The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-30
ANTI.TARIFF LOBBY DENOUNCED
Congressional Circles Stirred by En-
phatic Statement of President.

Washington, May 26.-President Will
son stirred congressional circles today
with an emphatic statement denounc-
ing the industrious" and "insidious"
lobby in Washington attempting to
create public sentiment against certain
features of the Underwood tariff bill
This was accepted at the Capital as
referring to the unusual efforts bslng
made against free raw wool and free
sugar.
While the president was declaring it
his opinion that the public should be
relieved from the intolerable burden, ;"
Senators and representatives were
viewing on every hand the evidences OF
the lobbyists which beset them; and
significance was attached to state
ment made by Senator Simmons, chair
man of the finance committee, which
now has the tariff bill in hand, that, in
his opinion, the lobbyists were not
making any headway.
To Restrict Lobbying.
The presidents declaration that the
lobbyists were so thick "that one could
not throw brick without hitting one, -
revived interest in two bills recently
introduced to the house and senate to
regulate lobbying on pending legisia-
tion.
Senator Kenyon, of Iowa, and Repre-
sentative, C. B. Smith, Of New York,
have declared their intention to press
bills they have introduced which
would restrict the work of lobbyists,
REQUIRE their registration, and require
that they be licensed to appear before
any committee or to carry On cam
paign for or against proposed legisla-
ton. Heavy penalties would be i'm
posed for violations.
Leaders Support Statement.
Democratic leaders we're almost un-
animous in support of the presidents
statement, maintaining that they are
we'll able to handle the important
pending tariff legislation, and that
sugar and wool will be thoroughly
considered and discussed by the II
nance committee and democratic eau
Gus before it is reported. No change
of policy relating to either schedule
has yet been determined, however, it
is emphatically declared by the mer
bers of the committee.
Presidents Statement.
The president later issued the fol-
lowing statement:
"I think that the public ought to
know the extraordinary exertions be-
ing made by the lobby in Washington
to gain recognition for certain altera-
tions of the tariff bill. Washington
has seldom seen so numerous, SO in
dustrious or so insidious lobby. The
newspapers are being filled with paid
advertisements calculated to mislead
the judgment of public men not only,
but also the public opinion of the coun-
try itself. There is every evidence
that money without limit is being
spent to sustain this lobby and to Gre
ate an appearance of pressure of
public opinion antagonistic to some of
the chief items of the tariff bill.
People Without Voice.
'It is of serious interest to the coun-
try that the people at large should
have no lobby and be voiceless in the
matters while great bodies of astute
men seek to create an artificial opin-
ion and to overcome the interest of
Lne puDllc Tor Lnelr private piOuL. II
is thoroughly worth the while of the
people of this country to take know
ledge of this matter. Only public
opinion can check and destroy it.
"The government in all its branches
ought to be relieved from this intoler-
able burden and this constant intoler-
ton to the calm progress Of debate. I
know that in this I am speaking for
the members of the two houses, who
would rejoice as much as 1 would to
be released from this unbearabe sit
uation."