Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-07-29
DENIES GIVING INTERVIEW
DECLARES HE NEVER SAW MANU-
FAcTURERs' AGENT UNTIL
ToDAY,s SESSION
COMES RIGHT BACK AT HIM
ALLEGED LOBBYIST ASSERTS HE
CAN PROVE STATEMENTS
JUST AS HE MADE THEM

] JO0 ! 40 Tx MAOE ! F1EM
! Washington, July 20. Majority
Leader Oscar w. Underwood Of the
house today denounced Martin M. Mul-
hall. alleged lobbyist for the National
Association of Manufacturers, as "a
liar and blackmailer." Mr.. Under
wood appeared before the senate lob
by committee to deny that Mulhall
had ever talked to him about legisla-
tion before congress. After one look
at the witness he said:
q never saw him before in my life
Il think" said the majority leader,
that it is in the interest of the public
that a man who has taken liberties
with public men, as this man has
should be contradicted l regard a
man of this kind as blackmailer
That man has never been in the ways
and means committee room since
have been chairman. He may have
had conversation with me, but when
he says he had an interview, I want
to say that statement is lie"
bfF ynderweod appsared umexpeet-
edly and made Brief statement be-
fore he was sworn. He denounced as
false Mulhalls statement that an en-
ploye of the ways and means commit
tee had been in his employ Accord
ing to Mulhall's earlier testimony the
man was paid $40 a month.
Chairman Underwood read Mulhall's
letter about the alleged interview in
which Mulhall wrote that Underwood
had told him that he could not do
otherwise than appoint William B.
Wilson, now secretary Of labor, chair
man Of the house labor committee. be
cause there was no other candidate
before the ways and means commit
tee.
That whole statement is lie out
Of whole cloth not word Of truth
in it, declared Mr.. Underwood. "There
never was a question about Wilson's
selection as head Of the committee,
solely because of his capacity and
qualifications. It is clear to me this
man was down here writing these
things to his people trying to make
out he was doing great things. He
never had any conference with me.
The statement in his letter can be dis
proved by every member of the house
ways and means committee. ] am sure
I never met this man. He had face
I could not forget.
There is nothing here that reflects
on me-" continuc1 Mr. Underwood, I
but I want it set right before the
country"
Mulhall reiterated he had talked
with Underwood briefly in the corri-
dor and had written to his employers
"about conditions just as found them
in washington at that time"
4 have no desire to contradict Mr..
Underwood" he said, "but | am con.
vineed that after he has heard my 9th
er witnesses and this examination
has been ended he will take back
part Of what he has said"
eThe statements you made in your
letter were not true and can be PROV
ed not true by other members of the
ways and means committee" retorted
Mr.. Underwood, therefore it was self
evident did not make them to you. "
4 win stand as clean before the
country as you will, returned Mulhal.
heatedly.
"Oh I have no question about how
we will stand relatively before the
public" replied Underwood, with a
laugh, and left the committee room.
The incident created furry that
had not wholly subsidized when the
committee settled down to the further
identification OF the letters
Martin NJ. Mulhall told the senate