Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-07
Indorsed by the Public.

hundreds of letters and kilograms from
people throughout the country in the last
few days indicated that Mr.. Wilson $
lobby utterances had been favorably re-
ceived and indorsed by the country. He
intimated that future developments in
the lobby hearing would be deeply inter
esting, not to say convincing.
The view still prevails that the Presi-
dent will not go on the stand as a wit
ness in the inquiry. but if he does he is
said to be primed with some exceedingly
juicy material and wealth Of the verbal
ammunition that he uses so effectively
when in scrimmage. The inquiry COM
mittee has not discussed with the Pres-
dent the subject of calling him as a wit
ness.
The committee was in recess today
preparing for it's next weeks work
which will not only finish the testimony
of the dozen senators yet uneXamined
but will begin questioning the score or
more of men whose names have been
brought out in testimony as having rep
resented special interests in Washington
The list is large one. embracing men
of both sides OF the free sugar fight,
lawyers. former members of Congress-
publicity agents and many others.
Welcome Before Committee.
President Wilson will be welcomed
before the committee if he desired to
appear" said Acting Chairman Reed to-
deny charges that have never been
made
The democratic members of the com
mittee took the position that 1t remained
for the republican members to pursue
inquiries as to whether President Wilson
had used undue influence" with any dem
ocratic senator's The motion adopted
hv- n0vy, fn< xrI,,
member of the committee the right to
ask for the recall of senator.
Senators Nelson and Cummins, the re-
publican members of the committee, had
no plans today for following up the
Wilson inquiry, or demanding of demo-
Gratis whether they had been subjected
to White House pressure Senator Cum
Minis intimated that the democrats We're
the ones who should carry forward this
branch of the inquiry.
Cummins Wants Facts.
II intend to insist before the hear
fngs are over added Senator Cum
Minis, that President Wilson furnish
the committee with the facts or in
formation upon which he based his
statements as to insidious lobbying
in Washington"
The list of lobby" witnesses for next
week was enlarged today by the adj
ditiOn of the name of X. ID. Bowen,
Paris. Tex. Circular letters signed by
Mr.. Bowen. as chairman of the Ma
tional Farmers Union committee on
the greater consumption of cotton
were furnished by Senators Ransdell
ton farmers to use strong language
with their senators in favor of higher
duties on cotton cloth.
President as Lobbyist"
The charge that President Wilson him
self is proving the most effective lobby
ist of any in Washington was made by
Senator Townsend of Michigan at yes
terday afternoons session of the com
mittee. He sad he had heard that the
President has held the patronage club
over the heads of democratic senators to
force them into line on free sugar and
free wool in the Underwood tariff bill
Senator Townsend created a consider
able stir in the hearing room when he
made this charge The committee unani-
mously voted to permit the recall of any
senator to the stand in order to ques-
ton him as to whether the President
had endeavored to influence him through
federal patronage.
Senator Townsend insisted that he did
proper methods. but he declared that the
charges that lobbies existed and the ac-
tivity Of the President in support of free
wool and free sugar amounted to an un-
due influence, even though he did not
use the big stick of patronage
..As the term lobbyist is generally un-
derstood. he said, ''and as l believe it
was used by the President in his recent
statement upon which this investi a tion
was founded. it means one who tries 10
secure or prevent legislation by the use
of means that are improper; by the offer
or payment of money, the granting OF
Withholding of favorS. by inSidious
threats of political opposition, by the
use of patronage or the giving of politi-
cal rewards. l know of no improper lob
byist Of that kind. The nearest approach
of Congress. l believe. is the influence
exercised by the President and by the use
and power of the party secret caucus.
Coercion of Senator'S.
demanded Senator Reed.
"A lobbyist is a man who attempts to
influence legislation against the honest
conviction, the conscience and the no.
tions of duty of the legislator" returned
Senator Townsend. Because of the in
sinuation that lobby exists to influence
them to vote for amendments they be-
keve In, l think some senators Will re-
frain from so voting. This / believe is
coercion.
You believe there is a species of lob
bying from the executive. as we'll as from
| the outside, asked Senator Cummins.
Yes. sir. / have no doubt of it, re-
4