The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-07
WILSON'S INFLUENCE
NEAREST APPROACH
TO LOBBYING, SAYS
MICHIGAN SENATOR
T0wnsend's Statement on
the Stand Gives Lobby
Investigation an I'm
expected Turn
DID PRESIDENT USE
UNDUE INFLUENCE?.
Democratic Secret Caucus Upon Max
ing of Bill Criticised-Blame Com
mittee for Not Questioning
Senator's as to the Presi-
dents Influence
DID PRESIDENT USE
UNDUE INFLUENCE?

Washington, June 8-An unexpected
turn was given the sennte's lobby In
vestigation late today when senator
Townsend of Michigan, rewubIfcan. de-
ciared ON the stand thnt the influence
yielded by President Wilson and by
the democratic secret caucus upon the
making of the tariff bill constituted the
upon members OF Congress that the in
sestieating committee would he able 10
Hnd.- ..ss
Senator Townsend criticized the COM
mttee Tor not having asked members Of
the Senate whether the President had
sought to influence them and declared that
even though the Pree-cent had not In
tended 1t, his recent denunciation of lob
bies' working in support of changes in
the tariff would force certain senators to
vote against amendments they knew to DE
just.
Who are those senators?" demanded,
Senator Reed.
Il dent care to name anyone" retorted
Senator Townsend
Resent Intimation
The two democratic members of the
committee present, Reed and Walsh, re-
scented any intimation that President VIII
son had used patronage or threats 10 force
any one to support free sugar or free
wool, or to support the bill as whole
To
had not asked senator thus far whether
the President had tried to influence him.
u move" Interrupted Senator Walsh,
that in view of the serious statements
made touching the executive, that any SEN
ster who already testified may be recalled
and interrogated IN reference thereto"
Il am for that" said Senator Nelson
and every member of the committee
agreed.
Dragging the Presidents tariff activities
Into the investigation somewhat intensified
feeling In the committee and it is expect
ed 1t Will make more searching the inves-
tigation to be carried on. Senator Weeks
of Massachusetts, following Senator
Townsend on the stand, expressed the
opinion that Executives had more infu-
ence bills than al the persons who
have come to Washington put together"
"The statement that the President put
out In regard to an insdious lobby infl,i-
enced the public mind,'' said Senator
Weeks, land that has its effect upon SEN
'ators. A lobbyist is bad man and no
senator likes to oppose measure If the
President says the lobbyists are seeking
to change it."
To Extend Time Limit
The Senate agreed early in the afternoon
20 extend the time limit for the lobby in
vestigation until June 2s. Members of the
committee doubt whether 1t can be COM
pleted within the time. The new element
injected into it today probably will carry
the questioning of senator's over into next
week. Features Of the so-called lobbies
on sugar, wool and metals and LIQUOR
labor and other legislation must then oe
taken up as the second stage of the inves-
tigation.
Senator Townsends statements in rela-
tion to President Wilson were not in the
form of charges. He expressly said he did
not charge the President with using i'm
proper methods, but insisted that charges
existed and the activity of the President
in support of free wool and free sugar
amounted 10 ''an undue influence even
though he did not use the big stick of
patronage"
"As the term lobbyist is generally
1t was used by the President in his re-
cent statement upon which this in
vestigation was founded, 1t means one
who tries to secure or prevent legis-
lation by the use of means that are i'm
proper; by the offer or payment Of
money, the granting or Withholding of
favors, by insidious threats OF political
opposition. by the use of patronage or
the giving of political rewards. l know
Of no improper lobbyist of that kind
The nearest approach to undue influence
exerted on members of Congress, l be-
lieve, is that exercised by the Presi-
dent and by the use of party secret
caucus"
do you mean to say that Is lobby
ing?" demanded Senator Reed
"A lobbyist Is man who attempts
to influence legislation against the
honest conviction. the conscience AMI
the notions of duty of the legislator"
returned Senator Townsend. Because
OF the insinuation that a lobby exists
to influence them to vote for amend
ments they believe in, I think some
senators will refrain from SO voting.
This l believe, is coersion.'
you believe there is a species of
lobbying from the legislative as well
as from the outsider" asked Senator
Cummins.
Yes sir, have no doubt of it," re-
piled Senator Townsend.
Support Party Measure
Democratic leaders have been re-
ported as saying: This is to be mat
ter the President must decide and In
order to be a good democrat and re-
ceive the proper amount of patronage
and not perhaps be opposed, you must
support the party measure"
DO you know any human being who
can say as matter of fact that Presi-
deuf Wilson has eithar witbha1d or
given appointments to influence the
vote of any man In Congress?" de-
manded Senator Reed.
mo, do not. 1 know only what I
have heard rumored and seen In pa
pers." said Senator Townsend.
Senator Weeks testified he severed
his connection with all his banking and
commercial concerns when he was
elected to the Senate. He said three
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