The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-21

IatiODS With some Members Of
Congress.
Washington, June 1S.-The senate
lobby investigation reached out into
new fields today when the senate, act
ing on a resolution presented by Sen
ator Norris, ordered the Overman
committee to subpoena Judge Robert
5. Lovett, chairman of the board OF
directors Of the Union Pacific railroad,
to explain a published statement cred
tied to him yesterday in New York
that lobbyists had sought to secure
employment from the Union Pacific
on the ground that they would be able
to influence a settlement of the Union
Pacitic-Southern Pacific case in Wash
ington.
Earlier in the day the committee
had made public, over the protests OF
lawyer representing Henry T. Ok
nard and Truman G. Palmer, a series
OF letters written by these two beet
sugar representatives showing a long
continued effort to influence legisIa-
ton in Washington; to control con-
gressional committees, and to direct
national political affairs in support of
the continuance Of a protective sugar
tariff
Chairman Overman had not deter
mined tonight when the railroad phase
OF the investigation would be opened.
A summons was sent today to Charles
B. Warren of Detroit, president of the
Michigan Sugar company, and one of
the men to whom many of the Hamlin
letters. produced yesterday, were ad-
dressed. Mr.. Warren was asked to
appear before the committee tomor-
row.
Late in the afternoon the commit
tee abandoned temporarily the sugar
protection lobby and took up the free
sugar side, calling Frank c. Lowry of
New York, who directed much of the
free sugar publicity under the associa
ton name Of the COMMITTEE Of
Wholesale Grocers" Mr.. Lowry ad
mltted he was employed by the Fed
eral Sugar Refining company. and
under questions by Senator Cummins
agreed that free sugar would benefit
the cane sugar refiners.
The OxnaI 1Palmer letters, produc-
ed at the close Of the committee's
morning session, were the chief fea-
ture of an exciting day. They covered
a period from 1906, when Philippine
Tree trade came up, through the rest
OF the Roosevelt administration. the
political campaign of 1908 and into
the Taft administration.
Assurances that certain senator's
would be on the senate Philippine
committee; that mo stone was being
left unturned to get real protection
lists on the house ways and means
committee; and that strong pressuro
could be, and was being brought to
pear upon members of both houses to
accomplish various ends. appeared
frequently in the series of letters.
Chairman Overmans first effort TO
read one Of the OXnard letters when
the committee began it's sessions
brought a protest from John T.
1erkes an attorney representing Ok
nard and Palmer. He declared the
committee had no right to go into
private correspondence" dated be.
fore the present session Of congress
In a long executive session, the COM
mittee decided that the letters bore
directly upon the attempts of OXnard
and Palmer to influence legislation
and they were at once made public.
The committee tonight granted the
request of Melville T.. Stone of New
York. general manager of the Asso-
ciated Press who asked to be allowed
to testify tomorrow regarding claims
made in some of the Hamlin letters.
produced yesterday, as to the public
ity the beet sugar interests hoped to
secure through the Associated Press
MASKED MEN ROB FAST TRAIN.