The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-21
LOBBY SECRETS EXPOSED,
FAR REACHING PLAN TO BEAT
FREE SUGAR.
Senate's Lobby Inquiry Brings Forth
Testimony Of a Kind to Indicate
Determined Effort on Part of Beet
Sugar Industry" to Create Senti-
mcnt Against Elimination of Duty.


led today into the private files of the
men in charge of the Washington Of
fees of the United States Beet Sugar
industry, the leading instrument Of
the campaign against free sugar, and
by originals of letters and kilograms
and what purported to be copies of
others, developed testimony of what
appeared to be an attempt at a far
reaching campaign to create public
sentiment against free sugar through
the columns of individual newspapers
and the facilities of press agents.
1t was a trail SO long, complicated
and so winding that after more than
two hours of patient effort the COM
its records only a small part of the
mass Of correspondence which sena-
tors believed had produced the most
sensational evidence yet developed.
BY subpoenas duces tecum the
committee got possession Of copies Of
letters and kilograms of Clarence G.
Hamlin, a Colorado Springs. (Col)
newspaper owner and beet sugar man
in charge Of the Washington offices
Of the American Beet Sugar associa-
ton. two years ago.
The papers included what purport-
ad 70 ha Of
signed, but furnished as genuine by
Harry Austin, a clerk in the Offices Of
Truman G. Palmer. representative Of
the United States Beet Sugar indus
try. THE industry succeeded the
Association" about two years ago,
and Palmer succeeded Hamlin in
charge. While the committee was
after the private papers Palmer, af-
ter conference with Senator Clarke
Of Wyoming, Hamlin's uncle, was
wiring Hamlin. urging him to get
lawyer to represent his interests. The
committee had knowledge Of that and
hurried the letters into the record
without regard to sequence. More
than 20 had been read when adjourn
ment was taken tonight.
Those read into the record were
directed to managers of beet sugar
companies, officers of the American
Beet Sugar association and friends of
Hamlin, indicating that Hamlin at
the time of their writing was an ac-
tive figure in a campaign to organize
support for the protection of the eet
sugar industry and secure publicity
against tariff reductions.
Some told of Hamlin travelling to
large cities. giving out interviews;
others written to Washington, indi-
Gated that he was trying to circulate
matter in defense of a sugar duty
through newspapers, the Associated
Press and other channels, to offset
what he thought misleading state
ments put out by sugar reiners. The
text indicated that his attempts at
publicity had not always been as sue
cessful as he had hoped. Other let
ters referred to a plan launched by
Hamlin to have the large beet sugar
companies take over S35, 200 in bonds
of the Chicago Inter Ocean. Other let
ters disclosed attempts to interest big
railroad systems in the anti-free
sugar campaign and to have profess
ors of agricultural colleges appear be-
fore committees of congress with ar
guments favorable to the beet sugar
men.
None Of the letters disclosed that
railroads had been interested or
that the great news agencies been ex-
tensively used. or that The Inter
Ocean bonds had been bought Let
ters introduced did show that the
sugar men had been dissatisfied with
their efforts to get interviews" car
ried by the Associated Press.
Austin, a sergeant at arms Of the
senate. brought a big box of the tele-
grams and letters to the committee
room this Afternoon. The committee
suspended the examination of wit
nesses and Chairman Overman, Sena-
tors Reed and Walsh began reading
them into the record.
Two kilograms were exchanges be-
tween Hamlin, Senator Clark and
Truman G. Palmer
Hamlin's telegram in reply, sent to
his uncle. Senator Clark, was given to
the committee. 1t said:
Have wire from Palmer suggesting
retain attorney to prevent delivery OF
my papers to committee Austin. on
whom service is made, may have some
OF my private correspondence on pa
pers. but so far as | remember there
is nothing among them which | would
IA