The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-31
DENOUNCED THE LOBBY,
PRESIDENT WILSON CALLS At.
TENTIoN TO INsIDIOUS
SCHENIERS.
washington u Filled with the Hire
iings OF Special Interests Who.
fii the Newspapers Paid Advcr-
tisements Calculated To Mislead the
Public and Create False Senti-
ment.

Wilson stirred congressional circles
today with an emphatic statement
denouncing the industrious and
"insidious" lobby I'm Washington at
tempting to Great public sentiment
against certain features of the I'm
derwood tariff bill. This was accept
ed at the capital as referring to the
unusual efforts being made against
free raw wool and free sugar.
While the president was declaring
IL his opinion that the public should
be relieved from the intolerable bur-
den." senators and representatives
were viewing on every hand the evil
dences OF the lobbyists which beset
them; and significance was attached
to n statement made by Senator Sim
mons. chairman of the finance COM
mittee. which now has the tariff bill
In hand, that In his opinion. the
lobbyists were not making any head
way
The presidents declaration that the
lobbyists were so thick that one
could not throw "a brick without hit
ting one" revived interest i'm two bills
recently introduced in the house and
senate to regulate lobbying on pend
Ing legislation.
Senator Kenyon of Iowa and Rep
resentative G.. IL. Smith OF New York
have declared their intention To press
bills they have introduced which
would restrict the work of lobbyists.
require their registration and require
that they be licensed to appear before
any committee or To carry on a cam
paign for. or against proposed legis-
lation. Heavy penalties would be
imposed for violations.
Democratic leaders were almost
unanimous in support OF the presi-
dents statement maintaining that
they are well able To handle the i'm
portant pending tarifr legislation and
that sugar and wool will be thorough
ly considered and discussed by the
finance committee and Democratic
caucus before II Is reported. No
change OF policy relating to either
schedule has yet been determined.
however, IL Is emphatically declared
oy'the members Of the committee.
President Wilson told the White
House. correspondents today that ne
believed the most extraordinary fobby
ever gathered by special interests 10
overcome legislation was now mus
tered at the capitol against the tariff
bill
The president said he had no
doubt that few socalled lobbyists
were there on legitimate errands, but
that the great majority were occupied
In a systematic Misrepresentation of
facts. While the president believes
that the lobby" opposition is con-
eentrated against free sugar and free
wool. he Is not apprehensive that II
will be successful
The president made II clear that
he believdb scientific business meth
DDS and efficiency would overcome
tariff cuts and that with the appli-
cation OF scientific methods Louis
lana would not only be able 20 con-
tinue I'm the sugar industry but do
80 proftably.
The president later issued the fol-
lowing statement:
think that the public ought to
know the extraordinary exertions be-
Ing made by the lobby i'm Washington
To gain recognition for certain altera-
uons OF the tarir bill. Washington
has seldom seen so numerous. so in
dustriocs or so insidious lobby. The
newspapers are being filled with paid
advertisements calculated to- mislead
the Judgment of public men not only,
but also the public opinion of the
country itself. There is every evi.
dence that money without limit Is
being spent To sustain this lobby and
To create a6 appearance Of pressure
OF public opinion antagonistic To some
or the chief items OF the tariff bill
III h of serious interest to the
country that the people at large
should have no lobby and be voice
less In these matters. while great
bodies Of astute men seek to create
an artificial opinion and To overcome
the interests OF the public for their
private profit. IL is thoroughly worth
the while Of the people OF this coun-
try To take knowledge of this mat
ter. Only public opinion can check
and destroy IL.
"The gnNnrnmeni I'm nll 10 Arnnnh..