Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-16
Lobby Queens.

A veteran member of Congress, a
man who has been in public life for
twenty years. was asked by cores
pondent of the Chicago Tribune if he
thought that there We're female infiu-
ences in the lobby powerful enough to
seriously affect legislation. Indirect
", yes," said he Il know that the
Southern men are very susceptible to in
tluence of the fair sex. am South
ern man myself | remember during
the War when we wanted to obtain con-
traband information from the Yankee
officers we used to bait our hooks with
cotton. We could find out all we want
ed with small permit to run cotton
through the lines. Whenever the Yam
KEGS wanted to get any contraband in
formation from us they would bait their
hook with a pretty woman. That was
an equally sure means, for there was
not Southern soldier who would not
risk his neck dozen times to chase af-
ter a pretty woman.
Now, | will tell you." said he,
slightly shifting the subject. chow wo-
men affect legislation sometimes by re-
lating the experience of a hard-headed
Congressional friend of mine. He was
very much opposed to a certain meas
ure in which the lobby was interested.
There was not money enough in the
country to have purchased his support
of the bill. The lobby went at him in
rather ingenious way. They caused
him to be introduced to very hand
some and interesting married lady, the
wife of a retired army officer, who hap
pened to be interested in the bill. This
lady began mild Irritation with my
Congressional friend AID soon had him
completely captivated. Whenever she
was in the gallery of the House he
would fly up as fast as he could to visit
with her.
There was nothing in all this but the
most innocent of flirtations. Twill not,
however, swear that my friends inten-
tions were of the most honorable char
acter. At any rate he steered himself
for several days in the warmth of the
luxurious idea that this lady was slowly
but surely succumbing to a fatal pas
sion for him. One morning, the very
day the bill my friend was opposed to
was to come up, he received anote from
this lady asking him to call at herho
at o'clock that afternoon. This was
the same hour set for the consideration
of the bill The member, however. did
not remember this. He was so delight
ed with the note that heforgot all about
the bill. He fastened to the lady's
house, which was in the extreme north
western part OF the city. When he ar
rived there. full of hope and expecta-
ton. he found this lady with one or two
interesting young nieees with her. whom
she presented to him. She said that she
had taken the liberty of sending for
him without explanation because she
desired him to take lunch with her
nieceS. They We're to be in w Washington
only day and We're very anxious to see
SO prominent man.
1.-The Congressman was then led out
to handsome lunch-table and kept oc-
cupied for an hour or so more in the
politest fashion. When he returned to
the House he found that the bill to
which he was so savagely opposed had
already passed. Then he understood
the matter He never called upon this
lady again. She always bows to him
very good -naturedly whenever she pass
es him by" The member added,
That is the only way l know of that
women affect legislation. They have a
perfect genius for conspiracies of that
sort; to draw away members from their
posts at time when their presence in
the House might be fatal to measure.