Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-06-07
Senator Townsend Of Mich
gan StatleS Senatorial In
yestigalion by CrItlcising
Wilson and Secret Caucus,
EXECUTIVES INFLUENCE
HAS BEEN PRONOUNCED
Senator Weeks Backs Up Col
leagues Reference 10 Pres
sure Brought to Bear From
White House,

fsH soEssa Jogsns, errtiAt lssts- klssl
Washington. june D An unoxpeef-
cd turn wes given che scnatc's lobby
investigation late today. whom Sonu-
/ ton Townsoud, OF Michigan, ropubll.
can, declared on the stand that tn
Influence Wloldod hy President Wilson
and the democratic secret cnucuH mp
on the making uf the tariff bin eonsii-
tutod the nearest approach TO un-
Cue influence ON members uf con
gross" that the investigating commit
te, would bc able 20 find
senator Townsend criticised the
committee fG not having asked mem
beers of the senate whether the presi-
dent had sought % Influence ihcnl
aud declared that even though the
president had not intended II, his re-
cent denmciatiun OF "lobbles" work
lhp in support of changes IN Tho tar
itf would forcc certain senntors 10
vote against amendments thcy knew
10 he Just.
"Who are those senator's" de-
minded Senator Reed.
"a don't care TO namc anyone" re-
turned senator Townsend.
The two democratic members Of the
committee present senator's Reed and
T Walsh. Indignantly resented any in
/ tlmatiun thut President Wilson had
used patronage or throats 10 force
anyone 20 support free sugar or troo
wool,
'a MOVE, eald senator Walsh, "thut
ln Wow of the serious statrmcnta nmdC
/ touching the executive, that any sen
ator who has testified already may be
recalled and lnterrogatcd IN reference
thoroto."
Il am for that said Senator Ncl-
son. aud memhers Of tho committee
agrecd
Senator Weeks. Of Massachusetts,
republican senator. following Sena-
tor Townsend on the stnnd expressed
the opinion that "ihe czocutiyo had
had more influence on bills than MI
the persons who have come TO Wash
ington put together
"The statement that the president
put out In regard TO an insldious lobby
influenced the public mind said sem
ator Weeks and that has rs effect
upon the senator's The public be-
licvos a lobbyist is a bad man and no
senator likes 10 oppose q measure u
the president says the lobbyists arr
seeking to change it.H
senator shNcly. democratic NOM
ber OF the finance committee, said he
knew Of no lobbying influences nj
work on the tariff.
The senate agreed TO extend the
time limit for the lobby investigation
twenty days, or until June 49, The
now element injected into II today
probably VIII carry the questioning
uf senators over into next week. fcn.
lures Of the so-callcd lobbics on SUI
gar wool, metals and liquor. Labor
and other legislation must then be
taken up as the second stage of the
Investigation.
senator ToWnsonds statements IN
relation to President WILSON We're moi
Ia the form OF charges. lie expressly
aaid he did not charge the president
with USING improper methods; but ho
Insisted that the charge that lobbies
existed, ana the activity Of tho presi-
dent in support of free wool and free
sugar amounted 10 an undue influ
cncc. even though he did not use the
"big stick Of patronage,
as The torn lobbyist is generally
understood" he sad. and as ! be-
Hove It was used blythe president tn
his recent statement, upon which tins
Investigation was founded, II means
one who tries to secure or prevent
legislation by the use Of means that
are improper, by the offer or pay
mcnt OF money. the granting or with.
holding Of faNors. by insidlouN threats
of political opposition, by the use d
patronage or the dNision Of political
rewards know OF no improper
lobbyist OF that kind. The nearest
approach 60 undue influenco exerted
upon members OF congress. J believe
Is the influence exercised hy the pres
ident and by the use and power OF the
party secret caucus.
''Do You mean to say that Is lob
bying@ demanded senator Reed.
- lobbyist IS man who attempts
to Influence legislation against the
honest conviction, the conscience and
the notions Of duty Of The legislator
retured Senator Townsend. Because
OF the insnuation that LOBBY exists
To Influence them to vote for amend
ments they believe In. I think some
senators VIII refrain from so voting.
This Is coercion.
aYou believe there is a species Of
lobbying from the executive, as we'll
as from the outside" asked Senator
Cummins.
sYes sir. have no doubt Of II.
replied Senator Townsend. y DO
nnt hmm the executive nnN morn