The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-12-23
LOBBY CHARGES
STIR BAT TIE
ON HOOVER

Official agencies Of the Republi.
can and Democratic parties were
!, engaged in a row today over
President Hoover's alleged connec-
ton with the Cuban sugar tariff
lobby. The White House re.
manned silent.
With the Democrats plainly In.
dicating an intention to make a
campaign issue of the testimony
before the Caraway lobby commit.
tee, however, it was reported that
statement from Hoover may be
forthcoming when the lobby In.
quiry is over.
Representative John N. Garner
of Texas, Democratic leader In
the House, is leading the minority
party assault. In second state.
ment issued through the Demo.
cratic national committee he
pressed the demand today that
Hoover affirm or deny testimony
given by H. c. Lakin, president
of the Cuba company before the
lobby committee.
Wood DenOunces Action
At the same time Representa-.
tive Will r. Wood (R0 of In.
diana, chairman Of the Repuo.
lican congressional campaign com.
mittee denounced Gamers action,
and declared that he had based
his statements upon misrepresen.
tation Of the actual testimony.
Further, Wood declared. the
President should be expected to
discuss tariff and other public
questions with representatives OF
responsible organizations. He
talked with spokesman for the
sugar beet industry, fighting for
high tariff, just as he is charged
with talking to interests opposing
1t, Wood said.
Gamers demand for an expIa.
nation is based chiefly upon cor.
respondence produced before the
Caraway committee in which
Lakin said that Edwin p. Shat
tuck. New York attorney and
personal friend Of Hoover, talked
with him about the sugar tariff
for Cuban interests. Shattuck
has denied this, saying that he
did discuss the sugar tariff and
proposed sliding scale with
Walter Newton, one Of the Presi-
dents secretaries.
Garner said: There have been
denials Of these statements (testi-
mony alleged to involve the Presi.
dent in the sugar lobby. The
inference has been that they in.
dictate q conspiracy to convey to
the President Of Cuba that the
sugar lobbyists had the direct in.
fluence Of the President Of the
United States at their command
and that he was actively put.
ting the machinery Of the White
House at their disposal.
The inference is necessary for
nobody, regardless Of political at
filiationS, would wish to think the
President of this country capable
of being used for such a purpose
as MeSsrs. Lakin and Shattuck
are engaged in. However, falling
any authoritative reputation of
the sugar crowds claim of in
fluence. unfortunately many
people may not take the chart
table view Of the episode"
And Wood replied:
The whole statement (of Gar.
ner) in the first place is predi.
Gated upon hearSay evidence,
twice removed, and authorita-
lively denied by one Of the al,
legged participants in one of the
alleged conversations, that the
President discussed the subject Of
the Cuban sugar tariff with o
caller. This alleged action Of the
President is characterized by the
Democratic National COMMITTEES
over Representative Gamers
name, as 'conniving with the
Cuban sugar lobby to affect
tariff legislation This is going
far afieId to find subject matter
for political attack upon the
Nations Chief Executive"