The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-06-20
DEMOCRATS ARE STIRRED BY
THE LOBBYIST QUESTION

Some Democratic senators felt very
weary because the President put this
burden upon them, but there was an
other way of looking at it. Even
though senators did not like to invcsti-
gate, because of n chance that the in.
vestigation might prove divcrting, his
statement about lobbyists has served
the President $ purpose well For cx-
ample, he has gotten the attention Of
the country with it, The country may
have an idea that there are wicked
men on the scene, trying to persuade
congress TO do is the hosting of duties
what it ought not TO do. Lobbying"
is not popular term, because there has
been bad lobbying. Thus it win read.
lily be soen that the President has made
it doubiy difficult for the senate to
change the wool aud sugar provisions
of the Underwood Bill.
Forces had been busily at work to
persuade the senate not to follow the
house on free wool and free sugar. Now
and then there were evidences that n
senator might he weakening. II he goes
over to the cause of wool and Sugar
duties now, the cry will 90 mp that tho
lobbyists got him. The result is that
the campaign for wool and sugar du-
ties has halted and the Democratic ma
ioritv in the senate is standing more
firmly than ever Furthermore, within
brief time. the call will 20 forth for
Democratic senators to enter caucus
on the Tariff Bill II any senator stays
out aud refuses to be bound, justly or
uniustly, the same criticism viii fly
that the lobby got him.
Raw Deal Working Well.
1t may be pretty raw deal, but il
is working all the same. The admins
tration is Just "a lirmly entrenchcd as
ever and those who would break down
the lines find their work exceedingly
difficult. The President is smiling
about it, although the men here rep
rcsenting great industries are hard at
work upon literature to reiute charges
Of improper conduct on their~part. The
President said there were efforts to
create a public opinion which was not
in the interest Of the people. He re.
forred undoubtedly to series of ad.
yertisements running in the local news
papers These carry the sentence,
"Get the facts and present concisely
certain information about sugar and
the production thereof Much money
has undoubtedly been spent on those adj
vertisements. The sugar lobby has
been the most active Of all the tariff
lobGos in town. II has fought hardest
and must be spending deal of money
on IT'S campaign.
With the exception of sugar, and pos
sibly wool and woolens, fewer men
have probably come to Washington this
year on tariff errands than during other
revisions of the last twenty years. The
sugar people are very well organized
and have men ready TO come down TO
Washington whenever their interests be-
fore congress are in jeopardy. Repub-
lean senators have, in mild way, TAX
On up cudgels in behalf of these tariff
visitors. They do not undertake to
champiou the cause Of the lobbyists al
together but are asserting that If such
conditions exist and money is being used
improperly, il is certainly the duty of
the senate 10 DEMONSTRATE to the coun-
try what the facts really are. For mind
you, assert these Republicans, nothing
of that kind should be concealed when
a Democratic congress holds the board