The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-08-06
THE AMERICAN LOBBYIST.
An Interesting Personal Sketch of the
Man, his Trade, and his Victories,

Man, his Trade, and his Victories,
Among all the hourishing trades o.
modern times, says the New Yorl
Times, there is none equalt to lobbying
The persons who follow it claim for i
considerable antiquity, and they are al
ways endeavoring to impress upon the
public mind that the business of poll
tics never was carried on without the
aid OF lobbyists, and never can be.
Nevertheless, it may be doubted
whether lobbying was very attractive
or profitable pursuit until the appear
ance in the field of man still living
who practices the occupation with
great shrewdness and tact, and who un.
doubtedly possessed keen insight in.
to the characters of men, and varied
knowledge of public affairs. He was
founder of the school-but the pupils
have never attained to the standard oil
the master. They are generally coarse
and ignorant men, who have never had
days education in theirlives, and who
carry about them no inconvenient
scruples to interfere with their pro.
gress.
There are lobbyists, as we have said,
who are never guilty of double-dealinp
or cheating. But we have never heard
of them making fortunes. One does
not see them driving fast trotters. The
square " sort of lobbyist has little
political influence, and certainly is not
able to "plant" all his relations and
dependents comfortably in public
offices.
The truly fourishing lobbyist plays
his cards in a very different way. His
plan of operations is generally some
thing like this He manages to obtain
control, by fair means or foul-usually
by foul-of newspaper. This is his
| first step. Country members of the
portance to seeing their names in u
newspaper-it does not much matter
what sort of II newspaper it is. Upon
this weakness the rising lobbyist takes
care to play, with what Judgment and
skill he may possess. He praises his
patrons, and abuses all who refuse to
intrust to him their "business." He
forges letters, invents ISLANDERS, and is
particularly expert in Accusing his
enemy of being involved in some dis
reputable intrigue with a woman. The
lobbyist who owns newspaper knows
this is a sort of charge which scares
nine men out of ten out of their wits
for there is generally no way of dis
proving it, and the world is always
ready to believe the worst of man.
That is characteristic of human nature
which the lobbyist turns to excellent
account, so far as his own interests are
concerned.
1t is clear, then, that newspaper be-
comes an important aid to the lobbyist
at the outset of his career, and the
longer he can retain control of it the
more advantage it will be to him. The
maj ority of men do not like to have lies
published about them, or to see their
families made the subjects of vile and
cowardly ISLANDERS. The lobbyist knows
this, and seldom fails to drive his an
tagonist out of the field. We have no
libel law worth mentioning, and the
lobbyist makes the most of this con-
venient circumstance.
He accuses one man of starving his
children, and then of carrying on in
trigues with somebody else's wife-in
short, there is no crime which he is not
ready to charge against anybody who
presumes to interfere with his opera
tions. The persons who are slandered
might enter suits for libel, but they
cannot bring their cases to final hear
ing in less than five or six years at the
very earliest. In the meanwhile, the
lobbyist can go on repeating filthy
calumnies as fast as he can invent
them. The result, in the majority of
instances, is that the victims "knuckle
down." 1t begins to be said by the
persons who are attacked, So-and.so
is dangerous man, he does not care
what he says about you. 1t is best to
leave him alone" And SO he is left
alone, and goes on rolling up fortune
which honest and hard-working pro-
fessional men seldom have a chance of
acquiring. One of the Albany lobby
lists is said to be worth $400, 600 an
other has made at least $30O,0OO in the
course Of few years, and there is
nothing to preqent him doubling it.
The lobbyists regular source of in
come is, of course, derived from his
supposed knowledge of the art of put
ting out money "where it will do the
most good" He knows who will take
bribe, and how much the amount
must be. If company wishes to get
a bill passed, or to prevent some objec.
tionable bill from passing, it summons
the lobbyist to its assistance. But,
outside of this kind of work, there are
numerous devices for reaping a large
income. When trade is slack, the lob
byists get together and concoct bill
aiming at the rights or privileges en-
joyed by some company already in ex
istence. They pay O member of the
Legislature to introduce this bill, an6
then go up to the threatened company
and tell it the measure is sure to pass
if money is not sent to Albany to de
feat it. They name their own sum il
is generally paid; they divide it ant
the dreaded bill is no more heard of
Then the lobbyist has another plan O.
making hay while the sun shines. 4
company, let us say, applies to him tt
get bill passed. He tells the agents
he shall want at least $4,000. The
money is paid, and he goes to Alban.
with it, and pays out say $4,000 among
the bribable members. The remaining
$4,000 he quietly puts into his owl
pocket.
If the bill passes, the company ar
satisfied, and never ask question
about the affair. If it does not pass
they may ask questions, but they viii
get no information out of the lobbyist
"Where did you put out the money :?
he may be asked. His reply, expressed
in warm terms of indignation, is usual.
in this vein: "Do you think I vii
tell you the names of the member