New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-17
Tells of Irrational Council for
Industrial Defence" Backed
by Manufacturers.
PAPER ORGANIZATION ONLY
Report Made by Witness Re-
lates Efforts Made by the Ma
tional Association to Get
Man Into Cabinet.
from The Tribune Burea !. ]

Washington, July 16.-The tran OF the
real lobby of the National Association OF
Manufacturers was discovered by the
Senate lobby committee to-day. when
the National Council for Industrial De-
fence WAS uncovered by Colonel VI. NJ.
Mulhall In his testimony. Mulhali as
serted that this organization existed Oh
paper only. that It maintained a pald
lobbyist here all The year and that he
had been told that 1t had raised $Vo'o"
for use in fighting labor bills before Oon-
gress and later in lighting members "i
Congress and Senators who were IN
friendly. He added that the officers WOULD
have a hard time accounting for the
money.
The council. Muhall said, was composer
OF two hundred and nifty organizations
but had never held a meeting IL was
controlled exclusively by the manufact-
urcrs association and was used as
means of flooding Senators and Represent
atiycs with kilograms when effective OPP
position TO labor bills was considered
necessary.
After Muhalrs disclosures regarding
the National Council for Industrial De-
fence. the committee called j. i. Bird
general manager Of the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers, and he sald ne
was also treasurer OF the National Couh-
ell for Industrial Defence. lie dld not
agree with Nf1Ilhall that the organization
existed on paper because IT had orilcers'
tfo said the manufacturers association
was the leader Ia the movement but that'
so far as he knew, the council had never
held meeting.
"Who elected Mr. Kirby chairman
Senator Reed asked.
MIR. Emery and myself" Bird replied.
"Aud who elected you treasurer!
Mr.. Emery Mr.. Van Cleave ana MI
Schwedtman'
Mr.. Bird said the only books he had
were bankbooks and checks, which served
as vouchers.
pr.ferred TO Withhold Names.
.Did YOU not keep ar account OF tho
money YOU received" asked Senator
Reed
Mr.. Bird replied that he had, with the
aid OF cards. but he asked the Indulgence
Of the committee as to producing the
names of those who gave money, because
no d,d not think IT fair to make them
public.
James 4. Emery was not connected
with the National Association OF Manu-
facturers. Mr.. Bird declared. but was
employed here as counsel for the Natiohal
Council for Industrial Defence TO work
and speak against labor bills, for when
he received salary OF $1,000 month.
Al the suggestion OF MulhaH, Senator
Reed asked Mr. Bird how much Mr..
Emery received for expenses, but he
cvaded the question by promising 10 pro-
duce all checks aud bankbooks to-mor-
row.
After the committee had adjourned MI
bird said that Muhalls statement that
the National Council for Industrial De-
renee had raised $1,000 was absurd.
The most We have ever raised III
year" said Mr.. Bird. was sSN'V". ana
this was used for the legitimate expenses
Of our organization here. as our vouchers
will show"
Prominent Names Mentioned.
Names OF many prominent statesmen
were drawn into the investigation to-day
through the reading OF Colonel Mulha'l
letters. among them eN-Presldent laiI
ex-president Roosevelt the late James >
sherman and eX-Speaker Cannon. The
letters for the most part concerned Null
halls activity here and his conferences
with Senators and representatives reia
tive to labor legislation.
From some OF the letters It appeared
that the National Association of Manu-
facturers. not satisfied with the Senators
and Representatives 1t controlled, wanted
Ia net one Of It's members into President
Taft's Cabinet. and Mulhall wrote that he
had practically secured promise to this
effect from Arthur I. Norys. Mr.. Tafts
campaign manager
4 few OF the letters told OF the enorts
OF the manufacturers 90 make eX-Repre-
sentative Watson Governor ot Indiana
but one OF the most intert sting OF all was
that whlcl told OF a conference Mr.. Wat
son had with President Roosevelt to md
out how he stood OH third term.
This conference took place about the
middle OF Aoril. 1908. and Mr. Watson, ia
telling about IL. said there wasn't III,
least DOUBT that Colonel Roosevelt wanted
TO run again.
when Mr. Watson said that Mr.. Tart
could not carry indiana and asked Roose-
welt 10 again be a candidate" the letter
read. the colonel hemmed and hawed
and said that perhaps he had made -
mistake I'm saving he would not run again.
but that he had promised TO stand by
Taft and would not go back on that
promise"
Mr.. Roosevelt. according 10 this let
ter, was surprised TO learn that the man
ufacturers were against the Hepburn bill
and said he would not push it on that ac-
count.
once in his testimony Mulhall defended
the late Vice-President Sherman, declar-
ing:
"He was always sincere and honest
and always worked for the good OF his
party. I had known him for twenty
years as a loyal and iightlng Republi-
can"
Sought Cabinet Place.
The efforts OF Mulhall to get a member
OF the manufacturers association IN
President Taft's Cabinet were related In
n report he made to Ferdinand Schwedt-
work. apparently, was on Schwedtman's
orders. for he said later he did not believe
In going so far. This report was dated