Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-07-21
INVESTIGATE LOBBYIST
Senators Going After Mulhall, the
Alleged Lobbyist of the n.
A. NJ, and Others.

Washington, July 17.-Investiga-
tion of the inner workings of the
National Council for Industrial De-
fense, organized, it is alleged, to
finance legislative lobbying under
the direction of the National Associa-
tion of Manufacturers, is the an
nounced determination today of Sen
ator Lee S. Overman of North Caro-
lima, chairman of the senate commit
tee investigating President Wilson's
''insidious lobby" charges. He plans
TO have expert accountants examine
the organizations books and prepare
a financial summary and also to re-
veal the names of all contributors.
Martin NJ. Mulhall of Baltimore,
self-styled lobbyist for the National
Association of Manufacturers, re-
sumed the stand today, discussing the
days preceding the republican nation
al convention of 1908. Letters read
to the committee indicated that fire.
quent conferences were held between
managers of former President Taft's
campaign and representatives of the
N. A. M. 1t was alleged that certain
members of Taft's managers warned
President Van Cleave that Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, was urging an
anti-injunction plank and suggested
that Van Cleave and others attend
The convention and prevent it's en-
dorsement.
In April, 1908, Mulhall declared he
wrote Frederick Schwedtman, ther
secretary of the N. A. M, that James
Wilson said that if Taft was nomi
mated for president he (Watson
could not be elected governor of In
diana. The witness then told of ;
conference he had with the late Vice
President Sherman, then a congress
man--th latter urging the N. A. M
to stop the attacks in republican
newspapers on former Speaker 10,
Cannon. Mulhall said he then lef
Sherman and went to former Senator
Forakers office and found a secre
conference of republican senators il
progress.
1t was decided at this conference
according to Mulhall, to not enac
any further legislation desired b.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, thel
president. He alleged Foraker tolt
him the "allies" planned to defea
Taft's nomination, capture control O
the national committee and seat con
testing anti-Taft delegates. To off
set this, Mulhall alleged, Watson tolt
him later, Roosevelt was "movin,
heaven and earth to nominate Taft,
and was fostering attacks on Cannon
to kill the latter's presidential boom
Mulhall said Watson threatened t,
expose the Roosevelt plot on tn
floor of the house."
On May 6, 1908, Mulhall says h,
called on Watson and Senators Car
ter, Hemenway and Aldrich, al
chatting pleasantly" and all sayinl
unfair legislation would not pass tn
senate. Mulhall said he wrot
Schwedtman that Beveridge had sal
the n. A. NJ. would have to accept al
amended Sherman trust law, AN anti
child labor law and an anti-injunC
tion law. Mulhall said he then sa,
Hemenway and wrote Schwedtma
as follows:
"Hemenway told me if / saw Be,
eridge again to tell him he was tall
ing through his hat, and a damn poe
one at that" Watson confirme
Hemenway's report, saying Beveride
was crazy.
On May Z, 1908, Mulhall said h
accompanied Watson to Baltimol
and en- route Watson said that /
(Watson) and Common had starte
the scare about anti-injunction le
islation and an amendment to Il
Sherman law to head off tariff legi
lation. On May s, Mulhall allege
Schwedtman wrote him that Beve
idge's influence was waning, addinl
at always is disagreeable to me
think we have anything in commt
with men who are wrong on the !
Dor question as Beveridge is. Ho'
ever, we never know who our bedfe
lows are. Watson is man after n
own heart and we will help him
every way"