The Washington herald., 1913-09-03
CLEAR
SOLONS' NAMES
MulhalI Repudiates State
ments in Letters Concern
ing Four Congressman.

While two former presidents or the
n. A. NJ. were breathing defiance in the
faces of the Senate lobby investigating
committee, the House prooers yesterday
managed to clear up the McDermott
phase of their investigation and sift all
the weight out of references in the Null
hall correspondence to Representatives
Fairchild Of New York, Sherley of Ken
lucky, Webb of North Carolina, and Cow
ington of Maryland.
John Kirby, jr., and David N. Parry
are the two former presidents who told
the Senate probers that they had nothing
to regret in their legislative activities,
and that, in all probability, they would
continue to engage in the same activities.
John A. McDermott, manager OF the
organization bureau Of the United States
Brewers Association, was the first and
most important witness before the House
committee yesterday. In 30 far as he
could, he sought to vindicate Pepresenta-
tive James 7. McDermott of any charges
against the latter which have grown out
of their friendship. He was fairly sue
cessful. He denied:
/. That he had contributed 5000 to
Representative McDermotts 1910 cam
paign fund as a reward to the latter for
his support of Speaker Cannon in the
rules fight, or that he contributed any
money TO McDermott that year for any
purpose, or that he or his organiza ton
played any part in the Cannon rules
fight.
Merely Personal Contribution.
THAT the 500 he contributed to Nc
Dermott's 1912 campaign fund and which
Ial g,,4 bn
tve's sworn statement OF contributions.
was anything except personal contribu-
tion from his own funds, or that his
organization had ever contributed money
TO the campaign fund Of any member Of
Congress.
3. That the meeting in his New, York
Office, attended by George D. Horning,
the local pawnbroker; Representative
McDermott. and I. II. McMichael, was
prearranged. or that the pending loan
shark bill was the principal topic OF
discussion.
Questions by members Of the commit
tee indicated a desire on the part of
Representatives Ferris of Oklahoma and
Willis of Ohio to drill a probe into the
alleged liquor lobby, and Mr.. Ferris was
particular to question the witness about
his expense accounts and those OF his
assistants in the organization bureau.
Ferris also wanted to know who had
the papers," in case the committee de-
cided to pursue such a course.
Questions, however, failed to disclose
even the trail of a large liquor lobby, |
the few interrogatories could |
not be expected to develop a great deal. |
Tells of "secrct Room"
Mrs. Irene NJ. Klasse, a clerk in the |
Department of Agriculture. and who was !
Mulhalfs stenographer for three months |
when he used the secret ROOM in 1911, |
was called by the committee and cor
roborated in large part MulhaIrs testi- |
mony about the room. She said she had |
gone there almost daily for three months
ton there, and Transcribed her notes at |
her boarding house, and had been given |
a key by McMichsel.
She testified further that on one occa-
sion, while MulhaIl was debating, Nc
Dermott entered the room, and she was
sent out while McDermot talked to Null 4
hall. McDermot had testified that the
first time he saw Mulhall in the room
was in December. 1911. Mrs. Klasse (she
then was Miss Mason) said she was not
IN the room after August, 1911.
Mrs. Klasse was excused by the COM
nittee while she went over and looked
At the room in the Capitol. 1t developed
hat she had used the room next door to
he one used by Mulhall. but both of the
-ooms were assigned to McDermott.
Mulhall admitted yesterday that he had
never brought any influence to bear upon
Fairchild of New York
Sherley of Kentucky, Webb of North
Carolina, or Covington of Maryland. He
'epudiated many of the statements con-
aimed in his own letters mentioning these
men, and said in each case, with a good
ieal of emphasis, that he never for a
minute believed he or the N. A. NJ coulo
influence them. and had not attempted TO
influence them.
Submits More Letters.
Mulhall submitted more letters and
totes. among them notes in the nand-
writing of McMichael, showing that the
after attempted to keep Mulhall in
ormed of the plans OF small group of
o-called labor legislators, including
hughes Of New Jersey, Nichols and Will
on of Pennsylvania, Rainey and McDer-
mott of Illinois, and others.
Representative Nolan of California yes-
erday resigned as member of the
iouse lobby investigating committee, ana
Macdonald of Michigan
,as assigned to the vacancy bv Speaker
lark.