The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-03
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FIRST WITNESS QUIZzED
PUTS BRAND OF TRUTH ON
WILSON'S LOBBY CHARGES

even pracuclns law, Wheh nolulng
position In Congress.
Cummins, of Iowa, wanted to know
whether the witness thought 1t was
lobbying for nnance committee or
the majority that numbered but few
senators to hold such hearings that
the entire senate could learn but lit
! Ito OF them.
THE people have no lobby" an
swered Cummins. therefore l don't
| believe In allowing Witnesses to ad'
vance one side OF the case"
Senator Bacon, next called, still re-
! tanned his irritation, and fatty refused
10 take a seat on the raised platform
for witnesses He answered questions
with considerable irony at first, re-
marking that he owned q suburban
farm but that he consumed most OF
the crop himself. The only other
interest he had which he could reco-
lect was $4,000 share in sewer
pipe factory and then the senator add
ed that he was interested slightly in
| the street railway gas plant. and cleo
trio power and light plant in his home
city. He began long explanation Of
mis- efforts during the pendancy OF
Dingley and Payne tariff bills to OBJ
tain lower duties on meat, branching
out into regular speech on how
cheaper meats would decrease the
cost OF living
Bacon's Admissions Reluctant
Cummins finally interrupted him
with the declaration that the investi.
CATION did not cover the ordinary ac-
.ivities Of a senator in discharginy his
duties.
We'll, maybe ] spoke to senators
privately" Bacon insisted. but OPP
position TO high duties was the extent
Of my efforts TO influence congress"
Like Ashurst, Bacon said he had
retired from practice Of the law since
entering the senate, except for making
~ occasional argument before the SUI
preme court Of the United States
Bacon declared there was infinitely
less of an educational campaign or
activity now than in connection with
any previous measure Of the same
kind during his Is years in the upper
horse.
II not only do not know OF any
lobbying he said but have heard
absolutely no suggestion OF any such
thing"
The Georgia senator's idea OF lob
byfst was "one who frequents cor
ridOrs or lobbies' He added II was
unth!nkable that any man who prop
erly argued on any matter which af.
fected his interest should be termed
lobbyist. Since the investigation
was proposed Bacon said, he had
heard of TWO movements. one headed
by q man named I.oWrey. working for
free sugar and another movement
against this plan.
Senator Borah was next called. af
ter Senator Bankhead failed 10 re-
spond to his name. The Idaho sena.
tor said he was not interested in any
product affected by the tariff and
did not represent any one In any way
interested in 1t. Asked for his exper
fence with possible lobbyists" he
said he had been approached BY Harry
Day, owner OF the Hercules mine.
and d~Mr. Mccarthy, owner of the
Morningside mine. in relation 10 the
lead schedule. $. j. Hagenbarth. and
Dr.. Mcclure. OF Idaho, officers in a
wool association.
Rorah's idea OF a lobbyist was that
Of a man paid TO argue case.
yer paid TO argue, does the best he
can with his material"
Il haven't seen any Of them around
here this year the senator added.
Borah also mentioned j. s. McMur-
ray as a man whom he said he was
certain was trying improperly to in.
huence legislation.
Senator Bradley, of Kentucky, the
next on the witness stand. also denied
any interest in products affected by
the tariff.
Senator Bradley, of Kentucky, had
no knowledge OF any money being
used 20 influence passage OF the tarif
bill He said no one had attempted
TO influence him.
Brandegee, OF Connection. disclaim-
ed any intent In business affected by
the tariff He said he he'd received
hundreds of letters and briefs from
manufacturers who wanted duties on
their products.
Il told them" he explained that |
would do all could TO defeat the bill,
but that there was a Democratic ma
jority OF six and | couldn't perform
miracles
Bristow. OF Kansas. said he owned
a little farm that produced alfalfa and
hogs, and "a little newspaper that used
print paper and ink, and this was the
extent of his business interests ai-
lected by the tariff.
He said Frank &. Lowrey, OF New
York. said to be employed by the Fed
eral Sugar Refining company. and
Henry Oxnard, who was deeply later
ested In beet sugar, had called on him
at various times. A. ID. Baldwin. OF
Honolulu, was also named by the Kan
sas senator as one of his callers on
the sugar schedule. Bristow said he
was always glad to talk to any man
who had views or interests in regard
To the tariff, because In this way he
obtained much valuable Information.
Argues for Wool Duty.
The senator said +. w. Mcclure, OF
( Salt Lake, had called on him TO argue
for duty on wool. Henry Larson,
of Wichita, Kas.. had brought a party
OF millers To protest against duties
on wheat The Kansas senator also
named men VINO had headed delega-
| tions of manufacturers, ard mentioned
Louisiana cane sugar growers.
! One man called to see me on iithia-
phone, whatever that is" he contin-
ued, Il didn't know anything about
il and told him so.p
! lobbyist as defined by the witness
was "a man engaged for hire TO pre-.
aart or ,pcourapa lapfclatiop