The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-21
TEMPEST IS STIRRED BY BOX PLAN Congress Already Anger ed By Mellon Plan Propa- ganda, Resents Peace
 Referendum EDITOR TO APPEAR BEFORE COMMITTEE Other Organizations Whic h Maintain Lobbies Are
 Apprehensive TO MAKE EXAMPLE OF BOX Law Makers To Use Him As
 Scapegoat To Vent
 Wrath
EDITOR TO APPEAR
 BEFORE COMMITTEE
TO MAKE EXAMPLE or BOX
By RAYMOND CHAPTER


 been drenched by wave after wave of propagands in recent years, Congress has grown extremely irascible on the subject and now the merest suspicion that 1t is being treated to another de- luse is enough to send uproars of Indignation.
 This is the real reason for the out burst of temper in the Senate over the Box peace award and the summons which has brought the Philadelphia editor rushing down to explain to. the Senate committee. Box. is unlucky in that upon his head will fall a good deal of the indignation which has boiled up over the drive in behalf of the Mellon tax plan.
 While Senators and congressman were still fuming over the hundreds of daily letters coaxing, imploring, or threatening them into supporting the Mellon tax plan, Box launched his referendum on the world court and the modified League of Nations. This was at once regarded by the Senators as another propaganda drive. Tech nically, the investigation of the Box award is supposed to be an unbiased search for the facts, but the powers in the Senate, with cruel cunning, stacked the committee with the most hard boiled" irreconcilables, and there is ev- cry indication that this committee in tends to make an example" of Box that will cause others to pause before they direct a propaganda campaign at Congress.
 Other Lobbyists Apprehensiye
 In fact, the wrathful attitude in the Senate is causing some apprehension among the two hundred organizations which maintain lobbyists here under one guise or another, for the purpose of forcing desired legislation through Congress or of suppressing undesired measures.
 Congress is weary of being be- labored by every cenceivab1e& sort of organizat tion. The art of propagands- lobbyjhg has reached such perfection i. that Awithin 24 hours Congress can be AhlaH&ete with telegrams from every corner of the United States demand ing action on particular measure Practically every industry of any con sequence in the United States has of fices here for the purpose of directing legislation. Farmers, railroads, labor, coal operators, contractors, lumber men, negroes, motorists, prohibitionists, vets, health societies, dealers in prac- tically all commodities such as sugar, textiles, and the like, maintain legis- latiye bureaus here under one name or another.
 They have made lobbying mat ter of efficiency which has, taken all the fun of 1t for the senators and lV1U C
 Lobbying is an old art in Washing ton and there was a time, before NIT. Andrew Volstead became famous, when it was regarded rather pleasantly by its victims. In those days, lobby ing was done around well set-up din- ner tables, with excellent food and choice wines and liquors. But that sort of thing is past.
 Had Bar For Congressman
 Only a year ago a. New York sugar magnate attempted to revive the old time methods by setting up bar in . downtown hotels where members of Congress were invited to come and drink and listen to the sugar mans argument in behalf of claim which he had pending. But drys heard of it and there was so much airing of the incident that few lobbyists care to take the risks which this method in- wolves in these dry days.
 So lobbyists has become a cold, busi- nesslike affair of card indexes, form letters, telegrams, calls from leading citizens, and "picketing' at the Capitol. Agents of various interests dog the footsteps of doubtful sena- aors and congressman until they are pledged, and then watchers" sit in the kalleries to see that the members vote Fright"
 To all of which has rubbed the self respect of the average member until How he has found scapegoat upon iEhich to vent his wrath. So it is that jbenators Moses, Reed of Missouri, Car Iway and the other sharp-tongued members of the Senate investigating Nommittee dive into Edward W. Box &ith unconcealed glee