Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-08-04
Congressman Scores Probers in
Letter Saying He Will Not
Testify.
SAYS PREJUDICE OF
COMMITTEE is SHOWN
Statements in New York Pa
per Indicate Testimony
Would Do No Good.
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UNITED PRESS LEASED wIRR.l
Washington, Aug. 4,-Stinging con-
deinnatiOn Of the senate lobby investi.
eating committee was voiced here to-
day by former Congressman James
Watson, in letter withdrawing his re.
quest to appear before the brobers to-
explain the charges of former Lobbyist
Martin Mulhall that the National As.
soeiation of Manufacturers aided his
campaign for governor of Indiana in
1908.
II have decided to take my case to
another tribunal where the law will be
impartially weighed" wrote Watson.
Watson did not appear at today's
hearing, but in his letter bitterly de-
nounced statements summing up the
lobby testimony which appeared in a
New York newspaper Saturday signed
by Senators overman, Reed and
Walsh.
No Use to Appear.
"These statements plainly show"
wrote Watson "that a majority of the
committee, without waiting to formally
report, voluntarily rush into print and
render a decision, and pronounce iudg-
ment before single defense witness
has been heard or a syllable Of Of tes.
timony in rebuttal offered.
"I submit that you have preiudiced
my evidence. You have passed on it's
character and sufficiency without hav-
ing heard it, for, while you do not spe-
officially mention a name, yet you have
privately determined and publicly an
nounced that Mulhall has made out his
case
Would Be Farce.
81 have no connection with the Ma
tional Association Of Manufacturers,
but these statements make it clear,
even if I prove Mulhall periurer, the
case will not be helped. Therefore
senators, in my judgment, II would be
merely farce for me to appear before
the committee, for no matter what ev.
idence is given, you have 80 strongly
foreshadowed your report and so un.
erringly forecasted your decision that
l could not hope to change either or
make any impression whatever on your
Senator Townsend, Of Michigan, ap.
peared before the committee today at
his own request and branded MulhalI
as liar and corruptionist. "
Townsend Testifies.
Senator Townsend testified that he
met Mulhall on the street once and
that Mulhall told him he (Townsend)
was :" the only honest man he had met
here"
81 have never forgotten that man,
said Townsend mo one could. When
he says he had further conferences with
mo, he states an unqualified falsehood.
would remember any man that looks
rs this fellow does, even If I should
meet him in perdition."
Mulhall was recalled Co the stand and
produced the stub of check which he
says he drew in April, 1909, to pay
Watson a $500 retainer to work for tho
.ariff commission.
Letter by Wilson
Mulhall presented o letter alleged TO
have been written in December, 1911.
'y former Congressman, now Secretary
Of Lpbor) William B. Wilson, refusing
conditions named by Mulhall before.
turning over N. A, NJ. correspondence
Mulhall had insisted that the labor
organizations employ him for one year
Mulhall then announced that he had
found three more files Of letters.
which, he said, were of greater import.
ance than any heretofore produced.
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