Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-26
SUGAR FIGHT SEEN
ASLESSON TO MANY
Hoover's Defenders Warn
Rich Employers Lobbyists
Not Worth Pay.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

High officials of the United States, a;
both ends of Pennsylvania avenue, hail
the Shattuck-Cuban sugar affair as a
blessing in disguise. They hope and be-
lieve 1t will go far toward curing big
business" of the belief that high-powered
'go-getterS," with pretended pulls,
can work miracles in Washington.
Fat fees and retainerS paid to such
men are described by important mern-
bers of Congress and of the executive
branch of the Government as money
almost wholly squandered. Cases like
the Shearer and Shattuck episodes are
warnings, or should be. Federal officials
say, that even men of the acknowledged
skill OF the Navy and sugar lobbyists
are supersalesmen, usually of nothing
but their own services to rich en-
ployers. They rarely "sell" their special
pleadingS on Capitol Hill or in the Gov
eminent departments downtown.
One of the most distinguished Re-
publicans in the country, occupying a
position which is constant target for
would-be establishers of contacts" has
Just opened his heart to this writer in
these terms:
I'm the first place, If Shattuck's de-
sire for low sugar tariffs is realized, it
will be mainly Democratic votes that
accomplish his purpose, despite his al
legged drag with the White House. Now,
as to the broad aspects Of the Shattuck
affair.
Nearly every man in public life has
innumerable personal friendships and
acQuaintanceships which have, or think
they have, the right to ask important
favorS now and then. No one denies
that right. It is inSeparable from our
system of government. But it is an en-
tirely different thing when man enters
into a cold-blooded business deal with
business interests to capitalize, for his
own profit, a Washington friendship or
mountaineering. We have come,
especially here in Congress, to recognize
that kind of contact man on sight.
He is on an entirely different footing
from a comrade or a constituent in
quest of job for himself, or friend,
or relative, or in search of some other
Government favor for which he has q
legitimate right to ask.
Believe me when tell you that the
professional highly-paid attorney or
lobbyist seldom gets anywhere nowadays
in washington. He cannot deliver the
goods. We may listen to him with more
or less patience. But the number of oc.
casions on which he does his stuff to
any real advantage for his plutocratic
clients Is extremely rare. Nine times
out of ten, his expense accounts ought
to be disallowed. He is getting money
under false pretenSes."
Another aspect of the Shattuck-
Hoover sugar lobby controversy is pre-
sented in Republican quarters. These
recall case in the Democrats own
camp, which is depicted as not without
certain analogy to the colors in which
the opposition is painting the Presi-
dents alleged connection with Shat
tuck. In the 1924 presidential cam
paign, certain Democratic leaders want
ed John w. Davis. their nominee, to
attack Calvin Coolidge hip and thigh
as the second in command of the "Tea-
pot Dome administration" The oil
scandals were looked upon as the big
geSt shot in the Democratic locker
Coolidge, as the Republican presidential
candidate, was thought to be vulnerable
because he was Vice President and sit
ting in the cabinet when the oil deals
were made. But Davis, it was always
understood, Stubbornly refused to as
sail his opponent on those grounds His
position was that Coolidge personally
had nothing to do with the oil mess
What some of the Presidents defend
ers are now saying is that Herbert Hoo
yer has bad actually just as little to
do with Shattuck's sugar tariff maneu-
| vers as Coolidge had to do with Teapot
Dome, and that Hoover should be left
| out of the Shattuck business Just as
John Davis insisted on leaving Coolidge
out Of the old business.
Copyright, 1929