Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-04
WATSON DECLINES
TO ATTEND PROBE
Charges Lobby Investigators
Have Already Decided
Case Unfairly. 81

INQUIRY is TO BE SHIFTED
TO THE HOUSE TOMORROW
Townsend Denies Mulhalls Story
and Brands Him "Self-Acknowl-
edged Coruptionist."
Charges that the democratic members
Of the Senate lobby investigating COM
mittee have prejudged the case made out
by Martin NJ. Mulhall against the Ma
tional Association OF Manufacturers
without hearing but one side were made
today by former Representative James
E. Watson of Indiana. one of the men
brought into the case by Mulhall.
Mr.. Watson pointed in a letter to the
committee to the statements by Chair
man Overman, Senator'S Reed and
alsh. appearing last week In the new
YORK World, as grounds for the charge
that 1t had decided that Mulhalrs
story was true, as told. He declined TO
appear before the committee. saying
that 1t would be useless. Il much pre-
fer" he said. Ito take my case to an
other court"
The Investigation is to be transferred
to the House tomorrow.
McCarter Vigorously Objects.
Robert McCarter attorney for the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers,
faced the committee with a vigorous OBJ
lection to the articles in the World.
II was amazed at these statements
he said. appearing as they did when
only one witness has been examined.
1t seems to me to be extraordinary. 1t
seems as IL it would have been fair to
have suspended Judgment until all the
evidence was in.
Chairman overman and Senator Reed
declared that there was nothing in the
interviews which could be taken as in
debating that they had prejudsed the
case.
''Td like to know how he breaks in"
said Senator Reed, looking at McCarter.
1.-The committee is not responsible 20 the
United States Senate and cei tainiy ism I
to him. / don't intend to take any iec-
ture from him"
"only Asking Fair Play"
I'm only asking for fair play" said
McCarter.
IF he amt allowed to read those
statements. will" said Senator Nelson,
ter put them in.
Senator Reed attempted TO retaliate by
reading letters purporting to be from
James A. Emery and other officials or
the association speaking lightly of con-
gressmen and showing antagonism to
many bills IN Congress.
After Reed had read several Emery
objected. He called attention to the
fact that none of the letters had beeh
properly identified. and questioned the
propriety of casting discredit upon a
man who was afterward to be wit
ness. Chairman Overman and Senator
Walsh agreed that the letters should
not have been read, and they were
ordered out of the record.
Townsend First Witness.
Senator Townsend of Michigan was the
first witness today. Testimony of Mar
tin NJ MulhalI had been furnished and
that witness was waiting to be question:
ed by the House committee about his
lobbying activities for the National As
ISOLATION Of Manufacturers.
Senator Townsend fatty denied Null.
halls testimony that he had talked with
him, and characterized Mulhall as
''self-acknowledged corruptionist."
Emery and Mulhall when Townsend
was a member of the House. came to-
gether to his office and Mulhall made an
argument about labor legislation.
It Was His "Busy Day."
When he paused i asked him If he
was through and when he said Yes,
said: Well. this is my busy day. You'll
have to excuse me- Therefore it is an
unqualified falsehood when he says he
talked with me confidentialy.'
The seantor went through the record
and picking out letters In which his name
appeared, denied in detail Mulhalls tesu-
mony that he had con erred with HIM
This man was personally offensive To
me-" said the senator in conclusion
therefore / could not fal to remember
IL he had talked to me confidentially."
Mulhall took the stand To identify
ve-hundreddollar check he said he drew
April & 1909, to be turned over 10 a.. a.
Miles of Racine, Wis, for a retainer Tor
former Representative James 4. Watson,
when the manufacturers wanted Watson
to work for a tariff commission bill.
To Hear Foraker Tomorrow.
Chairman Overman announced that for
mer Senator Foraker would be heard to-
morrow.
Mulhall produced a letter from Secre-
tary w. b. Wilson written in December.
1909 while chairman of the House
labor committee, declining an offer OF
the Mulhall correspondence In II VIII
son spoke of Mulhall's demand that he
be protected for year, which he In
as request for a job. VII
son declined the offer with thanks.
House Quiz Starts Tomorrow.
The lobby investigation will be trans
ferred to the House side of the "a pitol
tomorrow. when the Garrett committee
begins its hearings Louis Seibold. the
New York World reporter. who dealt
with Col. M. NJ. Mulhall for his lobby let
tiers, will be the drst witness. and will
lay the foundation for the examination OF
Mulhall, which will follow Immediately.
The time that Col. Mulhall is on the stand
will be devoted largely to cross-examina-
ton. the committee decided today.
The members of the House COMMITTEES
believe that I'm putting into the REQ.
ord the thousands Of letters presented
by Col. Mulhall, the Senate investiga-
tors did not pay quite as much atten-
ton to detail as they might have done
The House committee will not take up
the yoluminous correspondence as a
bulk but probably will segregate ft
INTO groups and cross-examine Muihall
as to the activities set forth in each
group.
CUMMINS TO PUSH BILL.
Provides Punishment for 1mpersonat-