The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-12-12
PROBERS FIND
LOBBY EXISTS
Many Bodies Accused Of
Exerting Influence.
HOUSE MEMBER SCORED

Rep~rese ntative McDermott of Illinois
Held Guilty of Acts of Grave Inn
propriety-MulhalI's Story, While in
Part True, Held to Be Grossly Elk.
agserated.
Washington, Dec. l0.-Results OF
the house lobby investigation by a
committee headed by Representative
Garrett of Tennessee were made pub.
lice in two reports, a majority report
signed by Democrats and Republicans
alike and a supplemental report filed
by Representative Mcdonald of Mich
igan.
The majority made no recommended
tions, but declared that Representa-.
tive McDermott of Illinois had been
guilty of acts of grave improperly,
I~nbecoming the dignity of his posi-
ton, though 1--WE cannot say that he
has been corrupted in his votes"
The majority report also held that
McDermott, having intimate relations
with l.. H. McMichael, former chief
page of the house, knew that M. NJ.
Mulhall, "a lobbyist for the National
Association of Manufacturers" EN-
ployed McMichael.
The majority held that both the
National Association of Manufacturers
and the American Federation of Labor
engaged in political activities and ex.
pended money to effect nominations
and elections of the members Of TIE
house of representatives.
Mcdonald Urges Reforms.
Representative Mcdonald, who
agreed with the majority findings, de
clared that congress had fallen some
what from its high estate in the esti
nation of the American people, that
there has been a broadcast suspicion
of conditions existing in congress tn;
a system has been built up for d.
feating or preventing remedial legls
lation. He made recommendations fol
legislative reforms.
The main conclusions of the ma
jority define a lobby as "a person OIL
body of persons seeking to influence
legislation by congress in any manner
whatsoever"
The National Association of Manu-
facturers, the National Council for In
custrial Defense, the National Tariff
Commission association, the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, the Wash
ington City Association of Liquor
Dealers and local loan sharks are
found to have maintained Hobbies.
Martin M. Mulhall is held to have
admitted errors in some vital state
ments made in his charges, but tC
have been corroborated in other mat
tiers of Importance by officials of thu
National Association of Manufactur
ers and the National Council for In
dustrial Defense.
Says MuIhaIl Exaggerated.
Mulhall. the report says, was ex
travagant In many of his claims ant
overstated his potency and influence
with members of congress and public
men generally.
The lobby of the Association o
Manufacturers and OF the Nationa
Council for Industrial Defense is he'll
guilty of improperly preventing AM
seeking to prevent legislation.
Gravest doubt was expressed as t.
the propriety of acts of Mulhall AM
Counsel James A. Emery for the man
ufacturers. The report added:
1T is outrageous and offensive tina
these associations should have thei
psid hirelings about the Capitol, Blu
tonholing members of congress TO in
duce them to remain away when
vote was being taken"
Nothing illegitimate was found Il
the activity of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. Lobbies of liquor deaI
ers and money lenders in Washington
were found to have neither effecte'
nor prevented legislation improperly