Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-12
WOMEN LOBBYISTS.
They Lro Still Said 10 Flourish at the
National Capital.
THEIR METHODS PURELY SOCIAL.
Famous Lobbyists Of the Past and Their
Wonderful work-A Rich Field for
Feminine schemers
fcorrespondence Of the Dispatch.)

the innocent openness OF her movements
gives to what she accomplishes or at
tempts a peculiar fascination.
She moves in various ways her pur-
poses to perform. Sometimes she WINS
by her beauty the attention or the repre-
sentative whom she wishes 10 Influence,
and transforms his reason into her way
OF thinking by a logic that Is fair ana
proper Sometimes she enters the COM
mittee- rooms, and, disdainins personal IN
fuence. appears as a legal advocate To
instruct and TO convince. Again. in the
privacy OF the home circle. where the test
OF wits Is so subtle that 1t results In
natural agreement and does not appear q
test at all she weaves an invisible web
in which the unsuspecting legislator re-
toices in being ensnared. Oftentimes,
when a members vote cannot be secured
for particular measure. the woman lob
bylst will secure an interview before the
vote is cast and keep him merrily chat
ting in the restaurant below over glass
OF lemonade or Manhattan cocktail
while on the floor above the measure Is
voted upon and passed because or his
absence.
LOBBYING AS a FINE ART.
Most frequently. perhaps. the influence
OF the lobbyist is exerted. not directly,
but through third parties. who, for old
friendships sake. or other reason, are
able to control the easy-going congress-
men. This Is always plausible, because
the influence that does the work is known
TO be disinterested, while the primary in
iuence that pulls the string behind the
scene Is not known at all.
Lobbying. you know, is the process OF
Influencing members of a legislative body
to vote for a particular measure or TO
carry out particular purpose. The mea-
sure or the purpose may be altogether
right. The influences that accomplish Il
may be as open as sunlight. Every trans
acton that takes place in regard thereto
may be commendable. Lobbying In a good
cause Is good work. But a good cause
seldom needs the art Of the lobbyist.
This art is most frequently applied, there
fore. In the interest of personal plans.
corporations schemes reimbursements for
expenditures Of every kind. and all OF
that funny class of legislation generally
known as Jobs
The lobbying most seen at the Capitol
lobbying in its simplest form-is for posi-
tons. The office-seeking public regard
congressman as the political Jimmy that
breaks into the departments. At all hours
Of the day and at all days OF the session
the fair seekers after place beslege their
representative.
There be those experienced women
lobbyists. also, who conduct an office
brokerage business, securing through
their special pull the influence of this
or that Representative or Senator. while
the consideration TO themselves is n CIR
tain per cent OF tho salaries secured by
their protescs. There are many innocent
souls who gladly offer money to any one
who will secure them a position. Very
often during transactions Of this sort and
during all the continuous struggle for
favors of influence or legislation. the at
mosphere Of strict prupriety bristles with
Interrogation points
HER WORK IN THE PAST.
The day Of professional lobbying at
Washington by women. for large stakes,
In matters of legislation, has wel-nigh
passed. The time was when an explosion
at the Capitol would have killed whole
drOves of them. Now. one Is rarely scen.
Those few who lobby at all DO 50 IN tho
quietudr Of tho home or The social circle.
doing what they do with such careful
adroitness that hardly any one realizes
that 1t is done al all.
During tines gone by women aided in
securing the passage Of all sorts Of pr.
vate and public schemes and enterprises.
the payment OF extra charges In expired
mail contracts; reimbursemerts to ship
builders and other contractors for extra
funds caused by the rise Of materials after
the contracts were made: payment for all
kinds Of property destroyed by the war,
and subsidies of many kinds. The GarlI-
ner claim and the Galpin claim. abou,
which much has been written. were both
manipulated through the influence Of
women.
Away back I'm the SOS one Of the IN
strumentalities of brilliant lobbyist was
the game OF vingt-et-um, which was
dealt at her home. She was prominent
In Washington society. belonged TO a very
influential family, and lived in an elegant
B-iurnished mansion. Upon the side
board. near the players. were displayed
all kinds of wine. cigars, AM other things
TO tempt and delight the taste The
appointments Of the apartments were
such as would have graced a first-ciass
faro bank in the days Of Pendieton,
Brindley. and Billy Marquis. who were
kings Of the green cloth in the ante-bel-
lum days. Here might be seen. almost
any evening, Senators Representatives.
Judges, and other high government CT
fCiais, minging IN the throng OF nand-
some and brilliant women. At the table
the hostess dealt the game herself. and
her winnings. II was said, furnished ihe
revenue for keeping up her princely estab-
lishuent. she did not lobby herself but
OH rt.1 flt..s- he.
lobbyists OF the time who at her cne
piled their vocation upon the conscIi.t
fathers with admirable success
The outbreak Of the war stopped. for q
time, the occupation OF the lobbyist. Du-
ring the war; however, a very large sale
10 the government oe worthless guns,
imported from France and Belgium. was
secured by the adroit manipulation Of a
woman.
After the war Congress was literally
deluged with war claims Of every descrip-
ton. For the payment Of most of them
no law existed. A large proportion of
them fcl! into the hands OF claim agents.
many Of whom were Members, who
were fully posted in the machinery of
Congress ana who knew Wei that a
shrl sd woman lobbyist was the most
potent influence that could be brought TO
b'dI uttu iitHN OF thtit Ioi iNcf dSSCci-
ates
Oftentimes the women lobbyists were
themselNes the claim agents. They would
prosecute claims either for a stat ted salary
or for a percentage Of thc proceeds in case
Of success. Usually they required H. ir
expenses paid-and expenses ran high in
matters OF this kind. Theatre parties,
card games. wine dinners, champagne
suppers, midnight banduets-social enter
tainments OF varied kinds served 20 bring
the joyial representative into the lobby
lists trap. where was generated the innu-
ence that controlled his vote.
SOME MODERN METHODS
From the close OF the war even until
now many women have disdainsd claim
agents Of both sexes and have pushed
their own claims. For instance. curing
the first session II the present Congress
q southern woman. as chaste as snow and
"a modest as III ViOlets around her sunny
home decided to collect through Congress
- claim amounting 10 some $4,000 for
cotton that was burned during the war.
Her father was a Union man. The iden-
thy of the cotton was proved. The claim
was valid. The woman worked diligently
for months with members OF the House
and Senate. she got a bill for the pay
ment OF the claim introduced in both
houses. And II she can ever get it cSllsd
up and voted on the chances are that she
viii get her $4,000.
The Corpening claim created quite sen
sation during President Grants Admins