Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-16
now THE 1905 WAS PASSED.
A Bold Picture by u State Credit
Paper.
Nashville World, III

5 8
There was a gathering of the clans.
Heads we're put together, and mystic
rious w~hisperings we're seen about the
corridors of the Capitol and the Max
well House. Many men came and
took part in the consultation, that
we're honest and sincere in their desire
to settle it, and a belief that the prop
osition under consideration would set
tie it. Other leaders came,
and the first thing they did was to run
their hands in their pockets and be-
gin to invest in bonds of the State.
Here and there were men whose in
huence was wanted, but who were not
able to buy bonds. In order to get
them interested they were offered
bonds at actual cost and told that if
the law was passed they might have
the advance price of the bonds. Of
course they bit at this tempting hait,
and went to work in faveF Of tho 100. 3.
Rings and cliques were formed and
speculation ran high. Lobbyists were
seen here, there and everywhere with
their pockets full Of bonds. They
we're good aud we'll balanced subjects
to buttonhole a member of the Legis-
lature and advise him how to
save the State and her esoutch.
con untarnished. Members of the
Legislature We're pulled and hauled
about at the command Of the lobby
ist's ring. Whisky was freely used,
ana poisonous and deadly drugs re-
sorted to. The influence Of vile, bad
women was called in to save the honor
Of the State, and last,though not least,
the lobbyist became desperate, and it
was resolved to use money. And no
man in the State doubts that it was
used freely. Men came to the legisla
ture poor and went away and were
shortly found to be in fine circum-
stances. How did it come about
Certainly not on four dollars per day
and mileage. At last the matter came
to a test vote in the Senate, having
already passed the House. II failed
by one vote. The ring men, The lob.
byis's and leaders we're blue. Mer
who were honest and knew nothing O.
the corrupt motives of the ringsters
truly regretted the failure Of the bill,
to pass the Senate. There was hurry
ing to and fro among the lobbyists and
spectators. All was, confusion, the
point was nearly accomplished and yet
not quite. In the mean time, the reaI
men in New York who were most in.
terested in the State bonds we're in.
quiring over the wires, will it do any
good to submit a proposition of g.
cents. No, said the lobbyist and
spectators; we have started out
to do this work, and we in.
tend to accomplish it. Well, they
did accomplish it, and it wai
among such scenes as these which
We have pictured that the 1908 wai
born. Around and about the Legis,
l%ature, where this Republican child
was born, were spectators loaded
down to the guards. They were cor.
rupt rings made up to buy member;
Of the Legislature. Legislators VIC.
lated their pledges to the people
Legislators sold their own honor anC
disgraced themselves and their State
Lobbyists pulled and handled then
about at their bidding. Drunkenness,
stalked abroad and entered the legis
latiye halls. Bad, whisky, bad medi
cine and bad women as well as baC
men were used to work this measure
through. This is the Republican
child, born on the Republican part,
and begotten by a corrupt lobby. Thi
is the child which Democrats ar,
asked to adopt. 1t Is a bastard child
certainly born out of wedlock, unles
the Republican party is welded to
corrupt lobby. The Democratic par
ty viii not aid in raising this infant
The party is too poor, and besides i
has a record and a reputation a
stake. 1t will have none of thi
measure because it cannot afford il
We have painted thus briefly tn
scenes enacted at the time when thi
measure became a law. We will pos
sibly have occasion to look furthe
into the matter.