New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-10
Witnesses Tell Lobby InVeStI-
gators of Activities Relative
to Legislation.
SEEK ALDRICH AND CANNON
Manufacturers Association
Asks That They Be Called as
Witnesses Concerning the
Mulhall Charges.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington, July 9.-The wool lobby
stepped into the spotlight of investigation
by the Senate lobby committee to-day,
taking the place occupied for the last two
days by the Wall Street conspiracy"
William Whitman, of Brookline, Mass,
ex-president of the National Association
of Wool Manufacturers, occupied the
stand for the greater part of the day.
Under the questioning of Senator Reed
Mr.. Whitman went as far back as 1883,
when he first began TO come to Washing
ton In connection with tariff matters and
when he made the acquaintance of ex-
Senator Aldrich. He submitted more than
one hundred. letters and kilograms he had
written to S. n. d. North. at that time
secretary of the association. on tariff
matters, whose connection with the re-
vision of Schedule X in previous tariff
bills has long been known.
When Mr.. Whitman was asked TO sub
nit letters he had written to members of
/ Congress- he demurred. Il wouldn't like
TO make public letters 10 men who are
now dead" he said. Il will do II If you
insist upon IL, but protest against II"
Mr.. Whitman said there was nothing in
the letters to which objection might be
taken. but they were so largely of a pri-
waite nature that he felt they would be of
no interest to the committee.
While Senator Reed insisted on reading
all ofsthe North letters other members of
the committee were plainly bored. A
large part of tho correspondence related
TO the framing Of the Dingley bill, some
Nhn N1Tisn r o.
{ garded as too high.
Money Raised by Wool Men.
Winthrop L. Marvin, of the Wool Asso-
citation, told the committee that the as
sociation collected about $4,000 in 1912.
and in 1918 practically the same sum. In
1911 the collections were about $1,000, and
in 1910 and 1909 about $1,000 year
Il never knew of a single dollar eX-
pended for a political purpose added
Mr.. Marvin.
The witness said that in 1909 some money
was used TO send some one. not named, to
Washington. He thought this fund might
have been raised in some way outside the
regular channel of contribution 10 the
annual fund. Another fund-about S25'oW
to meet extraordinary exigencies in con-
nection with tariff legislation, was raised
about two years ago. All was turned
over to Z. f. Greene. of Boston, wool
man. and was contributed by manufact-
urers. The witness denied that this $1,000
was raised TO defeat Canadian reciprocity.
A. d. Baldwin, a Cleveland attorney,
testified that in Washington, talking to
members of Congress about the sugar
tariff. he represented Alexander & Bald
win Of New York. and received $50
day
A. S. Smith. Of TenniIle. Ga, president
OF the state branch of the Farmers
Union was questioned about a meeting
of committee Of the National Farmers
Union at New Orleans last spring az
which scheme to increase the consump-
ton of cotton was TO be discussed. He
testified that his expenses there were paid
by r. d. Bowen, president Of the Texas
branch Of the union. President Barrett,
of the national organization, was not
present.