Norwich bulletin., 1920-03-23
WOMEN SCENT A aPERiLoUs
 INFLUENCE OVER PUBLIC"

Albany, N. Y., March Exchanges that a powerful and perilous infiu- ence" is exerted over public opinion in the state by a "well financed and active combination" backed by the associated manufacturers and mer- chants and aided by Speaker Thad- deus C. Sweet of the assembly, are error Smith today by the New York State League of Women Voters, through it's executive counsel and the chairman, Mrs. Frank A Vanderlip.
 The report declares that this com l bination, under the direction of Mark l A. Daly of Buffalo secretary and lig- l islative agent of the Associated Manu- l facturers and Merchants, is interfer- l ing with open and orderly legislative action on important matters, special reference being made to the eight hour. day, minimum wage and health inspr- 1 ance bills.
 i It is stated in the report that it's findings are based on an expert in- vestigation covering several months, l undertaken by the League of Women Voters, because it's members have been startled at the outset of their voting career by evidence of an at- 1 tempt by organized vested interests I to influence legislation through a | IceAAitc Ol pSSuuo-p pdtrIOllC pEOpdBd1l-
 da." The patriotic element, it is de-
 clared, is furnished by an organiza-
 ton calling itself the New York
 League of Americanism.
 we have found" the report states,
 that the influences at work, so far from being invisible, are fagrantly and cynically open and are rapidly be-
 coming notorious" {, In addition to MT. Daly and Speak
 CT Sweet the report names as the op- ponents of the welfare legislation
 Carleton D. Babcoek of Syracuse, sec retary of the New York League for
 Americanism; c. A. Chase of Syra- cuse, secretary of the New York League for Americanisn; . C. A. . Chase of Syracuse, vice president o1 !, the Associated Manufacturers ane Merchants. and treasurer of the New : York League for Amerieanism; Fred
 erick l.. Hoffman of the Prudential Tn.
 shrance Company Newark, N. J.; , William Gale Curtis, president of thu
 Insurance Economic Society Detroit : Mich, and State Senator Clayton R
 Lusk.
 3 The name and prestige of the Lusl | committee to investigate seditious ac
 tivities were, the report charges, n1is
 used in order to combat industria
 welfare measures opposed by Daly an, < his associates
 We are reliably informed" says tn : 1 report, that as early as last Angus :. the Associated Manufacturers an 2 l Merchants had raised fund of be z tween s100,0oo and $2oo.000 for pro ! paganda purposes and that this ha been used for the support of tn |. League for Americanism." One of tn ! manufacturers who helped to organ . ize the league, according to testimon T contained in the report, had said tha 'N1 the Americanism part of it is a joke II and that the real object of the leagu - is to ''kill off health insurance an II other fool legislation"
 The report declares that Carleton I
 Babcock, secretary of the League -fc c Americanism, has long been employe by insurance interests to go from stat l. to state to fight any form of work e mems cooperative illness insuranc IS and was brought to New York an '0 hired as secretary of the league afte
 his fight in California against legis $ lation similar to that proposed il le New York.