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Show SUGAR MEN REMORSEFUL Washington, Juno 12. Investigation late yesterday of the "sugar lobby" by the senate lobby committee was turned into a controversy over whether wheth-er President WllBon had given the ! sugar producers reason to believe I they would have "nothing to fear" from free sugar under his administration. adminis-tration. Out of the day's testimony, in which Louisiana and Hawaiian vlt-nessea vlt-nessea repeatedly declared they had not received fair treatment from the president had been misled by others ab to his purpose, the committee succeeded suc-ceeded In drawing what arc believed to be some of the most important facta thus far developed. Some of the sugar men frankly admitted ad-mitted they constituted a "lobby," although they objected to t he charge that any of their actions had been Insidious In-sidious or in any way Illegitimate or underhanded. They admitted that comprchon6lvo campaigns had been organized and carried out to create backfires on senator and representatives representa-tives from tholr own states In th hope of winning their Bupport to the anti-free sugar side. "Tho prosperity of Louisiana was it at stake," said Jules Godchaux, n It sugar planter. "Wo tried to get' the people we did business with to write senators and representatives, tellitiK a them that free sugar would destroy ;e the buslnosb of the state. We asked iv them to write and wire to Washing -e ton und to ask merchants they did business with, throughout tho United States to do the same. We tried to establish an endless chain of letters and telegrams to draw tho attention of congress to our arguments " Charges Misstatements. John P. Hamburg of New York, manager for u largs Hawaiian eugur firm, admitted that hla tlrm had urged all of their 1500 or more customers cus-tomers to write to senators and rep- j rcsentatives pointing out that dostruc-tlon dostruc-tlon of business would follow free sugar. "We had to do that to overcome some of the effects of misstatements! that had been made in the free su- j par campaign," he said. , "Plainly resentful of the presidents! recent statements as to the operation of an "insidious lobby" in Washington, Washing-ton, the Louisiana and Hawaiian sugar' su-gar' men enlivened the hearings with frequent attempts to tell of the pledges they believed had been received re-ceived that sugar would not be made entirely free." Jules Godchaux and E. P. Dickinson Dickin-son the two Louisiana witnesses, declared de-clared 4hey had tried In vain to see the president and had hcen informed that he had all tho information ho wanted on the sugar tariff Mr Dickinson declared the president presi-dent never had talked with any "practical "prac-tical sugar men" about the Louisiana situation and that he had secured most of his Information trom National Na-tional Committeeman Robert Ewing, a newspaper man; Sol Wexh-r. a banker; Representative Broussard and Senators Ransdell and Thornton, Assurances in Advance. "I have never seen Mr. Wilson of the sugar question." interrupted Senator Sen-ator Thornton, who was sitting in the committee room. Charges of the sugar men thai thej had been given assurances of the president's sympathy on the sugar question were based on statements state-ments Representatives Broussard was said to have made to the witnesses after a visit to President-elect Wilson Wil-son at Sea Girt , "I was assured by Mr. Broussard. said Harry Irwin, representing the Hilo Hawaii, board of trade, "that a plan indorsing a tariff reduction such as would not destroy any legitimate industry was prepared In Mr Wilson s presence and sanctioned by Mr. Wilson Wil-son with direct reference to the sugar su-gar situation." The fact that the Baltimore convention con-vention did not indorse free sugar and other circumstances of the campaign, cam-paign, the witnesses said, had led them to work for the Democrats ; ticket and support Mr. Wilson in the belief they would "havo nothing to, ear" from an movement for free sugar. After thoy got to Washington. Mr Godchaux said, the sugar planters made vain efforts to seo the president presi-dent and talk with him. We went to the White House and saw Secretary Tumulty." he added. "He told us that he had particular instructions that the president did no' want any appointments made with anvone from Louisiana to talk about sugar, that he had all the information he w.-inied on thai subject " .Mr Dickinson was particularly emphatic em-phatic in his statements that he was not an "insidious lobbyist," declaring that he had looked the term up and found it meant "deceitful, lying and treacherous." "Do ou know of any misleading statements that have been circulated"" circulat-ed"" asked Senator Overman. Why, yes, some of these bulletins and statements put out by the free sugar advocates are not truthful, ' ho answered. "Well, you admit there is insidious insidi-ous lobbying then,'' retorted Senator Orerman. "Please remember that the president hasn't charged you or your association with being 'insidious.' 'insidi-ous.' " . Mr Dickinson declared Mr Lwing and others who had talked with the president before he made up his mind as to the sugar tariff, could not havo explained the situation "as a practical planter could " Why did Mr Ewing come here, asked Chairman Overman. "I think he felt it was his duty." replied Mr. Dickinson "He raised 6ome $20,000 In Louisiana to elecet President Wilson, and I think he felt remorseful." Tho committee had not finished with the anti-free sugar witnesses when it adjourned tonight. After se -eral more have been heard the committee com-mittee will begin the examination of those who havo conducted the free sugar publicity campaign. nrv |