The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-07
THOMAS REVEALS
! TRUEPOWER OF
SUGAR COMBINE
advertising" kilograms and
Peddling of Literature Ceases
Under Sp0tlight's Glare
INQUIRY BEGINS WIDER
SCOPE TOMORROW
Business Officials and Agents
to Describe Past and
Present Activities

WASHINGTON. June 6.-The direct
charge that powerful lobby main
tained. by the sugar trust with head
quarters In Washington was operat-
Ing throughout the country. with the
assistance Of great civic bodies, In.
timidating citizens into sending threat
en1ng kilograms and letters TO their
congressman, was made before the
senate lobby investigating committee
committee today by Senator Thomas,
pf Colorado.
Thomas testimony-by far the most
positive elected 30 far--was supple
mented by vast amount of docu-
mentary evidence. The senator de
clared that following the receipt OF
hundreds of written kilograms from
overp part Of Colorado and the west
where sugar interests are located, he
had received personal letters from
some Of the signers saying that they
had been forced to sign the messages
By threats from financial powers to
whom they we're indebted.
The witness refused to make public
these names or the contents of the let
ters. but said that with their permits.
sion he would place them at the dis
position Of the committee.
Thomas charges In brief we're:
That sugar lobby was conducting
thorough town to town campaign
through the whole sugar country; ="
that agents write the kilograms and
then secure tn esignatures of business
men and civic associations; that this
lobby was spending enormous sums In
circulating literature to create q mis-
conception Of the sugar rates and that
congressman from sugar states were
being threatened through the press
and by private messages not to vote
for free sugar II they wanted to come
back to congress-"
Oliver Details Wealth.
More wealth was paraded before the
committee, when Senator Oliver. OF
Pennsylvania, the first witness Of to-
days session, ratified of q list OF his
holdings, with approximately $780,
600.
Il have $1,5OO.O00 invested In two
Pittsburgh papers" he said. ITO sup
ply the 5000 tons OF print paper use,
have paper mill worth 100000.
] own 1000 shares Of United States
Steel preferred; and 80 shares Of the
common stock: 100 shares preferred
and 80 shares common OF the Pitts
burgh Coal company"
Oliver said reduction OF 81 ton
on print paper would be Of great
benefit to him.
The senator said great many
Pittsburgh manufacturers had called
upon him to discuss the tariff. None
OF these were lobbyists, he asserted.
Al being honorable gentlemen. seek.
ing to impress convictions they be-
lteved honest, on national Legislators
Among those whose names he remem-
bered were W. j. Strasbnrger and A.
j. Pitcairn. Pittsburgh plate glass
manufacturers.
u don't set myself up as die
tioDary," the senator responded tartly
when the stock question as TO the wit
ness definition Of the word lobbyist
Was asked. oliver said. however. that
he regarded Senator Sherman's defni-
ton the best. II was ANY man who.
from selfish motives, brings pressure
to bear on individual legislators to
achieve his ends"
Further explaining his tariff callers,
IN the majority. The question OF ferro-
manganese duties. he explained, form
cd the principal subject Of their argu-
mentA
The Pennsylvania became incensed
At Senator Walsh's proddIng TO Gillette
further Information OF divers hnan-
cial interests.
I'm willing to answer questions
that are legitimate he asserted, but
I'm not going to give you any inven-
cory OF my holdings. Some Of the
senators who have appeared here
have gone farther than they had to"
Il might add that am interested
IN the copper industry" the witness
went on, but won't tell you how
much that interest Is. or anything
about It. It's none OF your business.
aor the committees"
Walsh persisted In his cross-ex-
animation as TO these copper holdings
Snd Senator Nelson broke in 10 de-
clare that the metal wasn't affected
by the tariff. and he couldn't see the
reason for the questioning
II haven't much property" the
Minnesota solon declared. and 7
don't believe In Fostering those who
have"
Cummins appealed to Acting Chair
man Reed 10 rule on the point pre-
scented. The Missouri senator quoted
from the resolution creating the In.
vestigating committee and asserted
that the lines were las broad and
sweeping as possible"
I'VE required other senators 10 tell
their holdings" he said My view
10 that copper IL subject OF inquiry,
but II the senator doesn't want TO an.
swer the questions, | do not favor
pressing him"
Cummins was not satisfied with the
ruling and long sQuabble ensued be
tween the Iowa senator and the chair
man a. to whether bank stock hold.
ihgs should be given by witnesses
Reed held that such holdings were
not affected by the tariff and that
their listing was unnecessary. Cum
minis took the opposite view on the
ground that the income tax touched
such stocks.
Oliver stuck to his refusal to give
his copper holdings. and he chided