St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-17
THE GLOBE SECONDS THE
MOTION.


"The crime is one that should not be
condoned. 1t is high time that some
thing was done to put an end to the boo
die business in this state. And 1t is
good time to begin right now" is the
comment of the Pioneer Press. The
GLOBE is always glad when it can be in
accord with its distinguished c0ntem-
porary, as it sincerely is in this matter.
1t is matter Of concern as much to the
Democratic as to the Republican party
that any number OF Republican legisla-
tors have given SO much cause OF SuS'
picion Of corruption that only the Shad-
owing of detectives and the threat of an
inquisition by the grand jury has driven
them into a temporary condition of
honesty. 1t concerns the Democratic
party because il concerns the integrity
of legislation. 1t concerns our party
because it Will be some day IN position
where the power it will WELD will bring
with it the same temptation and the
same scandal III which the Republicans
are involved. 1t will gladly join in any
effort its contemporary will put forth
to put an end 10 this Doodle business.
Further than that, speaking for the
Democratic members of both houses,
it pledges their aid in the matter.
But it will not be sufficient to stop
with Doodling in senatorial election.
1t must be followed into all the other
cases where a corrupt lobby assai's the
honesty of legislators. 1t is notorious
that the game or Doodle has been
brought to the eXactneSs of an applied
science. On the one hand are the pro-
fessional lobbyists who camp down with
the opening of the session, or before it,
and begin to look for special interests
needing legislation which have money
enough behind them. 1t is notorious
that the railroads have a lobby and
corruption fund with which to resist
legislation which may decrease profits
OF lessen power. Rival baking powder
companies have sought aid Of the state
to crush out advarSarieS. and have had
their lawyers dispensing Doodle in the
Hobbies SO openly that it was known of
all members. Any movement to end
the corruption must include all these
chosen with clean ballots.
On the other hand are the members of
the legislature who come here to be
corrupted. They are never large body,
but they are always dangerous set,
and they have learned their business,
too. They get on important committees;
at the head OF them if possible. They
HnTn0r1fI0nG
They make their demands on them
boldly. If unheeded they introduce
bills having no other purpose than to
alarm and compel the threatened inter
ests to see" them. They urge some
honest crank to introduce drastic bills,
and give them their support until they
are seen"
What is the remedy? Laws? We
have them in useless plenty. Pub
LEFTY? They hide from its sunlight.
Exposure? The men who have been
approached" at this session refuse to
complain, because they do not like TO
have their names associated with such
matters. Women hide insults in silence
because they will not admit that they
could have been so misjudged. Is So
ciety then remediless? Unorganized
bodies of men have not failed OF means
| to rid themselves of obnoxious men.
| The vigilance committees of the West
| did what organized society finds itself
| helpless to do. In self-defense let all
| good citizens who abor boodling, all
| interests usually the victims of these
| bloodsuckers, unite in forming vigil
lance committee to put an end to the
| Doodle business in this state. The
| GIoBE seconds the motion.