The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-16
JAMES E. M'DERMOTT
BITTERLY ARRAIGNED
BY A FORMER PAGE
Continued from Page One)

from rage Oue)
---------~------,~---o
God man, l had to pay it on debts and
| still owe $1,000"
Throughout McMichaels' recital. Repre-
sents tive McDermott, with his counsel,
| sat Immediately opposite the witness,
chewing on big cigar, and watching his
erstwhile confidential man with a steady
gaze. He expressed neither surprise nor
! Indignation at any point in the compli-
Gated story.
Washington, August 15-A story of how
lobby work for the National Association
of Manufacturers was done on the inside
of the House of Representatives was re-
lated to the House investigating commit
tee today by J. II. McMichaels, former
chief page of the House. Nattily attired
in summery outfit of blue and white
serge, McMichaels blew clouds of cigar
cite smoke in the faces of the members
of the committee from the witness chair
while he discoursed in vivid and pic
turesque language.
From the fall of 1909 until January, 1912.
McMichaels said, he was almost constant
ly on the pay roll of Martin M. Mulhall,
field agent of the National Association of
Manufacturers at $50 q month while he
was successfully democratic chief page OF
the House, attendant in the House press
gallery and elevator conductor in the cap
ital. He told of introducing Mulhall to
Representative James e. McDermott of
Illinois, for whom he worked as a kind
OF a secretary, and said that McDermott
worked with Mulhalli and provided the
latter with room in the basement of the
capitol, where McDermott, McMichael and
Mulhall conferred.
did you ever see any money pass be-
tween Mulhall and McDermott?" asked
| Chairman Garrett
Never Saw Money Passed
Il never saw any money actually pass
| between them," said the Witness leaning
back in his chair, and pausing to puff at
his cigarette but | had reason to be-
lieve that plenty of it was passing l
got mine open and above board"
why do you say you had reason to be-
lieve money was passing?"
The witness leaned forward and pounded
on the committee table.
Il am not fool, he declared vigorous
ly. when two guys like me and McDer-
mott sit down to table and the two of
us amt got penny, and third guy
comes in and we have eats and drinks and
get up with the dough, / know that dough
don't grow on trees, or on the table.
The witness said that he, McDermott
and Mulhall, after comforting at the cap
itol, would adjourn to a dining room in
small hotel near the capitol for ''ex-
tended sessions" He described the room
provided in the capitol for the conferences
as good place to sleep off drunks."
How would you or McDermott know
about the other having money after these
conferences?" asked Chairman Garrett.
Just Smiled at Each Other
WED just smile at each other" no
said. Both of us was careful not to
let the other know about how much
money we had. If Mulhall gave me two
bills I'd hide the larger one and flash
the smaller one. because every time l
flashed anything over So he copped
half of it. He would go to the cashier
and give him his money and draw SO
and come back where / was. He'd say to
the cashier: For God sake don't let
Mac see this We were both doing
this"
"At this time your relations with
McDermott were conhdential?" asked
Garrett. '
that a hotel cashier named Regan had
made affidavit as to these transac-
| tions
Regan will appear later.
| The money he received from Mulhall
on these occasions. the witness said
was always deducted from his monthly
stipend.
He said that his employment by Null
hall was for the purpose of keeping
Mulhall and James A. Emery, counsel
for the National Association of Manu-
facturers, advised of the status of leg
lslation in the House, and in various
committees, and supply documents to
| National Association of Manufacturers
officials.
Throughout McMichael's testimony
Representative McDermott sat directly