The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-07
DEMOCRATS WILL
Be RECALLED To
GIVE TESTIMONY
Republican Senator From
Michigan Refuses to Give
Any Names
HE ALSO CONDEMNS
THE SECRET CAUCUS
Chairman Reed Edges in the
Pertinent Argument That
Secret Caucus Has Not
Yet Been Held

WASHINGTON, June 6.-Senator
Townsend. of Michigan, Republican.
touched off real bomb in the hearing
room OF the lobby investigators this
afternoon when he made the specific
charge that President Wilson's use OF
patronage as a club to force Demo-
cratic senators to accept without Ques-
ton the Underwood bill just as IL
passed the house constituted In itself
lobbying of an insidious Character
The result Is that the Democrats are
confronted with a demand to investi-
gate the presidents activities in push
ing the Underwood bill
Senator Townsend's charge came
when the eighth question on the rcgu-
lar list for senators was propounded,
which read:
do you know or have You any in
formation of the use of money to
maintain a so-called lobby here or
elsewhere? In connection with your
answer, state what you mean by the
words lobby and lobbyist
Charges President.
Mr.. Townsend went into a somewhat
lengthy definition of what he under.
stood by the word lobby or rather
lobbyists. and said:
The nearest approach to undue in-
definition. has been the authority eA
erted by the president and the ~ an&F
power Of the party secret caucus.
am convinced that some senator's Will
vote in favor OF the tariff bill ana
against proposed amendments because
of the fear of antagonizing what u
known as the power and influence Of
the administration"
DO you mean to say that he Il lobe
bying?" snapped Acting Chairman
Reed, while Senators Cummfns and
Nelson sat back in their chairs with
a look of pleased surprise on their
faces.
Il am giving my definition" said
Senator Townsend.
You do not know Of the existence
of any lobby here?" asked Senator
Walsh, Democrat.
II do not" said Senator Townsend.
Refuses to Give Names.
But I understand you to say that
the lobbying that had come under
your consideration was some undue In
f1uence exercised by the executive over
the members Of congress"
Senator Townsend insisted that
was the case. Senator Walsh there
upon demanded that Senator Town
send name any single senator who had
been subject to executive influences
No. insisted Senator Townsend.
think you know of 1t as we'll Al &c.
Senator Walsh endeavored TO PIN
Senator Townsend down to particu-
lars, but Senator Townsend was NOT
DISPOSED to particularize.
Senators Townsend and Walsh then
entered into an academic discussion
Of the question of the power OF tn
secret caucus supplemented by re-
view of Senator Townsend.s own con-
duct as a member of the house DUR
tnr the DAYS of the Payne-Aldr1Cn3
bill. Senator Reed, Democrat. ed9ed
into the argument and asserted tnats
the Democrats had not yet held uhetfs
caucus on the tariff bill.
To Recall Senator'S.
Senator Reed endeavored to 80
from the witness a statement OF TACT
regarding the senators whose pa3ron.sv
age was being used as an induceunent
for favorable votes on the tArfn DlIls
but Senator Townsend would 0nN
reiterate his belief that the prestnen-S
tial reference to a lobby had reSulteds
in holding several faltering senAtor4
in line for the entire bill and against
amendments At this time Senator
Walsh introduced a motion which
provided for the recall of witnesse4
who had previously testified AZ the
hearing, but of whom questions - s1y
executive coercion had not been ank*s
ed Turning to Acting (n&lF1n11f
Reed, Senator Walsh made tho fot~
lowing formal motion:
%'Irr view Of the serious stAfemeeesN r
the witness upon the stand touchM9
executive coercion. I move MI Cnnlrsz
man. that upon the request Of AM&
member of the COMMITTEES any sei1A~
tor who has testified shall be recolLe9
to the stand In reference thereto.
The motion was adopted unanaRs
mousiy. Its effect will be 70 11rc4s
the recall to the witness stand ~ "a
of the Democratic senator's.
Tell Of Personal Interest," Nh!
Senator, Weeks. OF Massachu9qe9M%
who followed Senator Townsend ca
the stand, told the COMMITTEES OF MANN
personal interests of his will ~ M4s
fected by the pending tariff BILL. Nea@
ator Weeks was OF the opini0n eS
mo person likes to have tho p1g
dent make the statement that anH
sidious lobby Is In the minds ok
ators" 4S SS&s#
Senator Cummina, q member ~
investigating committee. testine0
he owned considerable land. hut
it was not under cultivation.
therefore. not subject to tAriM -
lation. Senator Cummins did nceS