The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-07
AlM|HG THE LOBBYISTS.
SOME SENATOR'S KNOW THE
AGENTS OF sPECIAD INTER-
TERESTS.
Senator Kenyon States That Well
Known Facts Justify Every Word
Uttered by President Wilson - In
vestigating May Produce Results.

Washington. June 3.-"social lob
bying' I'm Washington justifies every
word President Wilson uttered In re-
gard To the presence OF an "insidious'
lobby at the capitol. Senator Kenyon
of Iowa declared on the witness stand
today before the senate investigating
committee. 1t was the first un-
equivocal statement I'm support of the
presidents attitude since the inquiry
began.
The Iowa senator explained that he
believed the most "insidious" and
powerful lobbying possible was the
practice OF fiattering senator's by hav-
Ing them out to dinners. to theatres
and on automobile rides. ingratiatins
the host with the distinguished guests.
Pointing to the sworn testimony Of
Edward Hines, "A lumber king" be-
fore the Lorimer election investiga-
ton that he entertained senators at a
local hotel at dipners at a time when
the lumber schedule in the Payne
Aldrich bill was before the senate,
Senator Kenyon declared IL was his
belief that senator's were being en-
tertained In this "insidious'' way at
present.
He also denounced ex-senators for
capitaiizing their privilege OF the
moor by using II to lobby. Referring
TO one ex-senator representing many
railroads In Washington and often
seen on the floor OF the senate, he ad-
vocated the enactment OF legislation
TO prohibit an ex-senator from being
n lobbyist.
Senator Hughes OF New Jersey and
Senator James OF Kentcuky told the
investigators for the first time of the
trials and tribulations OF majority
members OF the finance committee
with the many persons who had flock
ed to Washington to present their
Views. Neither knew OF any attempts
to corrupt senators. but both de-
clared they could have done better
work IL they had been bothered less.
These senator's, as did Senator La
Toilette. who followed them on the
stand. suggested that legislation for
registration OF lobbyists would be
good thing. ...
Several senators let II be known
today that they had received by reg
iHtered mail what purported to be
reproduction OF letter from the
American Cane Growers Association
1.-THE United States sent TO members
asking for contributions TO a fund for
the use OF "a large committee in
Washington" The copy was dated
New Orleans. April 2. 1914" and
read as follows:
Dear sirs: Your association has q
large committee In Washington now
using every effort possible to try TO
save the sugar industry.
We have hesitated about calling
on you but as we are now overdrawn
In the bank, IL is absolutely neces-
sary that we have funds at once and
therefore call on you to please send
one-half OF your subscription. say b
cents per 1000 pounds on the crop
OF 1911.
This Is very important and VIC
would like to have remittances at
once.
Yours very truly,
tsigned) Charles A. Farwell."
President"
The copy came In an envelope post.
marked Washington OH the back cf
which In ink was written the name.
w. l.. Bass.
Senator Ransdell. who received one
Of the letters. said the American Cane
Growers Association had been IN ex-
istence for ten years or more: that
u maintained an office in New Or
leans and conducted an open cam
paign I'm behalf OF the sugar pro-
ducers of Louisiana. He added that
for several weeks the organization
had kept an office In a Washington
skyscraper with it's name over the
door.
The letter did not appear In the
lobby investigation. but II probably
will.
IL was reported tonight more than
two score subpOenas had been issued
by the committee for witnesses who
" was believed might be ablo to
throw light on the methods of
the alleged sugar lobby" said
To have been established here
when the tarir bill was taken up
Members OF the committee declined