The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-08-18
THE AMERICAN LOBBYIST.

NAN. HIS TRADE AND MS NltIONlfH.
Among all the Aourishiug tades Of
modern times, says the New York Times,
there is none equal to lobbying The
persons who follow it claim for it consid-
cradle antiquity, aud they are always
endeavorng to impress upon the public
mind that the business OF politics never
was carried on without the aid of lobby.
lists, and never can be Nevertheless, it
may be doubted whether lobbying was a
very attractive or profitable pursuit until
the appearance in the field Of man still
living, who practices the occupation with
great shrewdness ard tact, and who un.
doubtedly possessed keen insight into
the characters OF men, and varied
knowledge of public affairs. lie was
founder OF the school-but the pupils have
never attained to the standard Of the mas.
ter. They are generally coarse and ig.
norant men. who have never had day 5
education in their lives, and who carry
about them no inconvenicnt scruples to
interfere with their progress.
There are lobbyists, as we have said.
who are never guilty Of double. dealing 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 intlu-
ence, and certainly is not able to "pant'
all his relations and dependents comicrta.
bly, in public Offices.
The truly flourishing lobbyist plays his
cards in very different way. His plan
Of operation is generally something like
this lie manages to obtain control, by
fair means or ioul-usually by foul-of
a newspaper, This is his first step.
Country members Of the Legislature are
apt to attach much importance to seeing
,heir names in a ncyspaper---t does not
matter what sort Of newspaper it is.
Upon this weakness the rising lobbyis.
takes care to play, with what judgment
and skill he may posscss. lie praises his
patrons, and abuses all who refuse to
intrust to him their business lie
Cnroos lottors ;nvonts sl,nd.rs md "a
noriicpl,r,v cxner, in ,ccus;no b;s enamv
ar ha,n', ;,r,IioI !, son,a 5;,rnn,,oLIo
;ntr;,uoo With won,an Tho Iphhr;a,
wbo owns ,nw.noner lrows tb;s = :,
.or, Of chor,o ,,h;ch sc.roo nina man m,
ar o,,, e .ta;n n,;,s e.. ,houa :, o,
orollv M wav IF J;snror;na !, md Tho
worI1 i .l,rors ,ooJv r. hoI;ero ,ho NOS,
oC , man Tbot i chor.c,o,;.,;, of
bum.n n.,uro ,h;ch n. Iahhr;st turns ~
ovooIlon, aooorn, 80 rau ;.,o.
os,s ara oanoo,ma1 " " ' y '''>
I, i oloar ,hon ,ho, or ho
co,noa ~ ;mnor,an, a;d - ,ha ldhhu;st y,
,L,~ go. II ,,;- -. 49,, A.. 49,.
i,o ,on nn,a;,, aan,noi ~ :, ,ha g,
vontano !, w;r ha ~ him Tho ma;or;tn .
or ,oa H. w., ,;,,o ~ Lan, ,;aa .nLi;,LsJ
.L,n, ,Lnn' -. ~o., ,La;, can,;lio, sa1o
thc snh;ec, or v;,s .r1 cov.rdlv sl,nJars
Thc lobby;s, Lnows ,b;s onJ seldom fa;is
70 ,},;yo liz ,n,aaon;a, on, - ,ha sa,a
/ w. h,vo na I;hof lam, ,on,, .non,;on;n.
.nJ ,ha ,rtI,;, ~i, a., ,'e, Nr u':'
co,v,n;snt ,.;r,nu.,.no.
49,. ,"u,,s w. ",. '''''"".. ..... -. .-.. MS
chlldren,anI then oil carrying on ntrigues
with somebody cse's wiic--ih short there
is no crime which he is not ready to
charge against nybody who presumes to
Interfere with his operations The per.
sons who are slandered nj ght enter suits
for libel, but they cannot bring their cas-
ol to u lina hearing in less than five or
six years at the very earliest. In the
meanwhile, the lobbyist can 20 on re-
pcating filthy calumnies as fast as he can
invent them. The result, in the majority
of instances, il that the victims "knuckle
down" 1t begins to be said by the per-
sons who are attacked, "So.and.so is u
dangerous man. he does not care what be
says about you. 1t is best to leave him
alone" Aud so he is left alone, and goes
on rolling up fortune which honest and
hard. working professional men seldom
have u chance Of acquiring. One Of the
Albany lobbyists is said to be worth
Si00 900 another has made at least
$500, 900 in the course of few years,
and there is nothing to prevent him loub-
ling it
The lobbyists regular source of income
is, Of course, derived from his supposed
Knowledge of the art of putting out mon.
ey where it will do the most good" lie
knows Sho viii tase bribc, aud how
much the amount must be Ifa compa.
ny wishc, TO gc, bill passed. or TO pre-.
vent some objectionable bill fro passing,
it sunimon, the lobbyist to its assistance.
But. outside OF this kind OF work, there
are numerous devices for reaping large
income. When trade is slack, the lob.
byi,t, get together and coneoct bill
aiming at the rights or privileges enioycd
hy some company already in existence.
Tney pay member of the Legislature to
Introduce this bill. and then 90 up to the
threatened compauy and tell il the meas.
urc is sure to pas ii money is not sent to
Albany to deicat il. They name their
own SUN; i, is generally paid ; they di.
vide it and the dreaded bin is no more