Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-05-26
QUE BOSTON LETTER.
LEGISLATURES AND LOBBYIsTs-STATE
PoLITICs-TuE NEXT GOVERNOR.
Boston. May u. 1877.

Sh1 A'1 AS''
The Legislature is about ready TO
adjourn. Its session has been q long
and drcary one, and the results ought
to have been accomplished in three
months, instead Of requiring four and
a half. There was no end to the talk
Of some Of the members. It's aston
ishing how easy Il man can talk his
own influence to death, and at the
same time believe he is making
glorious reputation. was sitting on
the floor Of the House the other day,
when the question Of making some
amendments to certain bill came up.
A member sitting near me said N his
next neighbor, Lets see: those arc
Mr.. lis amendments, amt thry?"
eyes" replied his neigebor.
"Thcn we'll vote EN- down, | guess"
Il had talked him into deadly
enmity.
The ways Of the lobby are dark.
The most successful lobby ist at the
J. tate House, few years ago, has not
been active this year. He was en-.
ployed by one of the leading Massa-
chusetts railroads. No one ever saw
him about the State Ho&se much. lie
had fine residence On Charles street,
and his almost unvarying plan was to
pick out a few prominent men, from
the country districts, and invite them
to dine with him. In selecting them
he didn't always choose the debaters,
but generally the men who best under
stand the art Of button holing and
conversation. Personally, our lobby
list is one Of the most genial Of gen
tlcmen, and the most hospitablc of
hosts. The dinner served, conyersa-
ton was allowed to range over all
topics except the one in which he was
most interested, which was never dis
cusscd, if it could be avoided. The
guests always went away with the
opinion that AR. B. was the most
courteous gentleman they ever saw.
n few weeks later he might be seen
arguing case before committee on
which some of his former guests were
members, and later on, in quiet chat
with Others, all of whom were open
to the suggestions of their amiablc
host. Thus he reached their votes
through their stomachs.
For another type was the lobbyist
who came up from Marblchead, the
other day, to head off bill which
seemed likely to pass. He wasn't 6
professional, by the way, but under
stood the tricks Of the trade. Waiting
!, around the State House, about til,
hour Of assembling, he accidentally
~ met an Essex county membe
whom he knew. A pleasant Chat ell
sued, in the course Of which the ESsc,
3, member was asked if lie had ever beef
to Chestnut Hill to see tho reservoir
lie replied that he had hot, an,
I didn't know he could get there durn!
t:se session.
"oll, that's easily fxcd," said MI
: Marblehcad, live got 8 good team
aild ! ana at leisure tomorrow, | vii
come around and carry you out"
Tomorrow came, and Mr.. Marble
. head was on hand, Int tie debate wa
II prolonged, and Tie time for taking
n vote had not arrived. lie therefor
n apologized for net being able to tax
d the drive, aHl promised to come wit
It his team next day.
s The next day came, but the dcbat
e still continued. and Mr.. Marblchea
s made the same apology, the sccon
70 time.
l. But the dodge was, in the langua2
c of the boys, "too thin" and the Esse
s. member opened upon his friend aft,
the following fashion:
v $50 you thought | was fiat, ii
} you?-thought didn't see your lit
e. game. You kne'o you couldn't b,
g my vote, and you didn't dare to tr
20 but you imagined that Gjla't kno
IL my business any better thsn to go {
in to Chestnut Hill when the vote was