Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-26
President Wilson Warns
Nation Against Capitol
Legislation Menace.
CASH is SPENT FREELY
Interests Seeking to Create a
False Opinion by Spread of
Advertisements.

Washington, D. c., May 26.-Presi-
dent Wilson told White house cores
pondents today he believed the most
lobby ever gathered by
special interests to overcome legisla-
ton was now mustered at the capitol
against the tariff bill.
He said he had no doubt few so
called lobbyists were there on legitl-
mate errands, but that the great ma
jority were occupied in a systematic
Misrepresentation of facts. While
the president believes lobby" opposi-
ton is concentrated against free
sugar and free wool, he is not appre-
hensive that it will be successful.
The president made it clear that he
believed scientific business methods
and efficiency would overcome tariff
cuts and that with the application OF
scientific methods Louisiana would
not only be able to continue in the
sugar industry, but do So perfectly.
Wilson hopes this week to give defin-
ite expression to his views on cur
rency reforms. He plans to have a
number of conferences with currency
advocates in and out of congress. He
is confident the bill will be formulated
by the end of the week.
SAYS PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW.
The president issued a statement,
which says in part!
L think the public ought to know
the extraordinary exertions being
made by the lobby at Washington to
gain recognition for alterations OF the
tariff bill Washington seldom mas
seen so numerous and industrious, or
insidious a lobby. The newspapers
are being filled with paid advertise
ments calculated to mislead, not only
the judgment of public men, but the
public opinion of the country itself
| There is every evidence that money
without limit is being spent to sustain
the lobby to create the appearance OF
pressure of public opinion to antag
| onize some of the chief items of the
| tariff bill. 1t is of serioups interest to
| the country that the people at large
| should have no lobby and be voiceless
in these matters, while great bodies
| of astute men seek to create an arti
! fetal opinion and overcome i.e inter
ests of the pubic for their private
profit.
NEEDS PUBLIC OPINION.
1T is thoroughly worth while tha
the people of to- country taae knowl
edge of this matter. Only public
opinion can check and destroy it.
The government in all branches
ought to be relieved from this intoler
able burden and this constant inter
ruption to the calm progress of de
bate. l know in this / am speakin,
for the members of the two houses
who would rejoice as much as woul,
to be released from an undesirable
situation"
INSURANCE HEAD HEARD.
President Darwin Kingsley of tn,
New York Life Insurance compan,
appealed today to the senate subcom
mittee handling the income tax sec
tion of the tariff bill to exempt all in
surance written for protection an,
mutual benefit and not for profits. H
had spirited exchange with Senate
Williams over a campaign contribu
ton disclosed by the Hughes invest
CATION several years ago.
When your company paid a quarte
million to a campaign fund" aske
Williams, none of that money eve
was participated in by policyholder:
was it?"
No" said Kingsley.
ADMITS BAD JUDGMENT.
THAT proved the company's asset
tion that policyholders participated /
all earnings of TIE company was falls,
didn't it,"
1T proved" Kingsley returned
that the Judgment of this company
officers who paid the contribute
thinking it necessary to protect tn
assets of the company was bad"
1T proved more" asserted William
st was absolute dishonesty. / was
policyholder and a democrat, and yo
took part of my money and gave
away to protect me against my ow
party. But has all that sort of thin
: been done away with IL the insuranC
! business?'
!. Absolutely" replied Kingsley. H
! explained the laws which prohibit it