The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-06-06
SUGAR CHIEF CONTENTION |

Bureau Maintained i'm Washington
BY the Louisiana Growers-Sen-
ator Penrose Comes Across With
Names of 1900 Persons That
Have Visited Him.
Washington, June 5.-Ramifi-
cations of the sugar tariff fight being
conducted outside the halls of Con-
gress gave the senate Lobby Inves-
tigating Committee" busy two
hours late yesterday afternoon With
Senator Ransdell of Louisiana as
the chief witness, members of the
committee pried into every phase
of the fight between the free sugar
and anti-free sugar forces; and
established the fact that general
offices are maintained by both fac
uons and that systematic and or
ganized fight has been carried on
for and against the free sugar pro-
vision endorsed by President Wilson.
The activity of the sugar tariff
forces was partially responsible for
powerful lobbying influences which
are at work in Washington to effect
changes in the tariff bill Several
names were added to the list of per-
sons who are being subpoenaed by
the senate committee and who will
testify Saturday as to whether or not
they are lobbists."
MAINTAIN BUREAU.
This includes employees of a bur
eau maintained here by the Louis
lana sugar growers and various per-
sons who have been connected with
the anti-free sugar fight
Senator Ransdell discussed freely
the organized activity of the Louis
lana sugar cane growers, but he be-
lieved little money had been spent,
as compared with the amount spent
by Claus Spreckels, the Federal
Sugar Refining Company and Frank
G. Lowry of New York, said to be
be an employe of that company, in
the attempt to create a public senti-
ment in favor of free sugar.
Il urged the Louisiana people to
organize two years ago and combat
this false sentiment that was being
created in favor of free sugar" he
said, but they did not act in time"
Some light was thrown on the ac-
tVity of Hawaiian and Porto Rican
growers who also oppose free sugar
by the Senator. He denied there had
been any concerted action among
the three forces and said the Louis
lana growers had confined their eff
forts to distributing literature and
presenting arguments to show that
free sugar meant destruction to
theIr business and no benefit to the
consumer.
OUTSIDERS TODAY.
The Investigating committee
tNr, NI,.l,
OF Senators tommorow and then will
begin hearing outsiders whose names
have been mentioned during the in
quiry or who the committee had
been given to Understanding should
know some of the facts. MANY sub
poenas have ben issued.
President Wilson had not sent any
communication to the Senate up to
tonight or indicated what further
statement he wished to make. He
already had given Chairman Over
man the names of several men who
might something about congressi-
might know something about con-
gressional lobbying"
A list OF more than 1900 names
was put in today by Sentaor Penrose,
covering some of the persons who
visited him while the Payne -Aldrich
Dill was being framed, and all his
| callers during the reciprocity and
Democratic wool bill fights in the
| Senate.
Senator Pittman declared 1t was
evident that lobbies existed in Wash
| ington and that men poured i'm to
protest against the Underwood bill
when 1t reached the Senate, seemin-
gly by a concerted movement"
Il know of my own knowledge, ="
said Senator Pittman, there has
been a premeditated, sustained and
expensive effort made by the wool
growers to intimidate their Reper-
sentatives to support certain meas
ures In the behalf that the people
favor them"
Senator Penrose said he had no
personal interest in tariff rates. He
knew of no money or improper meth
ods used TO influence legislation, ex-
cept some letters threatening dire
destruction unless / voted as they
wanted me to. That referred partic-
ularly 10 the wool schedule" he
added
At the night session of the com
mittee, Senator Thornton of Louis
iana testified that he regarded as
Unfair the methods used by Frank
| {. Lowry of the Federal Sugar Re
ming Company TO create senti-
inent Tor free sugar. lie said Lowry
! mad issued circulars under the letter
mead OF grocers' organization when
III reality he was representing the
cane sugar Tefners. Senator Thorn
ton answered under protest the
questions of the committee reaIa-
ting to his property holdings.
Senator Simmons of North Carol
ina, chairman of the Finance com
mlttee, submitted a long list of
names of persons who have appeared