New-York tribune., 1913-07-26
MULHAL[ CALLS ON
SENATORS FOR MERCY
Lobby Witness Declares He Is
Too Unnerved to Answer
Questions Accurately.
GETS REST UNTIL MONDAY
Admits His Letters Are Un-
trustworthy and "Corrects'
Statement That He Inter
viewed Champ Clark.

From Tie Tribune Bureaul
Washington, July 2J.-Colonel NJ. NJ.
Mulhal. the alleged lobbyist, proved the
untrustworthiress of his letters to-day, to
the great satisfaction OF the Democrats
on the investigating committee, when he
admitted that what ne had written about
conference with Speaker Champ Clark
was false and that, instead Of "a pleas
ing interview" with Mr.. Clark In his room
in a Baltimore hotel, Mulhall had merely
shaken hands with Mr.. Clark, along with
crowd Of Democrats. and in the most
casual way.
The letter was written by Mulhall TO }.
T. Bird, general manager of the National
Association Of Manufacturers, and in II
he said:
Il met Mr.. Clark. the next Speaker Oh
the House on last Saturday, when In Bal
timore at the RenneTt Hotel, and ! had
pleasing interview with him this fore
noon in this city. I feel perfectly conh-
dent that there will be no labor leg!sla-
ton at the coming session, and up to the
present time there has been no programme
arranged by the leaders OF the Republican
party for this winter, or what they shaii
do next spring
The letter was dated November B, 1910
and pleased smile spread over the faces
Of the Democratic Senator'S as MuihaIl
announced that he wanted TO correct
the statement concerning Mr.. Clark be-
cause. ustaad Of a pleasing interview
with the Speaker, he had simply gone
TO the hotel with a crowd Of Democrats
and shaken the Speakers hand.
Interviewed Simmons, Too.
Senator Simmons OF North Carolina,
now chairman OF the Finance Commit
tee. was another Democrat with whom
Mulhall had Tong interview accord
ing To his letters. Mulhall was referring
10 the employment OF union labor on the
Panama Canal when he wrote to MI.
Bird.
Il got 10 work upon this matter carry
this morning and had long lnteTVie"
with Senator +. VI. Simmons. or the
Inter Oceanic Canals Committee, ana after
my interview was over with him | called
on number Of Senators that were sug'
gested hy Senator Simmons In relation
20 this matter"
Colonel Mulhan. pleading for mercy
when pressed for facts in connection with
statements IN his letters procured an
abrupt adjournment OF the hearing TINS
afternoon until next Monday. lie con-
tended that his condition was such that II
was impossible for him to answer Ques'
tions with any degree OF accuracy.
For Gods sake. have mercy! he eX'
claimed. and. with tears in his eyes, ht
said that tho letters referring to his In
sane wife" had unnerved him. although
none OF these letters had been read.
When the hearing ended Senators Walsr
and Nelson were trying to find out the
identity of two Senators TO whom Mulhal
had referred In a confidential way In one
Of mis- letters. He thought they were Sen
ators Dick and Carter. but wasn't sure.
Colonel Mulhall and his friends won d
victory to-day. when tho committee de
cidcd not 20 allow any questions bearinE
on his morality OF his domestic relations
LAWYERS for the manufacturers and tn,
American Federation Of Labor will be al
lowed TO submit list OF questions 10 th'
committee. and the members will ask any
they see ft. but with the explicit under
standing that Mulhalrs moral life Is no
10 be gone into The questions prepared
by the lawyers. the Senators decided
must be submitted twenty-four hours n
advance, 50 that the committee can hav,
chance to took them over. Senator
Oyerman said he expected that Mulhalr'
cross-examination would begin on Tues
day.
Had Interview with Taft.
MYIhan wrote President TAFT on Au.
gust 30. asking for an interview for Bird
and himself.
1t will be a great help 10 have NUM-
Der of the leaders OF the manufacturing
associations I'm touch with the leaders of
our party throughout tho country In the
present crisis" the letter ran.
Mulhall said he received reply from
&. u. Norton. the Presidents secretary
arranging the interview for Monday az
ternoon. September T. at Beverly
ON October .. 1910. Mulhall wrote "a
former Senator Foraker about his talk
with President Taft. saying he lad sub
mitted names OF men who would help IN
the campaign.
"He seemed to scrutinize the list very
| closely" Mulhall wrote, and talked "a Il
John II. Taylor. OF East Liverpool, and
| II. NJ Hanna were not enthusiastic
friends OF his.
"He was greatly pleased with the WORK
| 7 told him lfad been done IN Massachu
setts and other states. and advised me &c
inform our people TO do every thing We
possibly could TO keep in touch with lead
ers of the Congressional Committee, So
| that we might be able TO help In close
Congress districts"
The witness caused a mild sensation
| Just before the recess by swearing tha
q list Of repeaters from New York had
been offered him IN the 9Th New jersey
campaign against William Hughes IL
| 1910 by a Mr.. Conklln, who. he said. was
Republican county chairman in tha
| district
II refused them" Mulhal said. "H'
| told me both sides used them"