Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-06-06
SCOPE Of LOBBY
PROBE NIDEDGD
INVESTIG lTE ALL ThE EFFORTS
MADE TO INFLUENCE ANY
LEGISLATION.
SUGAR LOBBYISTS" FIRST
Senator smoot and Committee Got In
Lively Fight over !h'
Mormon Church.

WASHINGTON, June 5.-The scu-
ate "lobby" investigating commute
decided tonight to extend its present
inquiry into a sweeping Investigation
of all efforts tnat have been made TO
influence legislators, or under con
sideration in the present inreStiga-
tion.
The committee decided TO suhpoe-
m practically All persons thus far
mentioned 10y senators as among
their tariff callers" and to learn
the exact nature Of all organized
work that is being directed toward
influencing any member of congress
upon any subject Efforts OF the
committee will be Centered first upon
the sugar fight; next upon wool and
after that, full Investigation Will
he made that will take in the actiVi-
ties Of prohibition and liquor lob
bies." the Alaskan railroad forces;
labor unions; farmers protective or
ganizations and all organizations that
have carried on endless chain" let
ter writing or means of influencing
the members Of the seante or house.
Senator Overman. chairman Of the
committee. said today that he be-
lieved the investigation already had
established the fact that powerful in
nuence was being welded upon SEN
ators by the organized forces con-
Quoting campaigns to mold or to In
huence public opinion. This, he said.
constituted a new style of tremen-
dous power
Wilson Was Justified.
Senator Reed. a member Of the
committee sent word to President
Wilson during the day that he be-
iieved the testimony Of Senator Rams
dali and other witnesses fully estab-
llshed the truth Of the presidents
recent statement. upon which the
resolution for the investigation was
based that a powerful lobby existed
in Washington, at least upon the
sugar tariff issue.
The decision of the committee to-
night has so broadened the scope of
its work that members don't know
when the inquiry can be concluded.
The ten days limit fixed by the
Cummins resolution will expire to-
morrow night, but Senator Oyerman
will ask the senate to give him un-
limited time for the prone. Thus far
only senators have been examined
IN dthe senate list will be finihsed to-
morrow.
Tho sergeant t-at-arms of the sem
ate was directed tonight to issue many
additional subpoenaes for persons
wanted as witnesses.
The next phase of the investigation
will be taken up Monday with the
calling OF the first man Identified
with the free sugar and ani-Iree
sugar campaign. Names given by
President Wilson. others furnished by
the members of the senate on the
witness stand and still others that
have been sent to Senator Oyerman
by outside parties constitute the
list of those who have been or VIII
be subpoenaed.
Can't Define lobbyist"
Members of the senate have almost
unanimously testified that no i'm
proper methods have been used to In
fuence them and that the men who
have called upon them are not lob
byists" in the sense that the term is
generally used. The committee found
1t impossible tonight to define a
lobbyist" or to fix a limit to Its in,
vestlgation. 1t was determined.
therefore, to investigate everything
that shows any sign or having been
an organized or pre-arranged plan to
influence congressional action.
Clash Over Mormons.
Questions as to the interest the
Mormon church holds in sugar and
wooden factories in Utah brought
about a lively clash between Senator
Smoot and democratic members OF
the committee late today. Senator
Smoot said the church held a small
amount Of stock In the Utah-ldaho
Sugar company: and in the knight
Wooden Mills company at Provo. but
he resented questions by Senators
Reed and Walsh that he thought
carried insinuations that he repre-
sented the interests of the Mormon
church at Washington.
Here in Washington I represent
all the people Of Utah" he said.
sharply. Il don't represent Mormon
or Jew or gentle. black or white,
Methodist or Presbyterian"
Senator Reed said he had not
meant to insinuate that Senator
Smoot was the representative of the
Mormon church.
Don't you in way represent the
churchs stock, within the meaning