The Washington times., 1924-01-09
REED PROPOSES
PROPAGANDA
INQUIRY
Resolution, II Favored, May
Bring About Astounding
Results.
By GEORGE R. HOLMES,


ny OLIOAeUAL He AHV10ykhN0S
International News Service.
Torn by dissension, split into
snarling factions, and filled with
rampant minorities, the turbulent
Sixty eighth Congress stood today on
the verge Of plunging into an abyss
Of Investigation whose depth IL un-
estimated and unplumbed.'
Pending before the Senate is a
resolution fathered by Senator
Reed Dem) Of Missouri. calling for
an official investigation by a COM
mittee into the lobbying" and
propaganda" which, It Is charged.
members of Congress are being sub
jected to in behalf of various pieces
of legislation pending and proposed.
Inquiry today among both Repub.
licans and Democrats developed the
belief among Senators that the
resolution should pass.
Intricate Results.
Once it does, and If it does, the
result will be a field day for all
the grievances and counter-griev-
ances of all the factions in Con-
gress, with the possibility that the
probe may uncover some political
dynamite. Such seemingly inno-
cent resolutions Of inquiry in the
past have sometimes produced
astonishing results.
1t iS estimated by sponsors of the
resolution that there are no less
than 200 organizations and indi.
viduals in and around the Capitol,
working for specific legislation,
whose activities would come within
the scope Of the Reed resolution.
Virtually every major industry in
the country maintains a national
organization here to look out" for
its interests.
Tax Propaganda Probe.
The principal hackers of the Reed
resolution, however. are aiming at
two specific inQuiries-one into the
organized drive by business inter-
ests against any changes being
made in the Mellon tax reduction
plan, and one into the organized
drive by church federations, peace
societies, and women's organiza-
tions, in favor of the World Court
and the League of Nations.
The insurgent-progress sup
ported to a large extent by the
Democrats, who have a tax bill of
their own, are behind the inquiry
into the alleged Mellon propa-
ganda." Democratic speakers on
the floors of both Senate and House
have complained about the pres.
sure for the Mellon bill and no
other"
Form Letter Appeal.
Senator Brookhart Rep) of Iowa
one of the insurgents, Indignantly
put in the Record today a speci
men Of what he termed 1.-The Mellon
propaganda. It consisted of q
form letter sent out of Detroit ap-
pealing for Organization of a com
mittee in your city to flood the
mails of Senators and Congressman
asking them to support the Mellon
Federal tax reduction plan"
Merchants, manufacturers and
bankers associations are particular
ly well organized for this effort" /"
said the letter. "a single organiza-
ton employing 100 people should be
able to send out at least ninety let
ters."
The letter bore no organization
stamp, but was simply signed ''B.
E. Taylor"
The proposed inquiry would go
into the identity of those behind
this and similar letters, who pays
for them, etc.
The irreconcilables of the Senate
Moses, Mccormick and
in favor of investigat-
ing what they term ''the revival Of
League propaganda.
Box Plan Included.
Senator Mccormick ,Rep) of
Illinois described the Box peace
plan today as "a part of this in
sidious propaganda" and it would
be included in the investigation.
The irreconcilables are particu-
larry interested in the financing of
the various peace societies, League
ETC., which daily
lombard Congress with appeals to
enter the world court, etc.
So broad, however, are the terms
of the Reed resolution that investi-
cation could go off at almost any
tangent.
Wet and Dry Probes.
The conservatives of the Senate
and House, however, do not intend
to sit idly by and allow the insur-
gents to run away with all the in
quiries. They suggested today that
such an investigation as is pro-
posed also should properly look into
the lobbying" carried on here in
behalf of the farm organizations of
the country. The vets probably
will see to 1t that the drys are in.
vestigated, and vice versa, and rail-
road opponents will insist upon in.
vestigating alleged railroad propa'
ganda-"
There is virtually no end to the
possibilities opened UP by the Reed
resolution. Congressional leaders,
already harried and worried by fac
tional fighting, declared today a
veritable Pandora's box of troubles
would be opened by the passage OF
the resolution. And this fact may
in the end defeat It, but for the
time being 1t is engaging wide
spread attention and causing nc
end of speculation.
PATENT INFRINGEMENT