Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-04
BUSY LOBBY BUG
PROVES A DANGER
All on Capitol Hill in Peril
of Being Uniustiy
Bitten.
CONGRESSMAN APPEAR
TO BE ON ANXIOUS SEAT
Speculation Rife as to Wilson's Posi-.
ton on Further Sweeping
Revelations.

Saoti0hS.
Amazing and conflicting reports and ru
present and prospective keep congress-
men In a speculative state of mind These
be ''parlous times on Capitol Hin and
the lobby bug is busy Most anybody Is
likely TO be bit and the whole Congress
to be in ferment.
One OF the stories afioat is that some
men I'm the administration are worried
over the possible boomerang effect OF the
lobby investigation. which was originally
started by President Wilson
That Ii has already gone far beyond the
scope originally contemplated is undeni-
able. and one report is that the admin
istration is sensitive lest resentment
should be manifested by some OF the in
offending men of its own party who are
being hit by the falling debris OF the ex-
plosion. That the innocent bystander''
will get his. as usual. is the fear that Is
present in some minds
Contradictory Report.
Contradictory OF this report is the init
nation that. far from being fearful. the
administration will assent 10 stili further
widening of the scope of the inquiry and
will give support TO the opening up OF
new leads.
Thus one set of rumors has the Presi-
dent sorry that he started something
while another depicts him I'm the role OF
the Spartan father. or of the owner OF
the spear that knows no brother and all
that sort of thing
1t Is thought that the investigation
which Representative Henry. chairman
or the rules comm ttee is after may in
the end be the most important. Mr..
Henry was presented by fate last Wed
nesday with an opportunity which he had
been awaiting for some tine. When il
seemed unlikely that he could force it,
10 and behold, the heavens opened and IL
dropped from the skies.
This occurred when Mr.. Sherley Of Ken
lucky demanded an investigation to clear
his name of association with Muhall.
Some of the men n the House We're dis
posed to pass the resolution on the spot.
to clear only Mr.. Sherley and Mr.. Webb.
but Mr.. Henry seeing his opening. jump
ed into the arena and by sheer force Of
fighting caused the reference of the res
olution to his committee.
Has Desired Opportunity.
He has it where he wants it now; he
can amend 1t to include in the scope OF
the investigation the subjects he has in
mind. He might have found it difficult
to secure a special investigation just to
take up these matters.
One branch of the inquiry Mr.. Henry IL
very much interested in is the operation
OF influences that promoted the Aldrich
currency bill. It has been insistently re-
ported that those same influences were at
work after the Aldrich bill went q
deader.' and Mr.. Henry would like TO as
certain IL they have had any bearing
upon the preparation of the pending cur
rency bill.
1t is intimated that this line of inquiry.
if ruthlessly pursued. may turn out to be
a very delicate matter for the party in
power. Mr.. Henry has struck what IL
rumors that it may lead in directions that
win bring it close home to men of promi-
hence In the democratic national councils.
Henry May Bear Brunt.
So the role of Spartan father and own
er of the spear that knows no brother
may be shifted to Mr.. Henry, IL he can
get authority to conduct the investigation
he has in mind.
The rules committee is under promise
to report a resolution tomorrow to the
House, and the latest information con-
corning the prospective action of the COM
mittee Is that the resolution Will be wide
in scope and affording latitude for search
ing investigation along many lines OF &C
tivity concerning legislation and publicity.
Its a fine mess. any way IL is Regard
ed congressman say. and some of them
are apprehensive Of the outcome. IL j.
pointed out that the trouale this; there
is so much irresponsible innuendo in the
charges aiioat that innocent men are
sure to be hurt The mere mel,.on OF
a public mans name in connection with
the MGll.al letters o. the La Aat busi-
ness without showing HIM t. - vtH3lly
concerned, is unWelcome TO say the
least ana likely TO be hurtfu..
Placed on Defensive.
Democrats of prominence have been
dragged in in several cases clearly with
out the slightest possible Justification.
and yet there they are, placed on the
defensive The danger is said 10 lie in
the state of the public mind, which is
declared TO be infiamed and suspicious
TO a degree
Therefore, ii is urged BY those IN sym
patty with Mr.. Henry that the only
possible cure for the situation is a
searching probe that will reach 10 the
remotest fiber Of the mass and lay bare
the record, so that the innocent may
have their justification placed on record.