Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-09
LOBBY PROBE REVEALS SUGAR
GROWERS HAVE LINED UP
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES,
WILSON WlTHHoLps COMMENT
ON CHARGES OF TOWNSEND
Says Accusations Need No Reply
President Expsets Investigation to
Have Beneficial Effect in Favor Of
Tariff si'i-ssvsr.I Senators Testify
-TsIssraphie News.

-
lobby hunt plunged into its second
week today. Less than q dozen sena-
tors remained to be examined before
the committee begins calling score
or more Of men mentioned in the testi-
mony Of senators as being on one side
or the other Of the free sugar fight. or
Of being attorneys OF special repre-
sentatives In Washington.
It was admitted that the investisa-
tion already had outgrown its original
bounds. It originally was intended to
develop evidence concerning the influ-
ences President Wilson charged were
being brought against the tariff bill.
but the testimony of senator's has
broadened the scope Of the inquiry.
Under the extension Of time granted
by the senate, Chairman Overman's
committee expected to develop all the
new phases.
President Wilson told callers today
he expected the lobby investigation to
have beneficial results owing to the
publicity given the conditions sur
rounding the making Of the tariff bill
When asked his opinion Of the charge
made by Senator Townsend ~ to his
own influence with reference to lesis-
lation, the president replied 1t needed
no comment.
Sutherland owns Sugar Stock.
Senator sutherland. tho first witness.
told the committee he owned 200
shares In tho Amalgamated Sugar
Company, worth $500 share. He had
no interest In wool and declared No
had voted and would vote for reason-
able duty on wool and sugar. Any oth-
or course on his part, he said. would
be "hypocritical affectation.
TN 4 long service in tho house and
senate" he added, II have never known
any member Of either body to ~ Inns
properly Influenced on any lagisiatton
nor have known any attempt on the
nart ~ any one to exert improper tn-
duence."
Find, . Mule Lobby.
Senator Reed said he had no per-
sonal connections affected by the tar
III and had talked reduction to otner
senator's whenever possible. He d1d
not know any lobbyists. at least IN the
way of associated names and faces;
had not been subjected to any at
tempts at influence, knew nothing OF
any use Of money improperly but was
certain. however, that a new system Oh
.ttemntin9 to influence legislation had
arisen in this country. He illustrateo
by telling Of telegrams OF morse any
mule dealers saying: please vote lol
a duty on sugar. 1t Is very necessary u
preserve the mule Industry Oh MIS-
souri,"
.It is plain to me that sugar plant
ers were influencing the men from
whom they bought mules, said ne
"Judeing from this I believe there Is
a system growing up by which at
tempts are made to reach senators by
indirect connections. 1t begins In bus
mess connections and finally finds some
one in the district of representative
and makes an appeal thru him to seno
letters or kilograms appealing IN benaii
Of the people of the state. don't think
this has been confined to tarin les1s-
latiou. I think strong effort Is being
made here to affect the passage OF the
tariff bill or to effect modification 81
it. How strong it is I don't know"
Influence Not Felt.
GLOW many senator's Of the seventy
Won have heard testify here do you
think have been improperly infiu-
enced?" asked Senator Nelson.
None
you think senators so far have been
immune from the serious infection OF
the lobby?"
"I think that for many years the ma
jority in congress may have been In
fiuenced by argument put forth by
selfish interests and that many senators
have been influenced by them. That was