making, there
fore, did not amount to very much His
fights against the labor organizations
were in all probability as insignificant.
The truth of the matter is in the
opinion of almost every one here, Null
han was simply enjoying a big salary
and kept up a pretty stiff bluff to the
people who were foolish enough to hire
him, that without him their interests
would 60 to the bowwows.
Quick to Take Credit
When something was done that
pleased them, he of course was right
on the spot to take credit for it-when
something happened that did not sui
them quite SO well--there was the
smiling and diplomatic Mr.. Mulhall to
explain that this was the very best that
could be done under the circumstances
and to lay the blame on certain gem
tlemen in Congress who-he probbaly
suggested-must be marked for de-
feat.
OF course it is just as easy as can
be and quite the natural thing. for
Mulhall to continue his record of bluff.
If he ever had a conversation with a
member of Congress-if he ever dis
cussed legislation with a member of
any committee-it is very easy for him
to come forward and claim that this
and that member who voted for or
against the legislation involved We're
the friends or the enemies of the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers as
the case may be.
II may be that there We're members
of Congress who were corrupt and who
We're influenced through the practices
of such men as Mulhall. There is no
doubt but what such things have hap
pened, and will happen again. There
have been all kinds of lobbying in
Washington--the Tabor people them
selves have lobbied--other organiza-
|tions have lobbied; private individuals
have lobbied the sugar interests have
1obbied as has been clearly proven in
the recent investigation, but some lob
bies here do not attempt to corrupt the
members of Congress, on the contrary
they simply try through argument and
z plain statement of their case and a
presentation of their side to influence
legislation in their favor
Brought Lobbying Into Disfavor
Mulhall--though discredited - has
done the country service at any rate.
He has brought lobbying into great
disfavor 1t should be brought into
great disfavor That is the kind of lob
bying that has been conducted in the
past. On the other hand the business
ipterests--the farming intefests--the
labor interests and all others in the
United States ought to be allowed to
present to the various committees of
Congress through Representatives that
they may send here such facts as VIII
throw further light or give additional
Information on any matter of legisla-
ton. This kind of lobbying there can
be no possible harm ia and this is con
ceded Following this present inves-
tigation it is more than probable Com
gress will provide for some reg uiar and
digin1cd method by which the various
and conflicting interests OF the country
~