The Washington times., 1913-08-17
RIDICULOUS LIES"
NJ 'DERMOTT AYERS
Illinois Congressman Eager to
Defend Himself on Charges
of Accepting Money.

That Congressman James T. McDer-
mott of Illinois will challenge the truth
of practically every important allega-
ton Of his former protege. Isaac II.
McMichael, who has told the House
Lobby Investigating Committee of Nc
Dermotts alleged connection with two
lobbies. is the prediction today of
friends of the Illinois Member.
McMichael will resume his testimony
tomorrow morning and will be sub
jected to further cross-examination.
"A tumble of lies," is the terse char
acterization Congressman McDermott
gave McMichaels story. in talking to
close advisers today. The Illinois men,
Der, forbidden to talk fully in advance
of his prospective appearance on the
stand. can scarcely control his impa-
tience to present his side of the case.
Never Hurt Him.
Il never did that man an injury in
my life; why he should make such RI
diculous statements is beyond me-" de-
clared the apparently indignant McDer-
mott today.
At the afternoon session of the COM
mittee yesterday two Washington
pawnbrokers, Abraham Burnstine and
Emanuel Steinem. gave testimony con-
cerning the. alleged ''pawnbrokers' lob
by" against the loan shark bill, from
which McMichael said McDermott told
him he got $500.
The examination Of the two pawn
brokers was tedious, but no admission
whatever could be obtained that an at
tempt was made to defeat the legisla-
| ton through improper means. Burnstine
| said three brokers-himself, Horning.
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS about
$4,000 to pay attorneys to appear before
Congress committees and the President,
but that was all. He knew nothing Of
McDermott's alleged activities.
Says He Gave $7oo.
Mr.. Burnstine said that George D.
| Horning had come to him and asked
| for money to engage attorneys to pre-
sent the pawnbrokers' views while the
bill was pending. He said he contrib
uted about 500. which was % per cent
Of the total raised. Mr.. Horning and
Isaac Heidenheimer, he said. contribut-
ed the remaining so per cent Other
pawnbrokers declined to come in.
| For nearly an hour Congressman Fer
ris and other members Of the commit
| tee examined Mr.. Burnstine regarding
| the disposition OF the money. He said
| he exacted no accounting from Mr..
| Horning. didn't want any and was well
/ sdllsutu Will the 1cl-
| low-pawnbrokers that he had laid out
| SO much
How did he lay it out?" persisted Mr..
Ferris.
For attorneys, printing and incidental
| expenses. We got the firm of Tucker.
Kenyon & MacFarland to represent US
before the committees while the bill
was pending. and Henry E. Davis was
engaged later to head a delegation and
present our views to President Taft I
I "a ~.
Simply Didn't Know.
| More than a hundred questions were
asked the witness in an attempt to get
him 10 be more specific about the en-
pIoyment of the attorneys and also their
fees. He said he simply didn't know.
so you raised about $500 to defeat
this bill
No. not to defeat the bill. You
couldn't defeat bin for $500" said
the pawnbroker, while the committee
men laughed. Now. II you had $40, 900
o. $4,000 you might do something
| What makes you say that?" de-
manded Mr.. Ferris.
| 'Oh. just said It. l don't know. You
couldn't defeat a bill with only $500;
the other figure was just a remark of
| mine"
| When Mr.. Ferris persisted in speaking
| of the pawnbrOkers efforts TO defeat"
the bill, Mr.. Burnstine impatiently said:
| Now, l don't think that's fair. We
were not trying to defeat the bill. We
/ were merely hiring attorneys to present
| our side of the case, getting men who
| could talk better than We could and
| make our views known in better Ian
| guage. We only wanted to show why
we didn't think the pawnbrokers should
be classed with loan sharks. that is all"
| He said he knew nothing Of the al
| legged participating Of McDermott in the
| fight and he thought all the money went
| to attorneys and for printing, etc. They
would have to ask Mr.. Horning, he per-
sisted. The witness said he knew Mr..
McDerInott and had sometimes cashed
| checks for him.
He Cashed Check
He cashed a check. he said. the first
day McDermott came into his shop.
which Mr.. Cline and other members said
was unusual" Mr.. Cline said he
| thought the witness fortunate to have
been in business so many years IL he
| cashed checks promiscuously. The wit
ness said he didn't cash them promiscu-
| ously.
f. Steinem testified briefly that he
| knew nothing of lobby fund. Mr..
| Horning and others. he said. had sug
gested that he contribute for attorneys
| fees, but he declined. He didn't even
listen to the details of the proposition.
Il told them If the bill went through
without the pawnbrokers being Included
| | might give them something after
ward" said the wary Steinem.
You promised 10 give something af
| terward?"
Il said l might" responded the wit
| ness. More laughter.
You wanted insurance and they were
| contributing on a contingency"
Well, / amt out nothing now" said
Mr. Steinem, who retired from business