The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-30
Agent of Manufacturers AssO-
citation Reveals Workings.
Congressman and Senators
Elected at Will.
SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES
Statement of Ex-LObbyist Bris-
ties With Familiar Names.
Says He Spent 100000 and
Will Tell Where 1t Went.

Washington, June 3O.-A searching
investigation of the socalled under
ground system at the capitol, not only
by the senate lobby committee, but a
select committee of the house also,
promises to be the first result of the
sensational charges by Martin M. Null
hail. who claims to have been the
general field lobbyist for the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers.
Mulhalls startling allegation that rep
resentatives, senators and high Off
cialS of the government had been
reached or Influenced" that the
"lobby'' conducted its operations from
q room in the capitol, paid money to
employees there, took an active hand
in making up committees and went
out actively in the political campaigns
to defeat congressman who opposed
legislation the lobby" wanted, have
thrown congressional circles into an
uproar. congressman named in the
Mulhall charges are issuing state
ments: some of them denouncing the
allegations as malicious lies" Speak
er Clark last night made a statement
confirming the charge that the lob
by had worked for his defeat Many
congressman mentioned, however, VINO
feel that they have been brought IN
without any specific charges against
them, declare they will not be salts
fled with the senate lobby committees
investigation alone, but will insist on
a select committee of the house to sift
the charges The senate committee,
however, intends to lose no time.
A subpoena already served upon
MulhaIl, is to be followed by others,
for the men named in the public state
ment. Chairman Overman believes
when his process servers get through
they will have spread a dragnet to
bring in material for an investigation
covering the last ten years doingS at
the capitol, at least. If there is any
doubt of the authority of the senate
committee to investigate that far,
Chairman OVerman intends to have
81
MulhalPs statement was almost the
sole topic in official circles today.
President Discusses Charges.
President Wilson discussed the Null |
hall charges briefly today with the
Washington correspondents and said
he believed the lobby on the tariff
legislation had ceased to "embarrass
anybody but itself" When the presi |
numerous and insidious lobby was
operating in Washington, he had no
idea that such charges as made by
MulhaH would be brought out, but, he
added, he was in favor of investigating
all charges and had no doubt the
committee would have a free hand. |
The president told his callers the ac- |
cusations in the Mulhall statement |
had been called to his attention just
before the publication. 1t was learned
today that Senator Overman's atten- |
ton also had been called to a portion |
of the charges.
Chairman Overman called his COM !
mittee together for short executive |
session today and at its conclusion an |
nounced a full investigation of the
Mulhall charges had been agreed on.
Go to Bottom.
1--WE will go to the bottom of the |
charge" he said, land while 1 have |
no doubt the committee has the au- /
thority-if it has not, we will have its
authority extended"
1t was decided that no meeting of
the committee would be held until July |
o. Charges by Chairman Lovett of |
the Union Pacific board that certain
men in New York had been imper-
sonating congressman, and in which |
the names of c. E. Edward Lauter-
bach and David Lamar We're brought |
in. will be first taken up and the Null
hail charges will follow.
The subpoena of Mulhall was or
dered by Chairman Overman of the
lobby committee. after representations
had been made to him that Mr.. Null
hall was willing and able to give the
committee important facts regarding
attempts to inflence legislation to elect
or defeat candidates for congress and
to control the makeup of committees
In congress A Sergeant-at-armS of
the senate served the subpoena upon
Mr.. Mulhall in Washington.
Other Disclosures.
The nature and extent of the dis
closures to be expected was outlined
in an article published under the
sworn signature of Mr.. Mulhall in the /
New York World Chicago Tribune
and Kansas City Star. The statement
purports to be Mr.. MulhaIls personal
history as the representative from
1903 to 1912 of the National Associa-
ton of Manufacturers, and bristles
with the names of congressman who
he alleges were "subservient' or who
were punished for their opposition to
legislation favored by the association.
The allegations that he had helped to
defeat congressman who opposed the
interests of the manufacturers: that
this organization had spent thousands