South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-17
Leaders at Washington Men
toned in the 400 Letters
introduced and Identified by
Col. MuIhaII.
WATSON HELD A TALK
WITH PRES. ROOSEVELT
Said 1t Would be Impossible to
Amend the Sherman Law Be-
cause the Manufacturers
Were Against 1t.
WASHINGTON. July 17-Plans to

WASHINGTON, July 17.-Plans to
make the National Association Of
Manufacturers the controlling factor
in campaigns for congress, To defeat
Aegislation in washington it's mem bers
i'd not approve, TO get the ears OF
men who were running presidential
booms and TO land a member of the
association in the cabinet of a presi-
dent. were laid before the senate lobby
investigating committee Wednesday.
Martin M. Mulhall. self-styled lob
byiSt for the association, swore to
the authenticity OF nearly 400 letters
which told OF these plans and brought
in the names of such men as former
Presidents Roosevelt and Taft the
late Vice Pres. Sherman, former
Speaker Cannon. former Senators
Aldrich. Hemenway. Foraker and 9TH
ers. Arthur 1. Vorys. Ohio manager of
the Taft campaign OF 1908. and Frank
II Hitchcock, one time chairman of
the republican national committee and
postmaster general in Mr. Taft's cabi-
net
Mulhall testified too, that the Ma
tional Council for Industrial Defense,
an organization allied To the National
Association OF Manufacturers had
raised between $500, 600 and 500. 600
20 be used I'm opposing legislation its
members did not like He said this
information came from a collector of
the council and that he had no per-
sonal knowledge of IL except that he
had been paid for political work from
such a fund.
AuIhaII Feels Strain.
Mulhall showed the strain he has
been under for four days during the
afternoon session, and the committee
took him from the stand for half
hour and listened 10 testimony by J.
p. Bird, general manager Of the Man
ufacturers' association and treasurer
OF the Industrial Defense council.
Bird brought half a carload of
books and papers with him to Wash
ingtOn and turned them over TO the
committee. He refused 70 say who
had contributed to the fund of the
council, but he will be examined at
length later and the committee will
undertake 10 make him tell what man
ufacturers contributed and what
amounts they gave.
Along with the information that
Bird had half a carload of data TO
submit. the committee heard that r
G. Schwedtman OF St. Louis. secretary
TO the late James w. Van Cleave, once
president OF the National Association
OF Manufacturers. had about $50, 600
letters bearing on the associations
work Schwedtman was in constant
communication with Mulhall, accord
&ng TO the latter's evidence.
He Met Watson.
The committee was greatly interest
ed in a letter which Mulhall swore he
wrote to Schw ed trnan on April 16
1908. 1t told Of a conversation Null
hall had in Washington with former
Rep. Watson Of Indiana. in which the
latter described a two hour inter
view at the white house between Mr..
Roosevelt and himself. In part the
letter read:
He CWatson) said he was invited
20 the white house at $50 p. m. and
was with the president until 1890
y. m. Tie president wished him TO
call so they could talk over the legis-
lative program for the balance Of this
session. the president knowing that
he represented Speaker Cannon and
the other leaders OF the house and
the senate. He stated that the main
reason OF the call was that Speaker
Cannon, Vice Pres Fairbanks and sew
eral other leaders. wanted to find out
how the president stood in relation TO
g third term.
He stated that there we're four
things the president wished. First
that congress would stay in session
until the 18th OF May, 20 receive gov
ernors OF the different states coming
10 Washington on that day. Second
90 amend the Sherman law. Third. 10
have congress vote for four battle
ships. Fourth, 10 pass a child labor
law for the District OF Columbia.
which would be a model law for the
states in general.
Said IL Was Impossible.
'AIr. Watson SAYS ne told the presi-
dent that IL was impossible for him 20
get through this congress two OF
those bills. First, that congress would
only vote for two battleships Sec
ond. that congress would not amend !
the Sherman law. The president
wanted 10 know why. Mr.. Watson
told him that almost the entire manu-
featuring interests of the country we're |
against IT.
The president wished TO know if Mr.. !
Watson knew or had met Mr. Van /
Cleave. Mr.. Watson told him he had. /
anc that hs knew Mr. Van Cleave /
we'll. and other leaders who were IN /
touch with Mr.. Van Cleave. and that !
Mr. Van Cleave was a splendid fellow /
and knew what the manufacturers |
wanted. He stated that he talked |
aleng these lines with the president |
and finally the president did not press /
10 have the Sherman bin passed at /
this session Of congress
He then stated that they passed 10 |
he child's labor law, and Mr.. Watson |
asked the president who would draw /
his model bill. The president replied /
missioner. Mr.. Neill. draw u. the pres
dent explaining that he merely wish
.d this bill 90 be an academic bill for /
ne states"
The letter closed with "A reference
- ~F-+~@-'- s-nounf 80 ts's @e'~-s~