The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-16
GUNS TRAINED ON
DUPONT POWDER CO.
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS
Washington Bureau The Age-Herald
500 DaNfuSOu RuildinR


Washington, May 15-lnvestigatlon
of pernicious lobbying in the interest
of classes as against the masses of the
American people is called for in reso-
luton introduced by Senator King of
Utah.
1t is possible that the Senate will
adopt the resolution and authorize the
investigation. But for contrary incli-
nation on the part of several notable
republican leaders, there would be no
doubt about it,
The King resolution follows on the
heels of charges by Senator Moses of
New Hampshire that the DUPONT inter-
ests, with a highly paid and aggressive,
as vSll as pernicious lobby on the scene
was responsible for the inclusion by
the Senate in the farmers" tariff bill
of protection for the infant dye in
dustry of the United States. The dye
provision was introduced by Senator
Knox of Pennsylvania. The duPonts
are so-called powder kings. One Of
them was a sometime member of Con
gress. They were accused of eXerting
the influence of their lobby against the
development of the federal nitrate
plant at Muscle Shoals. on the Tennes-
see river
The most casual observer knows that
the lobbyists, unbrideed and I'M
When President Wilson was inaugu-
rated eight years ago, he drove them
from the capitol. When the repub-
licans returned to power in 1918. the
lobbyists came with them. They got to
be so numerous, and so insistent that
Senator Kenyon of Iowa suggested that
they be required to register Others
referred to them as the assistant gov
eminent"
- yia
rent of the National Farmers union,
has written a treatise on lobbying as it
is practiced in Washington. He gives
a list of the Hobbies and their person
mel His list is incomplete because he
purposely omits several of the great
est strength and widest Influence. he
does not include those who represent
the farmers. He does not include those
who represent the Anti-Saloon league.
He does not include those who represent
the American Federation of Labor. He
does not include those who represent
the League of Women Voters.
AS a matter of fact, every industry,
every class, every organization. practi-
cally every profession retains repre-
sentatives in Washington on a perma-
nent salary basis. 1t is the duty of
such representatives to persuade Con-
gress to enact certain legislation, or
dlSSuade Congress against any coHtolh-
plated course which is regarded by
them as deleteriously effecting their
employees. There is nothing that Con-
gress attempts to do that does not con-
Germ these lobbyists. If it pleases this
one it displeases the other. As result
Congress- every representative in Con-
gress, as a matter of fact, is always be-
tween the devil and the deep blue sea.
There are members of Congress who
paw no attention to the existence of the
lobbies They regard the Hobbies as
evils which have always existed and Will
always exist. There are others VINO
believe that a member OF Congress
however honest he might be, is influ-
enced by these lobbyists because, IN
hope of doing justice to all classes. ne
listens to their pleading. These mem
bers believe that Congress, with the
| lobbyists in the tall timbers," can best
proceed about the peoples business.
The people, incidentally, have no
lobby in Washington. That is because
the people are not organized. Senator
King. author of the resolution, believes
that as the people are not organized
and have no Hobbies, those who would
profit from an. exploitation of the peo-
pie should be forced to recall their
mermidons.
| There promises to be an interesting
fight with the resolution as subject
There certainly will be a fight unless
the Senate, by a practically unanimous
vote, passes it and proceeds with the
Investigation.