Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-07
LOBBYISTS FIGHTING
HARD IN CAPITAL
Well-Known that Congressman and
Senators Hear Prom People Who
Want Duty Retained.

the lnlteu Ifehs.
Washington, June There s dark
man with a sinister purpose lurking in
his brain, in every corridor Of the capi.
tol and the house and senate office
buildings these days. Each Of these
gentlemen carries concealed in his yer
bal apparatus series Of explosive ar
guments against various schedules in
the tariff bill. Each lurking gentle
man is desirous Of setting off these
verbal bombs under the particular
schedule in the tariff which meets the
dsapproval Of his employer.
Among the number is the worried
looking person of sleek aspect who is
here to save the sugar industry from
utter r.r.ruin. Members Of this class
are more numerous than any of the
Others. Does a harried congressman
seek solace in the bright sunshine and
balmy air of the capitol grounds, a
cutawayed gentleman leaps from behind
some nearby bush and fastens his
thumb and forefinger in the weary CON
gresham $ coat lapel. The gentleman :
pockets protrude with memoranda and
statistics tending to prove beyond per
adventure that the sugar beet is due
for eternal demntion if the fortress
of protection is kicked from around it
as suggested in the tariff bill. From
behind another bush creeps another
frock.coated lobbyist who has a tragic
piece to speak about the sugar cane
plantations which will be no more if
the senate passes the bill
When faint and exhausted, the con
gresham reaches his office and bolts
the door, there skips nimbly from the
next room a pleasing, open.faced gen
tleman with more statistics. He the
representative of the sugar refiner, who
is perfectly certain with the duty taken
off sugar, the common people can well
afford two Jumps in coffee and tea,
and daughter can serve fudge every
night in the week, without embarrassing
the family exchequer, and without hurt.
ing the pocket of the plutocratic sugar
cane grower.
But the sugar deyotees are only a
part of the army of would.be tariff
bill murderers who are here waiting
an opportunity to kill the entire bill or
merely to relieve it Of a part Of its
anatomy. There is very ardent band
of wool apostles, who can reel off at
n moment s notice enough statistics on
sheep and the wool industry to make
existence nightmare Of sheep.counting
for our legislators. The American Wool.
en- company that organization which
dolefully admits it will probably go to
the bow.wows when the proposed tariff
law becomes effective has a small army
of representatives here making last
desperate stand against the new sched.
ule X.
Then there are the cotton men, steel
men, iron men, flour representatives,
oatmeal manufacturers representatives
and others representing practically ev.
cry United States industry which fears
FOR its dividends IL they are not pro.
tected by mountain.high tariff wall,
All are adopting tactics similar to those
employed by physicians when as last
resort oxygen is pumped into the lungs
Of dying man. A national advertising
scheme by three Of the sugar factions
ia but small part Of the campaign,
Letters, statistics, delegations OF manu-
facturers from the home districts, and
threats Of reprisals-in fact, every
method known to love- hate and war
are being put into use to stop the pas
sage Of the schedules which the inter
egted industries fear,
But through It all, like q dreadnaughl
sailing stormy sea, the party leaders
are steering the old Underwood tariff
measure through the legislative waters
TO the haven Of the presidents sigma
turc.
Recaleitrant congressman Of demo
cratic persuasion who have been op
posed TO certain Of the schedules hay,
been whipped into line. The momcu
they have shown signs Of bccominl
skittish and Ser lcapmg the traces o.
party pledges, they have been whip
sawed and spurod back into line,
The bruut of this uncnviablc job o
keeping the party intact has fallen Of
the shoulders Of the chairman Of tn
powerful ways and means committee
Oscar Underwood, with skin an,
dextority and colmuoss Of purpose tina
has evoked admiration and praise ever
from his most hittcr political foes, Tn
derwood has cured the lush Of authot
ity about the flanks of those who gav
signs Of baking and the tariff wago
has successfully crossed the lcgislativ
plains Of the house and into the road
ways OF the senate with no material o