The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-30
UNDERWOOD CALLS
MOLHALL LIAR IN
COMMITTEE ROOM
Democratic House Leader De-
MES Ever Had Conver-
sation With Him
COULD NOT FORGET
FACE LIKE THAT
Denounces "Exposer" as Try
ing to Blackmail His Own
People and Falsely
Accusing Others

WASHINGTON, July 29.--Majority
Leader Oscar w, Underwood, of the
house, today denounced Martin M.
Mulhall. alleged lobbyist for the Ma
lional Association of Manufacturers. as
"a liar and a blackmailer." Mr.. I'm
derwood appeared before the senate
lobby committee to deny that Mulhall
had ever talked to him about legisla-
ton before congress
After one look at the witness ne
said: II never saw him before in my
life.'
Senator Reed expressed the belief
that Mr.. Underwood should wait until
the committee had finished with Null
hall.
II think" said the majority leader.
that II is In the interest of the pub
lie that a man who has taken liberties
with public men as this man has
should be contradicted. I regard a
man OF this kind as a blackmailer.
That man has never been in the ways
and means committee room since
have been chairman of the commit
tee He may have had conversations
with me, but when he says he had an
interview want to say that statement
Is lie
Appears Unexpectedly.
Mr.. Underwood appeared unexpect-
eddy and made a brief statement before
he was sworn. He denounced as false
a statement sworn to previously by
Mulhall that an employe of the house
ways and means committee had been
in the employ OF the lobbyist" He
said he had questioned this empioye
, and that he had stated that Mulhall
had made frequent visits to get docu-
ments. Just as scores Of others had
done.
HE told me-" said Mr. Underwood.
tsfh uH hiHa 80 and
told him to buy some cigars, and that
was the only thing he ever received
from MulhaiI."
According to Mulhalfs earlier tes-
timony this man was paid $40 a month
by him for services rendered Mr.. I'm
derwood said that the empioye had
come tn the senate committee and
had asked for n hearing. but that he
had been told that ne must wait until
Mulhailfs story had been concluded.
II think. gentlemen" said Mr.. I'm
derwood that a man who makes a
statement of this kind should be con-
fronted.
''You made a statement that this
man was hlackmailer. that means
he used threats TO extort money" said
2 Senator Reed.
II think he was Just trying TO get
money gu. of his own people" said
Argument Over Oath.
The members OF the committee got
In an argument as TO whether or not
\ the majority leader should he sworn
and allowed to make his statement.
and finally decided that he should
take he oath.
Chairman Underwood read the Null
hall letter about the interview In
which he stated that Mr.. Underwood
AnA tatA r. 9y,, could not Hn
otherwise than appoint William b.
Wilson now secretary of labor. to
& the chairmanship OF the house labor
committee, because there was no 9TH
er candidate before the WAYS and
meaIs committee Senator Reed read
Mulhalrs own comments on that let
ter, in which the political agent said
that ne simply had a short interview
with Mr. Underwood in corridor OF
the capitol.
The majority leader listened to the
reading OF the letter and comments
with a smile.
"That whole statement is lie out
or whole cloth--not a word of truth
In It," said Mr.. Underwood.
There never was question but
wilson's selection as ,head Of that
committee was solely because OF his
capacity and qualifications.
There never was an issue about
Wilson
"This man says Wilson was first
proposed for chairman Of the census
COMMITTEES. and that I told him that
Mulhalls Possible Purpose.
mot a word Of truth In that state
ment Never such an idea IN my mind.
Il Ii clear to me this man was down
here writing these things to his people.
trying TO make out that he was doing
great things. He never had any con-
ference with me. X " ssss tat - !. :
II don't think this man IL telling the
truth. When he brings me into II and
rays things that are not true It is your
[ duty to give me the opportunity to
make that clear and to bring the facts
out.
.sThe statement In his letter Il not
only false. but can be disproved by
every member OF the ways and means
committee
Mr.. Underwood said he did not
] know Emery or Kirby or Mulhall; that
--hA had no knowledge OF having talk
4 ed with anv OF them. -------.--
Senator Reed referred to MulhalTs
I explanation that he had met Mt. I'M
/ derwood Casually in the hall and
+ asked him q casual question.
.'You might not remember every
man who met you casually In the
hail." said Senator Reed.
Couldn't Forget Face.
II am sure never met this man, 7
returned Mr.. Underwood. with en-
/ phasis "He has face could not
n forget.
The reason I know this statement
! wasn't true 10 because the facts them
4 na1ves are not a. he states Them com
Nst1nued Mr.. Underwood.
No one who knows you believes you
would enter into any conspiracy"
L lid Senator Reed,
.srherA II nothing here that reflects
4 III nj" returned Mr. Underwood.
hut want the facts ret right before