Evening star., 1921-03-15
CHARGES LOBBYISTS ARE
ASSISTANT GOVERNMENT
Head of Farmers Union Names
Many Firms and Representa-
tives in Statement.

new and powerful assistant" gov
of special interests, is operating In
Washington. according to charges
contained in a statement issued here
last night by Charles S. Barrett. presi-
dent of the National Farmers Union
and chairman of the National Board
of Farm Organization.
Mr.. Barrett gives the names Of per-
sons he says belong to this inter-
esting and patriotic collection of men
and women" and declares the AS
sistant" government has an advan-
tage over the constitutional govern
ment in that it is more effectually
trained for its work.
He says even the foreign govern
ments are not without there repre-
sentatives here. and that, while II is
improper for a foreign diplomat TO
attempt to influence American legiS-
lative or executive action. way has
been found to accomplish this through
Legislative committees that have been
created under the names OF eouca-
tional bureaus. These committees. ne
charges, have no definite or tangible
connection with any accredited diplo-
mat, yet the country which the Dip
lomat represents is the principal
beneficiary of their activities
Mr.. Barret names Joseph De Frees
of Chicago. president of the United
States Chamber of Commerce, as one
of the prominent members of the as
sistant" government. He also refers
to Alfred 2. Thorn, general manager
of the Association of Railway Exec
utives. who. he says. has for years
"benevolently instructed the inter-
state and foreign commerce commit
tees of both houses of Congress on
what ought to be done TO and for the
railways
The National Association of Manu-
facturerS he alludes to as one of the
most "virile and resourceful organ
izations' that is assisting the gov
ernment in it's effort to give the peo-
pie an enlightened administration"
individuals named by Mr. Barrett. in
addition to Mr.. DeF'rees and Mr..
Thorn, are j. d. A. Morrow. vice presi
dent of the National Coal Association;
George II. Gushing. managing director
of the Wholesale Coal Dealers ASso-
citation: James A. Emery, general
counsel for the National Association
of Manufacturers: Willis Compton OF
the Hardwood Lumbermen's Associa-
tion. John II. Kirby of the Southern
Pine Men, and r. T. Strasbaugh.
president of the National Gamers
Association.
Other interests which. Mr.. Barrett
says. are represented in the "'as-
sistant' government" are the 1nsti-
tute of American Meat Packers, the
American Automobile Association, the
Southern Pine Men. Manufacturing
Chemists Association of America,
Council of American Cotton Manu-
facturers. Southern Industrial Edu-
cation Society, Founders Associa-
tion, Highway Industries Association.
American Automobile Chamber of
Commerce National Bureau of Whole
sale Lumber Distributors. American
Mining Congress. American Realty
Exchange, National Merchant Marine
Association, League of Commission
Merchants of the United States, Ma
tional Oil Bureau, National Petro-
leum Association, American Patent
Law Association, National Committee
of Gas and Electric Service. National
Committee on Public Utilities Condi-
tions, Dixie Freight Association, Ma
tional Association for Constitutional
Government. National Association for
Protection of American Rights in
Mexico. National Popular Government
League National Committee to Sc
cure Rank for Army Nurses. National
Negro Business League, National
Voters League, National Forestry
Association, National Patriotic Press.
League for the Preservation Of Amer
lean Independence, National Associa-
tion of Colored Races. National Conn
mittee of Armenian and Syrian Re-
lief, National Federation of Federal
Employees and National Women's
Trade Union League.