Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-02
Members Named by "Lobby.
ist" Make Demands for an
Investigation.
DO NOT EVEN KNOW HIM.
TENOR OF DISCLAIMERS
Party Lines Broken Down as Mem
bers Pay Tribute to Each
Others Integrity.

action today on the "Mulhall letters In
cident. Mr.. Neely Of Kansas offered 6
resolution for a committee Of investiga
ton and so did Mr.. Sherley Of Kentucky
Mr.. Webb of North Carolina and Mr.
! Sherley also addressed the House on tn.
| subject.
Mr. Sherley took the floor on a oues
ton OF personal privilege and recited
the publication of the first Mulhall lette,
which mentioned his name, among thos.
| of many representatives and former rem
resentatives
Mr.. Speaker" said Mr. Sherley, "this
| article alleged that among the men the
National Association Of Manufacturers
| mad no difficulty in reaching and influ-
encing 1 was included
| TO my knowledge have never seer
Mulhan nor do know him.
Branded as q Lie.
1 brand his statement as a malicious
wanton and deliberate lie."
Mr.. Sherley thereupon introduced q
| resolution providing for the appoint
| ment of q select committee of seven
charges, to ascertain whether the lob
byists of the association did reach and
influence" Mr.. Sherley
Mr.. Henry of Texas, chairman of the
committee on rules. said that the reso-
luton should be referred to the rules
OF similar nature. SO that they
should have the full consideration
which the great Importance of the
subject demands.
Mann's Tribute to sherley.
Minority Leader Mann said he had sup
posed a resolution would be reported
which would provide for full investiga-
ton Of charges against all others men
toned in the article.
Mr.. Mann declared that the House
knows that no investigation is needed to
show the implicit faith entertained by all
his colleagues in the integrity of Mr..
Sherley
This statement was received with loud
applause on both sides Of the chamber.
Mr. Mann went on to say that the
I'VE ought to meet this libel and meet
1t promptly" said Mr.. Mann.
MFR. Webb Of North Carolina, address
ing the House, said:
When / first entered public life I re-
solved that 1 would never cast a vote
that / could not defend from my con-
science and explain satisfactorily to the
good people who honor me with their
sunrages That resolve has been scrupu-
honestly. ofttimes differing with my
friends and colleagues, but at no time in
my public career have 1 ever voted ex-
cept from the highest and purest motives.
Claims Confidence Of People.
IF a contrary conclusion may be drawn
from the 'insinuation against me and the
long list of honorable men mentioned by
Mr.. Mulhall as being easy to reach and
sympathetically Influenced In behalf of
the organization he once represented 1
am happy in the belief that there lis not in
my great district a man. woman or child.
white or black. republican or democrat
who would give credence to such insinua-
ton for the fractional part of a second
and l have universal assurance that my
associates in this House regard me in
the same light.
Mr.. Speaker, / am amazed that any
man should place me among the sympa-
thizers and friends of the National As
sociation of Manufacturers. for 1t so
happens that l have never voted for their
position a single one of the great
questions that have been before the
House. / never knew 4 single member
or officer as such of this association; l
do not suppose there are a dozen men,
bers of the association in my district; l
do not know even that there is one and l
would not know Mr.. Mulhall If 1 should
see him today.
II haven't a labor union in my entire
district. and yet 1t SO happens that in
legislation so far / have always taken
votes.
Absurd and Ridiculous"
Were not Mr. Mulhalrs insinuations
so completely refuted by my whole record
i'm Congress as to make them absurd
and ridiculous. 1 would be afraid to trust
myself to speak to him.
Suffice it to say that any statement
suggestion, intimation, insinuation or in
nuendo to the effect that 1 have ever
been Influenced to corruptly or improper
ly vote on any question is a falsehood OF
the basest and wickedest dye.
And, therefore, conscious of the recti-
tude of my public career, / join In the de-
mand that such insinuations shall be in
yestigated in order that honest men may
be protected and the guilty. If any. ex-
posed.
Mr. Webb's statement was also heart
lily applauded by his colleagues.
At this stage Mr.. Gardner of Massa-
chuSettS raised the point Wnether the
resolution was up by unanimous con-
sent or was a privileged matter.
The Speaker held that 1t was a privi-
legged question.
Given No Aid, He Says.
Mr.. Calder of New York, whose name
had been mentioned in the Mulhall
statement. took the floor.
Il do not know Mulhall, would not
recognize him IL i saw him." he said.
He added that he had more often op-
posed legislation which the Association
Of Manufacturers favored than other
wise He said. further. That the asso-
ciatton had never helped him. although
Samuel Gompers had fought him.
Mr.. Calder Joined in the demand for
! the investigation as proposed. He was
generously applauded by the House.
Here the House got into snarl over
the parliamentary status OF the reso-
luton.
Mr. Sherley offered to solve the diff
Guilty by as.sing that the resolution
be referred to the committee on rules,
| but Mr. Murray of Oklahoma wanted
/ Immediate action. He said Ii would
1 look better TO the country to act on the
spot.
Mr. Fitzgerald pointed out that reso-
lutions hastily prepared often were in
I|,onttnued on Tenth Pa0e1