The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-07
TRAIL OF LOBBY
LEADS HUNTERS
TO WHITE HOUSE
President Wilson Him
self Called Chief of
Offenders
SECRET CAUCUS
ALSO is BLAMED
Townsend Says Their Activity Is
Nearest Approach to Undue
Influence" That Will Be
Found-Senators May Be
Questioned on This Phase
of Legislation.

Oh LeSlSlaC1On.
Washington, June 8-An unexpect-
cd turn was given the Sennte's lobby
inveHtiEatfOn to-day. when senator
Townsend, of Michigan. Republican,, de- y
cinred on the stnnd that the influence
welded by President Wilson and by
the Democratic secret caucus upon the
making of thrift hill constituted "the
nearest approach to undue influence
upon members of Congress thnt the In
yestigation committee would be able
to fnd."
Senator Townsend criticized the COM
mittee for not having asked members
of the Senate whether the President
has sought to influence them. and de-
clared that even IL the President had
not intended 1t, his recent denunciation
of Hobbies" working In support of
changes In the tariff. would force GER
tain Senators to vote against amend
ments they knew to be Just.
Who are these Senators7" demand
ed Senator Reed
II don't care to name any one" re-
torted Senator Townsend
Resent Inttmida tion.
The two Democratic members of the
committee present, Reed and Walsh,
wilson had used patronage or threats
TO force any one to support free sugar
or free WOOL or to support the bill as
whole. Senator Townsend insisted
the committee had not asked any Sena-
tor thus far whether the President had
tried to influence him.
II move Interrupted Senator Walsh,
that In view of the serious statements
touching the executive. that any Sem
ator who has already testified may be
recalled and interrogated In reference
thereto
Il am for that" said Senator Nelson,
and every member Of the committee
agreed
Dragging President Wilson'S tariff
activities into the investigation some
what intensified feeling In the COM
mittee. Senator Weeks, of NIassachu-
setts, following Senator Townsend OH
the stand. expressed the opinion that
executives had more influence on bills
than all the persons who have come
to Washington put together"
The statement that the President
put out In regard to an insidious lobby
Influenced the public mind" said SEN
ator Weeks and that has it's effect
upon Senators. The public believes a
lobbyist is bad man, and no Senator
likes to oppose measure If the Presi-
dent says the lobbyists are seeking to
change it."
The Senate agreed early in the after
noon to extend the time limit for the
lobby investigation until June oS
Members of the committee doubt
whether 1t can be completed within
that time. The new element injected
into 1t to-day probably will carry the
questioning OF Senators over into next
week. Features OF the so-called lob
bies on sugar wool and metals and
liquor, labor and other legislation.
must then be taken up as the second
stage of the investigation.
Not Formal Charges.
Senator Townsend's statements in re-
lation to President Wilson were not in +.
the form of charges He expressly said
that he did not charge the President
with using improper methods, but in
sisted that charges existed and the ac-
tvity of the President In support Of
free wool and free sugar amounted to
IAN undue influence" even if he did
not use the big stick of patronage"
AS the term lobbyist is generally
understood he said, 'and as I believe
1t was used by the President in his re-
cent statement. upon which this In
Vesttgation was founded, it means one
VINO tries to secure or prevent legisla-
ton by the use of means that are inn
proper by the offer or payment of
money. the granting or withholding OF
favors. by insidious threats of political
opposition. by the use of patronage or
the giving of political rewards. AS
know Of no improper lobbyist Of that
kind the nearest approach to undue In
nuencc eXerted on members of Con-
gress. | believe. is that exercised by tha
President and by the use of the party
secret caucus"
DO you mean to say that Is lobby
inS?" demanded Senator Reed
"A lobbyist is Il man who attempts
to influence legislation against the hon-
est conviction the conscience and the
notion of the duty of the legislator"
returned Senator Townsend Because
or the insnuaton that a lobby exists
10 influence them to vote for amend
ments they believe in, think some
Senators will refrain from so voting.
This. 1 believe, is coercion"
You believe there is a species of
lobbying from the executive as we'll
as from the outsider" asked Senator
Cummins.
Yes. sir, have no doubt of it." re-
piled Senator Townsend
Democratic leaders have been re-
ported IS saying: This is to be mat
ter the President must decide. and In
order TO be good Democrat and re-
ceive the proper amount of patronage
and not perhaps be opposed. you must
support the party measure"
DO you know any human being who
can say, a$ matter of fact, that
President Wilson has either withheld
or given appointments to affect tho
vote OF any man in CongressH demand-
ed Senator Reed.
Knows what He Has seen.
NO. don't. know only what i
have heard rumored and SEEM said
Senator Townsend.
Senator Weeks testified he severed
his connection with all his banking 4!
and commercial concerns when he was
elected to the Senate. He said three
or four men had called upon him who y,
might be called lobbyists.
They were not promoting or on-
posing" so he said, but gathering iu-