The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-13
AFTER PRESIDENT
Senator GalIinger Intimates
Presidential Lobby.
Hints at Reason President
WithhOIdS Nominations.
SIDESTEPS DIRECT CHARGES
''LObby Scare" Created to In
fluence Legislation.
Says President Is EncrOaching
on Others Powers.

Wilson's name in connection with
white House influence" for the tariff
bill was brought before the senate
lobby investigating committee again
today by Senator Gallinger, who de-
clared the president had come peril
ously near lobbying on some of the
things he had done in connection with
the tariff bill. Mr.. GaIlinger did not
make a direct charge that the presi-
dent had 1obbied for the tariff bill,
but the intimations in his testimony
were taken by Democratic senators to
be SO broad that they subjected him
to a long cross examination on the
subject of White House influence.
Senator Ga1linger's statement came as
a profound sensation. He was about
to leave the stand when Senator Reed
asked a final question. "Where a man
says that he would hang someone as
high as Haman' if the person did not
do certain things" said Senator Gal
linger, "and that an industry which
proposed reduction of wages and did
so, would be investigated, 1 think that
is about the worst kind of influence I
can imagine"
''Scare'' to Influence Public.
What do you think of a public Of
ficial that gets up a scare about an
insidious 1obby?" asked Nelson.
.@That he intends to influence public
opinion and the opinion of public
men, returned Senator Gallinger.
would you regard it as species
of lobby?'
From my own inability to define
the term to my own satisfaction, per-
haps I would not like to say. 1t was
a species of lobby influence"
''It was an intimation that men are
afraid to use their own Judgment, lest
the people suspect them of lobbying %
persisted Senator Nelson
Intimidate Congressman.
cit so impressed me-" Gallinger re-
piled.
you think then, that members of
congress can be intimidated ?' asked
Chairman Overman.
ST have no disposition to criticise
public officials for cheap partisan
purposes" returned Senator Gallinger.
"I still am forced to the belief that the
influence used in behalf of free sugar
or free wool or free anything else, is
as Objectionable as anything else
Acting in Behalf of People.
Senator Reed tried to draw the line
between the president acting in behalf
of the people who elected him and pri-
vate interests conducting a campaign
for selfish ends.
Senator Is GrieVed.
"I am an old fashioned person. re-
piled Senator Gallinger. ct still be-
Iieve in the three coordinate branches
of the government and it grieves me
to see the executive encrOaching on
the powers of the others and attempt
ing to influence legislation"
Presidents Right.
'"The sugar men were represented
said Senator Reed. Don't you think
the president had a right to use his
influence ?"
''The president has right to make
his statements in messages to con- |
gress."
tYou do not want to charge that the !
president of the United States has
brought any kind of coercion to bear
on any member of congress-
Refuses to Make Charge.
''I would not undertake to do so. I !
have no disposition to criticize him
Mr.. Gallinger added he did know
that many Democrats were complain
ing because more offices were not
filled and more nominations were sent
to the senate.
Holding Up Nominations.
you don't mean to intimate that
the president is holding up certain ap-
pointments to compel them to vote for
legislation that they do not desire %
81 make no charges
Senator Never Tempted.
During my public life of four years
in the house and twenty-five in the
Senator Gallinger said. '1
have never been approached by any
one for himself or for any interest in
behalf of any legislation that seemed
to me improper"
Takes Exception.
He took exception to the testimony
f Senator Hollis of New Hampshire,
n which William Whitman, Win
hrop L. Marvin, Herman F. Straw
md other New England textile repre-
,entatives were referred to as lobby
sts'' $50 long as man can properly
exert influence to secure legislation
rs has been done in very high quar-
ers. it ought to be permitted to the
Interested parties to use personal ap
peal in opposition to that legislation"
;aid he. Chairman Overman asked
Senator Gallinger for his opinion on
he changing of a public document
after it had been ordered printed by
he senate 1t developed in testimony
that such a thing had been
lone in a document franked by SEN
ttor Lodge. 'EI would consider that
absolutely indefensibIe, if not crimi-
lal," returned Senator Gallinger. He
Jaw no objection to the use of con-
yressional franks for the general dis
of public documents, pro-
riding they were in the precise form
n which the senate had ordered them
printed.
Beet Sugar Interests.
Beet sugar interests, and their eff
orts to retain a protective duty on
ugar, were again under scrutiny
When the senate lobby investigating
today resumed hearings
The extent to which public docu-
nents had been circulated in behalf ]
# the camapign to retain the sugar
protective tariff again occupied much |
# the attention of the committee |
While the sugar representatives paid
or the printing of most of the docu-