River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-03
NEW SEAsA7I0NS|n
PROBE OF LOBB|Es
MANUFACTURERS AGENT Al
LEGEs A LOBBY IN CONFESS
FESsloN JUST PUBLISHED.
IS sUBPoENED TO TESTIFY
sa!timorean Names SoIons He De.
clares Susceptible to influence
Inquiry Activity to Cease Till
Next Monday.

Washington, July Further SEN
sations in the senate's lobby investi-
cation were foreshadowed when it be-
came known that subpoena had
been served upon Martin M Mulhall
of Baltimore, reported to have been
for years the active field agent and
lobbyist of the National Association of
Manufacturers.
The subpoena was ordered by Chair
man Overman of the lobby commit
tee after representations had been
made to him that Mr.. Mulhall was
willing to give the committee impor-
tant facts regarding attempts to in
fiuence legislation, to elect or defeat
candidates for congress and to control
the makeup of committee on con-
gress. A sergeant-at-arms of the SEN
ate served the subpoena upon Mr.. Null
hall in Washington.
Nature of Disclosures.
The nature and extent of the dis
closures that are expected were out
lined in an article published Sunday,
under the sworn signature of Mr.. Null
hall, in the New York World and the
Chicago Tribune. The statement pur-
ports to be Mr.. Mulhall's personal his
tory as the representative from 1908
to 1912 of the National Association Of
Manufacturers and bristles with the
names of congressman whom he al
leges were "subservient' or who were
punished for their opposition to legis-
lation favoring the association.
The allegations that he had helped
to defeat congressman who opposed
the interests Of the manufacturers;
that this organization had spent thou
sands of dollars to elect congressman
expected to be sympathetic to their
influences; that he had aided in Sc
curing favorable members on commit
tees that handled labor legislation:
and that his associates had used great
efforts to secure the establishment of
a federal tariff commission in 1908, as
a means of delaying tariff revision, are
contained in the long article, under
Mr.. Mulhall's name.
Members of Congress Named.
INC named many
former and present members of con-
gress, who were alleged to have been
active agents in support of legisla-
ton desired by the American Associ-
alton of Manufacturers. It specified
that the employees of congress who
had been retained to procure informa-
ton, and alleged that even the page
Nf IF fof
were used to pick up information
about proposed legislation. The writ
er said he had conducted state and
congressional delegations; helped to
break up labor unions, and had per-
sonal knowledge of tho extent to
which influence exerted by his asso.
ciates had swayed legislators and leg,
islation.
Senator Overman declared subp0e
mas would also be issued for James
A Elmer, representative for the Ma
tional Manufacturers association at
Washington, whom the Mulhall arti-
Gle designated as "chief lobbyist" for
the association at Washington, and
for former Congressman James e.
Watson, of Indiana, referred to in
the Mulhall statement as an "iAsid-
ious lobbyist" for members Of the
Manufacturers association, who were
leading the fight for tariff commits
sion in 1908. He said the committee
would determine at a meeting Mon
day, July 1, as to the summoning of
other congressman or former con-
gressmen and officials of the Natioae!
Association of Manufacturers.
Would Extend Inquiry.
"The lobby investigation has gone
far beyond it's original scope" said
Senator Overman, land / don't see
any course for us to pursue but to
ask for more power from the senate
and to go into every phase of the
eve have found there is a new
kind of insidious lobbying; testimony
has been given to show that great in.
terests have been getting together be.
hind certain men, to get them on
committees where their opinions
would control legislation, though
there might be no actual corruption
of the individual AS the inquiry goes
ON, it brings out the fact that there
has been lobbying going on that was
not suspected"
The senate committee will not re-
new activity until July Z. Mr.. Null
hall has been summoned to appear
July g.,