Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-27
President Hopes Neverthe-
less That the Underwood
Bill Will Be Passed By
the Senate.
MONEY IN HUGE SUMS
SPENT BY OPPONENTS
Effort Being Made to In
fuence Public Men and
Public Opinion Through
the Newspapers.

Washington, D. c., May 26.-Presi
dent Wilson told the white house cor
respondents today that he believed the
most. extraordinary lobby ever gain
cred by special interests to overcome
legislation was now mustered at the
capitol against the tariff bill.
The president said he had no DOUBT
that a few so-called lobbyists were
there on legitimate errands. but the
great majority were occupied In sys'
tematic Misrepresentation OF facts'
While the president believes that the
.clobby" opposition is concentrated
against free sugar and wool, ne Is not
apprehensive that it will be SUCCESSFUL
The president made 1t clear enac ne
believed scientific business metnoos
and efficiency would overcome tarl1i
cuts and that with the application OF
scientific methods Louisiana would not
only be able to continue In the sugar
4 Industry, but to do SO profitably'
Issues Statement.
The president later issued the fol-
lowing statement:
II think that the public ought to
know the extraordinary exert1ons De-
Ing made by the lobbying IN Wasnlng-
ton TO gatn reservation for certain
altsssi ipns IA asan DiA: Mssn-
- ID sq h1nlS! ,nsI..' 49,
L aln1 DsFtoss IN scus 4 81 slonDy:
The neWspaperS here are betnx nlle1
With paid advertisements calculated
to mislead the judgment OF not only
public men, but also the pubic opln-
ion OF the country itself. There Is
every evidence that money without
limit IL being spent to sustain this
lobby and to create an appearance OF
4 pressure of public opinion antagonis-
tic to some of the chief items OF the
tariff bill.
1T is of serious interest to the coun.
try that the people at large should
have no lobby and be voiceless IN these
matters, while great bodies of astute
men seek to create an artificial opln-
Ion and to- overcome the interests OF
the public for their private profit. 1t
is thoroughly worth the while OF the
people Of this country to take know
edge of this matter Only public opln'
Ion can check and destroy 1t.
1.-The government in all its branches
ought to be relieved from this 1ntoler'
Able burden and this constant Interrupt
ton to the calm progress of debate.
I know that in this I am speaking Tor
the two members Of the two houses
who would rejoice as l. would to be
released from this undesirable sit
uation."
70 Consider Currency.
President Wilson hopes this week
To give definite expression to his view
on currency reform. He plans to have
a number of conferences with cur
rency advocates in and out OF con-
Rress and feels confident that a bill
will be completed by the end OF the
week. He will express his views in a
special message which probably will
be sent to congress next week. A con-
ference with Chairman Owen of the
senate banking and currency commit
tee was arranged for late today.
Favor Alaskan Road.
President Wilson told Senators
Chamberlain and Jones today that he
Ielt kindly toward the proposal for
government construction of railroads
In Alaska.
The two senators sought the presi-
dents view on securing Alaskan legis-
Ilation during the present session. Mr..
Wilson expressed his hope that bill
might pass and made 1t clear that in
view Of the urgency for tariff and cur
rency reform, he would be unable as
vet to recommend action, intimating
that II the Alaskan question could be
disposed of without interfering with
hose two subjects, he would lend his
support to a bill within the near
future.