New-York tribune., 1919-10-24
Senator Says Charge That
He Acted as a Lobbyist
Is Ten Years Old and
Was Disproved Long Ago
Denies He Aided Packers
Members of Commission
Accused of Evading His
Issue on Red EMPLOYEES
Ne0 York Tribune
WUShfn1fou Ro,roo,,

WASHINGTON, Oct. Ex-senator
Watson, of Indiana, replying to the
charge brought against him Yesterday
by the Federal Trade Commission. fol.
lowing his charges in the Senate that
employees of the commission have
been active in behalf of the Reds and
radicals, declared the commission was
mud Singing to obscure the issue.
The charge that he was connected
with or had relations with the packers
sand the Senator. were refuted by hi
votes in the Senate. The other charge
mat he was lobbyist, Senator Watson
sald, was ten years old, and was thor
cughly aired during the Mulhall in
vostigation in Congress.
"Yestcrday the Federal Trade Com
mission issued a statement of official
character, dealing with what ! then
sad Senator Watson said. sit ques-
tons my bona fides en- the ground that
/ was a lobbyist for the packers in
1909, as shown by the so-called Mulhall
investigation.
Lobbying Charge Called "OId Straw"
This is a direct charge against ME,
though 1t bears in no wise on the oues-
ton raised by the resolution which I
introduced and the remarks which !
made. This charge Is ten years old.
1t has been repeatedly made in my own
State OF Indiana, published in the
press, discussed by speakers on the
platform. In the Senatorial campaign
in which / was @ candidate, and which
ended in my triumphal election, it was
threshed out until now it is old straw
reduced to dust.
I'm answer to it ! shall only. throw
back. in the teeth of my accusers the
answer Of my own people in Indiana
Two committees, one in the Senate and
one in the House, investigated those
charges which concerned lobbying
activities OF members of Congress
After weeks of inquiry the Senate COM
mittes thought so little Of the charges
or the man making them, that it never
even reported. In the House, the com
mittce did make report, completely
generating NE.
"Mulhall, who was responsible for
the charges, is now dead. He died in
the poorllouse and was buried in the
Potters' Field, unwept. unhonored and
rnsung, 1t the very lime when the peo-
pie Of Indiana were electing me to the
Senate. He has gone to his great re-
ward: I don't know where he has gone
for It, but I have shrewd suspicion
Declares He Opposed Packers
"'The other proposition raised in the
answer Of the trade commission con-
Germs my relations with the packers
A telegram was quoted from D. B.
Skipworth, who understand repre-
sented Wilson g. Co., packers. to John
c. Eversman. It notified Eversman
that a test vote on a matter pending
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee was to be taken at o'clock
that day and said: important to see
Senator Watson who is on the com
mittee, urging retention OF this au-
thority by the Interstate Commerce
Commission
at is fact that Mr. Eversman did
call on me and we discussed the mat
ter pending before the committee. !
told him that l was absolutely opposed
to the position taken by Wilson & Co.
Later voted against their position
and in favor of vesting in the Presi-
dent certain powers which they desired
should be retained in the commission.
On the floor Of the Senate l made a
speech directly opposing the demands
OF the packers in the matter.
"Yet it is now alleged that this is
the proof of my relations to the pack
ers In the belief that when Senator
makes charges from his place on this