New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-18
MuIhaII Declares Association
Wanted Him Nominated for
President in 1908.
RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT TAFT
Lobbyist Tells of His Activities
at National Convention, and
of Aid Given to Con-
gress Candidates.
From The Tribune Bureau. J


non. formerly Speaker Of the House. was
the candidate Of the National Association
Of Manufacturers for the nomination for
President at the Republican convention in
Chicago i'm 1908. Colonel NJ. NJ Mulhall
told the Senate lobby committee this at-
tcnoon, and it was only with great re-
luctauCe the witness said, that the asso-
citation accepted Mr.. Taft. because his
speeches in cuba were anything but
pleasing to its members Mulhall said
the officers Of the association were salts
fed with their work at the convention,
however, because James 5. Sherman was
nominated for Vice-President, AS they al
ways considered him their friend
The cx-lobbyist testified that Mr.. Can
non and x-Representative James +. Wat
son were the chief advisers of the manu-
facturers' association at that time. and
that they always saw to 1t that the asso-
citation was supplied with inside informa-
ton. and it was only when they found
that Mr.. Cannon's candidacy was hope
less that they turned to Mr.. Taft.
I'm a letter to Mr.. Schwedtman. secretary
Of the manufacturers association. in
April, 1905 Mulhau quoted the late Vice
President Sherman as saying that the
fight then raging on Speaker Cannon was
q dirty deal by the White House against
the Speaker and added:
Watson states that the President
CRoosevelO is moving heaven and earth
10 nominate Taft. and he is willing 10
sacrifice the Sherman law and every law
70 please the trusts and please Wall
Street. so that he can get their support
for his candidate"
MulhaT also wrote Of attending a meet
ing at Mr.. FOrakers house, composed Of
Senators who will oppose the President
and his policies at the Chicago conven-
ton" He added that he was told to
work against Maryland delegates being
instructed for Taft.
Fighting the Taft Forces.
THE opposition TO the President Null
hall continued, intends TO let no legis-
latlon through that he wishes at this ses-
sion Of Congress, and intends to fight the
Taft forces to a finish. There is a whole
lot took place at this meeting that can
not very we'll be put on paper
on May 6, 1905 Mulhall wrote to
Schwedtman that he had called on Sen
ators Garter and Hemenway Senator
Aldrich's secretary and others, and was
assured by an these gentlemen that it
mattered not what the President at
tempted to dc, there was not going TO be
any unfair legislation passed through the
Senate this session. on the House side
called on Murdoch. Campbell, Nelson
Alexander Fassett and several others
and gave them our reasons why no in
junction legislation should be passed.
The letter detailed a conversation with
Senator Beverage in which the Indiana
Senator declared himself for an injunc-
ton bill. amendment Of the Sherman law
and a child labor bill.
NulhalI wrote that he reported Bever-
idee's sentiments TO Hemenway, and
added
"Hemenway told me 10 tell Beveridge
he was talking through his hat, and that
his hat was a damn poor one lie added
that Beveridge was bluffing, and assured
me that no such legislation could pass the
Senate. Senators Carter and Aldrich sim
rly laughed at Beveridge's statement.
Watson later told Mr.. Emery and that
Beverldge was slrnply crazy Watson
stated that he was In full charge Of af-
fairs in the House during the Illness OF
the Speaker"
Mulhall wrote Schwedtman the next day
quoting Watson to che effect that "all this
scare about the ShUman law amendment
and Injunction bills was gotten up by him
self and the Speaker 10 food the Presi-
dent with letters and stop tariff dickering
at this session"
Mr. Schwedtman wrote to Mulhall on
May that "Beverldge is not very big
now. but will grow smaller right along If
he keeps up that kind OF talk He need
not try TO bluff us We have been in the
game too long"
Colonel Mulhall told the Senators a
lot Of things about the work Of the as
ISOLATION at the Chicago convention,
how they worked against the insertion
Of any labor planks in the platform
and how they received a promise from
Arthur l. Vorys Mr.. Tafts pre-cOnven-
ton campaign manager, that none would
be put in.
Apparently IL was not easy shedding
for the National Association Of Manu-
facturers. as Mulhall said the represent
atives Of the association were "misera-
bly, treated" when they tried TO get a
hearing before the platform committee.
This miserable treatment happened
when Mr.. Van Cleave, president Of the
association, went 70 the room Of Wade
J. Ellis. After five minutes rapping the
door was finally opened, Mulhall said.
and Mr.. Tafts brother. Charles p. Taft.
came out lie told the manufacturers
.hot yba,. could enter the room in about
five minutes. When that time had ex-
pired Nr. Ellis, Mr.. Hitchcock and
Samuel Gompers came out. The manu-
facturers' representatives were pretty
sore" about this, Mulhau said
Activity in Politics.
Mulhans testimony to-day related
principally 20 his activities at the Chi
cago convention and the efforts Of the
manufacturers association TO re-elect
Judge jenkins, chairman OF the House
judiciary Committee, although Il was
with some hesitancy that they contrib
uted any money TO his support
The witness depressed long enough TO
make a sharp attack on S. Wood Nc
Clave, Republican candidate for Congress
I'm the 9th New Jersey District at the
special election next Tuesday. He spoke
OF Mr.. McClave as "con man and the
'tightest listed wad" he had ever met in
his thirty years political experience. ana
he asserted that II McClaye had spent
some OF his own money in the campaign
OF 1910 when he was also a candidate. he
would have defeated Hughes
The ire OF the former lobbyist was