New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-15
CrutchfieId on tho Lobby,
The Washington, correspondent of

Inc washington, correspondent of h
Chicago Times says:
There is a deal of nonsense at tine
written from Washington aud outside OF i
abont the lobby. Very young writer's al
rlving here either write grimly, ghoul-lik
descriptions of the lobby, or calmly, not t,
say scorniully, deny its existence entirely
according to the papers for which their pre-
clous articles are prepared. How often hai
one read the tales of the painted women o
The lobby who vile unsophis'icated mt IN
bers on co blear-eyed ruin. Indeed, it make,
| ones blood curdle to think of all tn, AZ
Things, but some way or other these tales Sc
Impress the reader rs having that character
| OF practicality, that entities them to be l,e
ieved. Washington is often visited by peo
| pie living in the interior. The first they in
| 4uire after, when the round of public build.
| lngs, sight seeing is done, ia the lobby
They look in vain for the painted women.
The seductive men, and go away conclndipp
| mat their country paper employs tt 'Jn
writer In the position of "Uur o Hn Corr @.
| sp0ndent." Even 50 sharp and all uene.
tratlng man as James Parton came here
some time ago, and after spending three
weeks here went away fully convinced that
the lobby was myth. Upon this subject
1t IS important to have Testimony from a
| witness who has been On the inside of Con.
gtess.
William Crutchfeli is the man. He is a
rough mountalneer frUtn Chattanooga, Ten
hessee, VINO acted as a scout during the
war. He owns small hotel there, and
among the simple minded people of his 10.
caiity he passes for an oracle lie is very
rough man and his elections to Congress
by his admiring fellow.consttuents never
changed his habits one iots. He used to 20
about IN his rough, gray country dress, uu.
kempt and uncombed, with the nonchalance
n nt
member of the House Committee on Pat,
ents. At 'ns time last winter this commit
tee mad before it proposition to extend
the patent on some very popular sewing
machines. 1t was understood that well,
moneyed lobby was back of the scheme.
and as very Large interests were involved
1t was important to know what would be
the decision OF the committee. ! selected
Crutchteld as the most approachable mem.
Der of the committee, and first a, ked him
what ne knew about the lobby back of it,
Lobby said he with queer start,
that IS the spook that is always arter me-
How ia that I"
81 hain't been in Congress only one term,
and don't want to no moce. I'll be dog
goned II can stand it. l am Jest pulled
and bauled until don't know where am.
Yed ought to hev seen. me in NV tavern
last summer telling the boys about the
doins in Congress. Every one said he be-
0oggoneo II he'd thought it was SO bad hut
L mad been thar, and thar was no use in
telling Crutch' he was lyin'. This is nav
last yer in Congress. I'm goin' to get sh,.
OF 1t at once. can't stand it. Young man,
when this Yer Congress Is busted and |
Ken IN honor tell ye all | know. |
will give ye still more than enough IN
MI book of the blamedest, l--dcst stutYye
ever dreamed about. Hm guin, to have NV
experiences published if l hev I, writ 'e,n
out myself. Lobby. did va say backjrr nj
them sewing machines' | should say SO,
LOBBY! IL ye were a member yed find
that out. When l came here | learned
few things. Does memsar love good
teedint then it rains invitations TO tbe
biggest kind of feeds. Does he love
drnkinl Whisky runs in rivers for him
upon every Lanf l. it women he wants 10
persuade him! Then women it is of every
kind, big, little, old, young, and nary one Of
EN- with any morals 10 bother EN-. Last
if all these fail to fetch him. money can he
had IN bales rather than to loose him, am
pore man, but | want to stay an honest
one. hev stood it ont TOO wears in this var
place, and amt goin' to resk myself here
any longer
At the close of the Fortv-third Cong
Mr.. Crutchtield returned to the pure NOM
tain air OF Western Tennessee strongly for
titled in his philosophical conclusion to re.
nonnce the pomps of congressional life. As
he has not been since heard from, it is but
reasonable to conclude that he is preparing
his great work, in which he will show I'm the
lobby at Washington. How much more of
an oracle will "Crutch" now he considered
by his fellow ownsmep, as he recites the
fiery furnace Of temptation through which
he passed unscatbed!
After having produced such powerful tes-
timony in proof of the existence of the
lobby, 1t would be Idle to say moro to CON
vince the uninitiated that there are mower.
full influences always at work in Washing.
ton to sap the purity and honesty of public
officials.