The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-14
LOBBY ADMITS CHARGE.
DENY BEING INSIDIOUS OR EX-
ERCISING ANY UNDERHAND-
ED MEANS TO OBTAIN
ENDS.
Tried to Induce Home Senators to-
Win Their Support i'm Anti-Frce
Sugar Fight-Sugar Producers
Claim to Have Been Mislcd by
Promises.

ate lobby committee today was to q
marked extent controversy over
whether President Wilson had given
the sugar producers reason to be-
lieve they would have nothing to
fear" from free sugar under his ad-
ministratiOn.
Out of the days testimony, in which
Louisiana and Hawaiian witnesses re-
peatedly declared they had not re-
ceived fair treatment from the pres
ident and had been misled by others
as to his purpose, the committee sue
ceeded in drawing what are believed
to be some of the most important
facts thus far developed Some of the
sugar .Ien frankly admitted they con-
stituted lobby" although they OBJ
jected to the charge that any of their
actions had been "insidious' or in
I any way illegitimate or underhanded.
They admitted that comprehensive
campaigns had been organized and
carried out to create back fire" on
senator's and representatives from
Their own States in hope OF winning
their support to the anti-free' sugar
side.
THE prosperity of Louisiana was at
stake" said Jules Godchaux, a sugar
planter. I'VE tried to get the people
we did business with to write sena-
tors and representatives telling them
that free sugar would destroy the
business of the State We asked them
to wire and write Washington and to
ask that merchants they did business
with in the United States to do. the
same. We tried to establish an end
less chain Of letters and kilograms to
draw attention OF congress to our ar
guments"
John F. Hamburg of New York,
manager of large Hawaiian susar
firm, admitted his firm had urged ali
of its $500 or more customers to
write to senator's and representatives
pointing out the destruction to bust
ness that would follow free sugar.
Plainly resentful of the presidents S
recent statements as TO the operation
Of an, n,ninsidious" lobby In Washington
the Louisiana and Hawiian sugar
men enlivened the hearings with fire.
quent attempts to tell of the pledges
they believed they had received that
sugar would not be made entirely
free
Jules GodchauX and Edwin S. Dick
inson, the two Louisiana witnesses,
declared they had tried in vain to see
the president and had been informed
that he had all the information he
wanted on the sugar tariff.
Mr.. Dickinson declared the presi-
dent had never talked with any "prac-
tica1 sugar man" about the Louisiana
situation, and that he had secured
most of his information from National
Committeeman Robert Ewing, a news
paper man; Sol Wexler. banker;
Representative Broussard and Sena-
tors Ransdell and Thornton.
~ have never seen Mr.. Wilson on
the subject, interrupted Senator
Thornton. who was sitting i'm the com
mittee room.
Charges of the sugar men that they
had been given assurances of the pres
idents sympathy on the sugar uues-
ton were based on statements Repre-
sentative Broussard is said to have
made to the witnesses after a visit to
President-elcc Wilson at Seagirt.
Il was assured by Mr.. Broussard,"
Satd Harry Irwin, representing the
Hilo UiawaiD Board of Trade, that
pan indorsing tariff reduction
such as would not destroy any lcgiti-
mate industry was prepared i'm Mr..
wilson's presence and sanctioned by
Mr Wilson with direct reference to
the sugar question"
The fact that the Baltimore con
Vention did not indorsc free sugar and
other circumstances of the campaign
the witness said, had led them to
work Tor the Democratic ticket and
support Mr.. Wilson in the belief they
would have nothing to fear" from
any movement for free sugar.
Tor Wilson and subscribed money to
MS campaign i'm Louisiana" said Jules
fodchauX hotly, ION the assurances
We thought We had that he would
not favor free sugar.
After hc got to Washington. he
said, the planters made vain efforts
I" So" til" president and talk with
him. 1--WE went To- the White House
ana saw Secretary Tumulty. he added.