New-York tribune., 1913-06-20
LOWRY TELLS ACTIVITIES
Of FREE SUGAR. LOBBY
Spent $4,000 Promoting the
Cause-Had Confidence OF
Democratic Leaders.
DID WORK FOR DANIELS
Prepared Much Matter for
Green Book" Circulated to
Aid Wilson-Stone Gives
Out Hamlin Letters.
From The Tribune Bureaul

From The Tribune Bureaul
Washington. June 19.-The Senate
lobby investigating committee. before de-
Gliding to suspend it's hearings until the
tariff bill has been disposed Of by the
Democratic caucus to-day turned its at
,ention 20 the free sugar" lobby, of
which Frank c. Lowry, backed by the
Federal Sugar Refining Company. ap-
pears to be the moving spirit
Mr. Lowry testified that the Federal
Sugar Refining Company. on vouchers
executed by him. had expended approXi-
mately $3.50 in the last four years IN
promoting the cause Of free sugar Most
Of this. he said, had gone for advertising
and postage, large amounts Of literature
having been distributed by the Commit
tee Of Wholesale Grocers," which, II ap-
peared, was organized by Mr.. Lowry
largely for the purpose Of allowing their
names TO be used. The witness stated
there was no general cooperation on the
part Of the sugar refiners, and that the
Federal company did not desire TO estao'
Nsh any connections whatever with It's
competitors. Some work was done by the
Arbuckles.
From his testimony ii appeared that MI
Lowry enjoyed the confidence of the
Democratic leaders and had much TO DO
with formulating the arguments used dur
ing the campaign in behalf OF the plan
for a reduction Of the sugar duty. At the
request OF Josephus Daniels, now Secre-
tary Of the Navy. who had charge Of the
publicity work in the Wilson headquarters
during the campaign, Mr. Lowry prepared
much Of the matter that was incorporated
in the Green Book" Of which one milf
ion copies were circulated in the interests
Of Woodrow Wilson'S candidacy. He also
prepared most Of the text Of the chapter
Of sugar in the Democratic campaign text
book. During the Baltimore convention
he telegraphed each member OF the reso-
hItions committee, urging the adoption of
a sugar plank.
Questioned by Senator Nelson.
Senator Nelson was especially interested
in the Committee Of Wholesale Grocers'
and wanted to know just how II was
formed
There was no formal meeting" said
Lowry Il wrote TO twenty-five or thirty
wholesale grocers and suggested that we
form such a committee"
"You appointed the secretary and chair
man and organized the committee?"
Eyes, sir"
Lowry told Of efforts to break up the
committee.
"The domestic sugar people sent out
men," he said ito try 10 break 1t up.
They said Lowry is a bad man, you will
he subppnaed before a Congress commit
tee in Washington. But they stuck"
What authority had you 10 select a
committee for the wholesale grocers OF
the United States?" asked Senator Cum
Minis
II didn't" said the witness. II selected
committee for the people Of the United
States"
Senator Cummins read telegram from
Lowry 10 West Tubbs. secretary OF the
American Society OF Equity Madison,
Wis, SAYING: 1T is of the utmost i'm
portance that you Immediately telegraph
oscar W. Underwood. chairman Of the
Ways and Means Committee, or your
Congressman in Washington. impressing
upon them the importance OF taking i'm
mediate action toward a reduction in the
duty on. sugar. Secure the cooperation
Of as many others as possible in doing
this. Immediate action necessary"
The Kind Of Work That Helps.
A circular letter from Lowry read, in
part:
Il wired you yesterday asking you to
telegraph your representative In Wash
ington 10 do everything in his power TO
break the deadlock existing in the Ways
and Means Committee over sugar sched-
ule. This is the kind OF work that helped
the cause.
1.-The beet sugar men have been spend
ing a large part of their time trying to
confuse the issue. I was afraid they
might be successful i'm their efforts. and
therefore desired that the w. & NJ COM
mittee be impressed with the fact that the
country. as whole, was watching their
efforts and would call on them for an ac-
counting If they failed to act.
Il am satisfied they received a great
number Of telegrams yesterday, and 1
privately learned last night that favorable
action has been taken by the committee
and that a bill will be favorably reported
in the near future.
ITO get the fight in the open will, OF
course. be a great satisfaction to US all"
Don't you call that a lobby?' asked
Senator CUmmins.
1T is not a lobby at all: that is the
direct primary idea" said Lowry.
Printed as Public Document.
Lowry testified that while Sugar at
Second G!ance'-the reply Of the refners
to the beet sugar argument-had been
printed as a public document by Senator
James. it never had been circulated under
his frank He said that one free sugar
pamphlet practically prepared by him had
been sent out by the Democratic national
campaign committee.
I was asked 10 go up to tho Demo-
cratic headquarters I'm New York. | talked
10 the gentleman who is now Secretary of
the Navy. and he suggested that | prepare
something. Mr. Daniels told me he ex-
pected to get out about a million copies"
said Lowry.
Lowry said he had given Marsh az
the Democratic national headquarters ma
terial on sugar. part Of which appeared
IN the Democratic campaign textbook last
fall. He added he also sent a telegram TO
every member OF the committee on reso-
Al. H..