Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-08
LOST BY THE LOBBY.
The Worlds Fair Appropria-
tion Split Because of the
Class of Workers
PAID TO GET THE CASH,
A Fund Thrown Away or Worse on
Very Poor Class of People.
PICNIC FOR 0LD-TIME HANGERS.ON,
Chairman Gates Criticised for Giving Out
His Own opinion
PAID TO GET THE CASH.
PICNIC FOR OLD-TIME HANGERS-ON.
Chairman Gates Criticised for Giving Out
His Own opinion
AS A REPORT ON HOMESTEAD AFFAIRS.
rrRoN A STAFF CORRESPONDENT,

Ill
WASHINGTON, Aug. Now that the
Worlds Fair people have got what they
could get, and have gone home to spend it
very judiciously, no doubt-one may be
permitted, without being liable to the &C.
cusation of trying to give the money prof.
ect black eye, to wonder why tine mana
gers adopted the tactics they did adopt in
their efforts to get an appropriation.
While members of Congress, newspapers
and newspaper writers, who, for reasons
known to themselves, opposed the appro-
priation, greatly exaggerated the facts in
regard to the employment of lobbyists and
the expenditure Of money for lobbying, it
is yet fact that a considerable sum was
spent, not only for nice little entertain
ments, but for the services of professional
lobbyists
1t has been stated that about SO, 600 was
subscribed by citizens of Chicago to defray
the expenses of the Fair MANAGERS and
others who came on from Chicago to engage
in the struggle with Congress This sum
went but small distance toward defraying
the actual cost of the undertaking.
Palmer and Cavis Not to Blame.
Ofcourse President Palmer and Director
General Davis cannot be blamed for trying
to make things agreeable for Congressman
while explaining to them the pecuniary
necessities of the Fair. 1t is possible they
expended in this way verv little, if
any, of the amount subscribed. Ex-
Senator Palmer is several times
a millionaire, likes in good company, and
is always willing to spend literally of his
own means. Director General Davis, as it
has been frequently stated, spends much
more than his salary in his efforts to be per-
sonallv as well as officially agreeable to
persons deserving of polite attention and
whose word OF commendation for the great
project is OF value.
These gentlemen can hardly have been
associated with those who connivel the
methods that we're finally adopted when it
was discovered that long, bitter and pos
sibly a winning fight would be made
against the Fir appropriation In the House.
Who it was who employed the persons who
haunted the corridors of the Capitol con-
stantly in the interests of the Fair is not
definitely known At least, his or their
identity is too vague to admit of his or
their being named.
A Cheap Class of Lobbyists Emp.oyad.
Certainly, neither Mr.. Davis nor Mr..
Palmer could have been guilty of employ
ing the lot of petty professional lobbyists,
some Of them willing to work for less than
layers wages, who made
,nseI,us -hRHsf conspicuous in the
ork of influencing members The
mystery of the whole matter
IS that not more than one or two of the per-
sons so employed could influence anybody,
or, at most, not more than one or two MEM
bers each, and those members quite as
likely to be ior the Fair against it with
out being Influenced at all.
Judging from the character of the per-
sons employed, with the exception of one
or two already referred to, the distribution
of funds must have been placed in the
hands of some one who deliberately started
out to give stake" to lot of cheap and
hungry and worthless agents, known as
hangers-on at the capital for years. making
their living bv what they can pick up by
exalting their influence to some tender
fool who has claim or other bill before
Congress, and striking members for loans or
blackmail when they fail to find employ
ment at Legitimate" lobbying. Several of
the males whose services were purchased for
little or much would not be recognized or
tolerated in any way by old members of
Congress who know them. Their only hope
would be upon newcomers, of which the
House is full at this term.
A Sample of the Class Engaged.
One of the women who spent several
weeks working faithfully in the interests of
the fair, as she is said to assert, is an old
time lobbyist who did a thriving business
years ago, when claims of Southern ''Union-
lists" for cotton or other property DESTROYED
during the war were plenty and popu-
lar She is woman with an eventfuI
history of this sort, and has not only in
fuenced legislation in Congress- but has
also been known TO walk boldly into the
rooms of cabinet officers and comptrollers
and influence decisions upon which de-
pended the payment of enormous sums
Grown passe, she resorted to blackmail,
and became SO notorious and
offensive that at one time Congressman
Stunned her as they would contagion.
She has remained in obscurity for year or
SO, but suddenly a few weeks ago appeared
at the old stand, in the old business, and,
whether she told the truth or not, asserted
that she was employed by the Worlds
Fair agents.
L am thoroughly convinced that these
methods and these people defeated the ap-
preparation sought in the sundry civil bill,
no matter who devised them and carried
them out. They were unusual and un-
digni6ed, and something more. Had CON-
mIttee of Chicago citizens representing
business snterests and social standing, come
on with Mr.. Palmer and Mr.. Davis, and
represented what everybody knows is true,
that the Fair project has far outgrown the
original conception, largely by the act
and requirements of the Government,
and that the cost of preparation has
been, therefore, enormously increased, I
have no doubt the appropriation of S5,OOO,-
600 would have been easily secured. As it
was, the persons who were employed in the
lobby were such as would condemn any
measure advocated by them.