Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-29
Never Talked With Lob
byist in His Life, Says
Underwood.
CALLED A BLACKMAILER
Declares He Will Be Supported
by Members of Ways and
Means Committee.

w dS0l0StOu, u. S.B July 90
Majority Leader Underwood of the
house today denounced Martin NJ. Null
hall as liar and blackmailer." In
derwood appeared before the senate
lobby committee to deny Mulhall ever
talked to him about legislation before
/ congress. After one look at the wit
ness, he said: Il never saw him be-
fore in my life"
Underwood appeared Unexpectedly
and made a brief statement before he
was sworn. He denounced as false
Mulhalls statement that an employe
of the ways and means committee had
been in his employ. According to Null
halls earlier testimony, the man was
paid $40 a month.
You made the statement that this
man was blackmailer; that means he
has used threats to extort money!"
said Senator Reed.
Il think he is trying to get money
cut of his own people" returned I'm
derwood.
NEVER QUESTION OVER WILSON.
Underwood read 2 MulhalTs letter
about an alleged interview in which
Mulhall wrote that Underwood told
him he could not do otherwise than
appoint William B. Wilson, now secre-
tary of labor, chairman Of the house
labor committee, because there was
! no other candidate before the ways
and means committee.
t--4zss4 4has~stateme is a lie, made out
Of whole CLOTH" said Underwood.
There never was question as to
! Wilson's selection as head of the com
mittee, solely because of his capacity
! and qualification. 1t is clear to me
| that this man was down here writing
these things to his people trying to
make out he was doing great things
| He may have had conversations with
me, but never had conference with
me. The statements in his letter can
be disproved by every member of the
ways and means committee. | am
sure | never met this man; he has a
face l could not forget. Nothing here
reflects on me, but | want to be sci
right before the country"
MULHALL REITI1RATEs.
Mulhall reiterated he had talked with
Underwood briefly in a corridor, and
had written to his employers "about
conditions just as l found them il
Washington at that time"
Il have no desire to contradict Tn
derwood. he said, but am convinced
after he has heard my other witness
es and this examination is ended he
will take back part of what he said.
Mulhall told the committee that al
one time he proposed an investigation
of his activities as lobbyist for the
National Association of Manufactur
ers to former Chairman Wilson of the
labor committee, Speaker Clark anC
Republican Leader Mann, and that al
turned down his proposal.
Mulhall testified that he made the
proposal TO Wilson, now secretary o.
labor. personally, and to Clark anC
Mann in a letter, through Representa-
tive McDermott of Illinois. He testi
fled also that he offered his CORE
spondence TO Samuel Gompers, presi
dent of the American Federation o
Labor; and that Gompers declined It
Were the letters or their substance
laid before Wilson," asked Senator
Walsh.
II gave Wilson an understanding o
what l had" replied MulhalI.
Speaker Clark and Mann, Mulhal
said, would not have the matter com,
: up
Did you have a talk with either?'
asked Cummins.
mo, SIR