New-York tribune., 1913-07-24
MULHALL ACTIVE IN
NEW YORK POLITICS
Claimed To Be So, at Least, in
Letters Read Before the Sen
ate Lobby Committee.
WANTED BATTLE GOVERNOR
Tried in Vain to See Charlie"
Murphy in His Behalf-Tells
of Getting Local Can
didates Together.
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, July 23-George Gordon
Battle, Senator OGorman's law partner
John Purroy Mitchell, Controller Prender-
gast Otto T. Barnard, Charles +. Muir
ply ex-Representative William ). Bennett
and several other prominent New Workers
were among those mentioned in the let
ters Of Colonel Mulhall read before the
Senate lobby committee to-day, but none
Of them was accused of anything serious
Icy the former lobbyist.
Mr. Battle appeared 10 Mulhall such
fine man that he thought he ought TO be
nominated for Governor of New York by
the Democrats in 1910 and he wrote Mr.
Battle. he said. that he was anxious to
see Charlie Murphy and tell him so
But he never saw Murphy. The nearest
he got to the Tammany chief was the
promise Of William Harmon Black that he
would introduce him TO Murphy. Mr.
Black was the originator Of the civic
Pride statue erected in Long Acre Square
about two years ago. and Mulhall caused
some merriment BY referring TO him as
Charlie" Murphy's Confidential lawyer.
The reference to the other New Workers
was in a letter TO Mr.. Kirby, president or
the National Association Of Manufact-
urers. telling how, through the efforts OF
Mr. Bennett he had been able to get MI.
Barnard. Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.. Prender-
CAST TO meet several association represent
atives at luncheon. among them Mr.. Wat
son. Mulhall wrote that Mr. Bennet as
campaign manager. had asked for the sup
port of the manufacturers in the anti
Tammany campaign.
Candidates at Luncheon.
Il made arrangements" Mulhall wrote,
through Congressman William 5 Ben
net to have the Republican candidate Tor
Mayor Mr. Barnard; Mr.. Prendergast,
who is running for City Controller. anu
Mr. Mitchell. chairman of the Board OF
Aldermen. take luncheon with Messrs'
Bird, Boudinot Hoile Nevins, ex-Con-
gressman Watson, Colonel Thayer. of Ind
annapolis. and others at the Machinery
Club. in this city.
"The candidates for office clearly out
lined their plan OF campaign, and their
manager. Congressman Bennett anxious
ly solicited our aid for the next few weeks
| have been very successful in getting help
for them through the Retail Dry Goods
Association Of Greater New York, ana
have secured for them. through the sec
retaries OF different organizations, over
iOO. 600 names. and We will organize meet
ings for them to help them out. for the
balance Of the campaign. This work Will
be done entirely without cost TO our asso-
citation. Any expenses that may be in
Cured will be borne by the Retail Dry
Goods Association, Mr.. Bloomingdale, the
head of that organization. assuring us
that if we need funds he will raise them
to help US out
Mulhall sought 10 convey the idea that
he had made a good impression in New
York. according to letter he wrote TO
Schwedtman after the election of 1909.
We have made many new friends in
the big city of New York since last
spring." MulhalI wrote. and ] am per-
fectly confident that if we need any Dem
ocratic help in Congress this winter
there are several members from that city
who will be glad TO help us"
The fine work of our watchdogs" was
praised I'm a letter from Mr.. Kirby to
Mulhall. and when asked who they were
the former lobbyist replied: Judge
Davenport. Emery, Watson and myself.
Congressman McDermott thought he was
one"
Mulhall went on to say that while here
he always took orders from Mr.. Sherman.
Senator Aldrich Representative Mckinley
and several other leading members. He
also said that Representative Bannon. Of
Vermont, kept the manufacturers in
formed as to what took place at the
meetings of the judiciary Committee.
Memoranda Sent to Taft.
Mulhall swore that an unsigned letter,
dated November %, 1909. and addressed TO
Hon. William II. Taft, President Of the
United States" had been written by
James A. Emery. counsel for the National
Association of Manufacturers. The letter
follows:
"Sir: | have the honor TO submit here
with memoranda with respect to your
contemplated recommendation In refer.
ence to the Sherman act do this in
accordance with the suggestion made dur
ing our recent interview"
Mulhall identified a copy Of the memo
randa. which, he said, Emery sent to the
President as a brief.
The copy Of an answering letter to En-
cry. signed by the President, was identi-
fled by Mulhall. Ii was dated November
% and perfunctorily acknowledged the re-
ceipt of the memoranda on the Sherman
act.
Senators Cummins and Nelson, Repub-
lican members OF the committee. did not
appear at the hearing to-day. Although
neither would discuss the matter. IL is
generally known that they believe the
Democrats have been playing politics with
the investigation. particularly in the case
for Congress In the 9Th New Jersey Dis
trict, defeated in a special election yes
terday.
About /, 40 Mulhall letters still remain
to be presented: but the Senators worked
at such fast pace to-day that they eX-
pect TO get through them by Friday after
noon Muhall will then be crOss-exam-
ined by the Senators. Senator Reed indi-
Gated to-day that the only chance the
lawyers win get at Mulhall Will be by sub.
mitting written questions TO members OF
the committee.
NEVER SAW BATTLE LETTER