Evening star., 1922-04-25
CESL0BBy|NG
-fORL0AN MEASURE
Representative Ben Johnson
Attacks Club and William
n. Baldwin.

Although action on the so-called
pawnbrokers' BILL which was unfinisllcd
business for District day in the House.
was postponed yesterday owing 10 the
absence from the city of Chairman
Focht OF the House District committee.
the subject Was discussed under general
debate on another piece of legislation.
An attack by Representative Ben
Johnson Of Kentucky, former chairman
OF the District committee and a mem
conducted hearings on the pawnbroker
and loan-shark legislation, upon Will
liam ii. Baldwin. whom he accused Of
lobbying for this legislation, provoked
speeches in eulogy OF Mr.. Baldwin by
Representatives Cooper and Burton,
both OF Ohio.
Launches Attack on Club.
Representative Johneon's speech in
cluded an attack on the Monday Even
ing Club. which he called the mother
OF officials for the District OF Colum-
hia'; upon tae Russell Sage Founds-
ton. upon the court procedure in the
nawnbroker and 'loan-shark" litigati
and on other individuols. In discussing
the association Of Mr.. Baldwin. "then an
employe in the department Of corpora
tons" and J. T. Exnicious, "then a
loan shark in the War Department"
sentative Cooper Mr.. johnson said: "T
intend TO leave the impression in the
House that Mr.. Baldwin seeks to double
the rate of ] per cent a month and TO
exclude others, thereby destroying COM
petition in lending money to small bor
rowers." He said that after leaving
Ohio with good reputation Mr.. Bald
win "fell into the hands OF this bunch
OF money lenders here in washington
and is now their main reliance" In
20 Yfaf of hA HLaA H,-
Baldwin is acting for citizen commit
tee" Representative johnson said that
1t was a ''self-constituted" committee
that lis not in existence and never has
business location Of the so-called citi-
Zens' committee as his own private resi-
dence here in Washington
Articles Inspired, He says.
He declared that published af<icles
in support of the pawnbrokers' bill
were inspired by Mr.. Baldwin as part
of his work as a lobbyist. He said
that the Monday Evening Club is
composed of some Of the best people
in the world-and some of the
ugliest," and gave in detail how this
club had been worked up to take
interest in the loan Legislation.
In rising to the defense of Mr..
Baldwin. Representative Cooper said.
in part:
For many years he was a promi-
nent business man and manufacturer
of eastern Ohio. contributing much
to the building and promoting OF the
great Industrial district in which /
live and have the honor to represent
in Congress at this time. He is now
one OF the trustees of the Western
Reserve University, located in Cleve-
land. Ohio. and only a short time
ago his name was mentioned I'm con-
nection with the presidency of, this
errln r.,rt i'm <f duo I~BH
Il cannot stand by and hear IL in
timated that he is now in the Dis
trict of Columbia trying 10 put
through some crooked deal relative
to pawnbrokers' bin"
speaks in Defense.
Representative Burton OF Ohio.
speaking in defense OF Mr.. Baldwin.
said:
There is no man who ha. come
out OF Ohio who leads a purer life.
with higher aims. than W. II. Bald
win. l do not think the breath OF
scandal or suspicion has ever been
raised against him except upon the
refrain from raising my voice agafnst
using the privilege which members Of
the House of Representatives have 10.
make a personai attack of that nar
ture. Mr.. Baldwin fs at present on s
sick bed. lowering between life and
death. The last twenty years OF his
life he has given to philanthropic
work. He was the promoter here of
a bill which has now been followed
by numerous states, requiring the
registration of tuberculsr patients.
The doctors at first opposed IL, but
after its passage here il has become
q model in other states. He is the
treasurer and actively interested in
the Anti-TIbercular League OF the
United States.
Now, this discussion does not come
up upon the bill that is before the
House at all 1t is interjected here.
When we come to the o-calied pawn
brokers' bill We will discuss II. I
believe the Baldwin bill. supported
by the District Commissioner, by
Mrs. Hopkins. by those who have had
the welfare of the people OF the Dis
trict at heart, will meet with your
approval My reason for rising here,
Mr. Chairman, is that when reputa
ton. the immortal part OF q man, is
attacked, and attacked unjustly. ] am
| ready to rise in my place to protest"
ORIGIN OF Committee.