New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-16
Former Chief of House Pages
Says illinois Representative
Urged Him to Hide.
OFFERED HIM $500 A MONTH
/. H. McMichael Gives Frank
Details of His Employment by
the Manufacturers Asso-
citation Lobbyist.
[From The Tribune Bureau.


Washington, Aug. l5.-With a story
which ranged from dramatic TO amusing.
]. II. McMichael. formerly chief of House
pages and protege OF Representative
James r. McDermott, an Illinois Demo-
crat took the witness stand before the
House lobby committee to-day and re-
veaed the relations existing between
himself and Colonel Martin NJ Mulhall,
lobbyist for the National Association OF
Manufacturers, and between Mulhall and
Mr.. McDermott.
That Mr.. McDermott had sought TO
shut the mouth OF McMichael, beseech-
ing him to hide when the Mulhall "con"
fession" was printed, and that the Hi
nois member had agreed to pay him 500
a month for the period OF his incarcera-
ton II he. McMichael. was convicted OF
perjury and sent 10 the penitentiary, was
one Of the startling declarations made by
McDermott's former friend.
MY God! I am a ruined man. You
get out OF town; go down the river on
that ark OF yours" McMichael quoted
McDermott as saying when the Mulhal
charges were printed. McMichael said
McDermott talked Of his career, his wife
and children. and added: Mac, get
away. Go down the river. You have
nothing to lose. Say you wrote every
thing without my knowledge. II they get
you for perjury you can only be given
two years In the penitentlary I'll pay
you 500 a month while you are there
Il asked McDermott how he was going
L. ~ vlaNl
the money he had been borrowing from
me all along" exclaimed the witness.
gazing across the table at Mr.. McDer-
mott. "T told him had as much TO lose
az he had, and refused to go"
McMichael then detailed alleged loans
he had made 10 the Illinois member,
whom he had described as always
broke"
Secret Room for Conferences.
Earlier IN the day McMichae had testi-
fed to the close relations existing between
McDermott and Mulhall and told OF a
secret" room in the Capitol used for
their conferences He had also identified
numerous letters written by him to the
lobbyist for the manufacturers assocla-
ton. In which McDermotts name was
mentioned.
Another charge made by McMlchs Ell
which startled the committee was that
McDermott got 1850 OF fund raised
By the pawnbrokers In Washington TO
prevent the passage OF the loan shark
bin In 1911"
How do you know this7" asked Chair
man Garrett
Congressman McDermott told me that
the plwnbrokers raised $1,000 and he got
1880 OF II. asked him where I came in.
why he did not pay me what he had
borrowed. He replied. Man, I've paid
IL all out and owe 1900 more"
McMichael's testimony at the afternoon
session related mainly 10 McDermotts
alleged friepdlness to the manufacturers
association at the time he was presumed
to be friendly TO the labor unions.
McM,chael declared that the Illinois
member set aside secret private room In
the Capitol for conferences with the man
ufacturerS lobbyist The witness quoted
McDermott ar saying:
Whenever the colonel wants 70 see me
hereafter bring him to this room. don't
want TO be seen around the corridors with
him"
McMichael told an amusing story OF the
beer parties" enjoyed by himself. Nc
Dermott and Mulhall at Washington
rathskeller. Mulhall. he said generally
footed the bills and was not averse TO
slipping McDermott and myself money
when We were broke"
McMichae. said he was in MulhalPs en-
ploy at so month during three sessions
Of Congress. the employment terminating
I'm December 1911. He was instructed to
keep track OF all labor Legislation and TO
make regular reports TO the lobbyist.
Did you ever see money pass between
Representative McDermott and Colonel
Mulhall?" asked Chairman Garrett.
NO. but have every reason To believe
that plenty was passed. | got mine open
and above board"
why do you think Mulhall gave Nc
Dermott money!"
We'll. I'm not blind. Wren two
r.