Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-08-24
TIMES OUT OF JOINT
Views Of Lawyer Given the
Bar Association.
PERIL OF sINUoUs1TY IN POLITICS.

bribery and Wire-Pulling Threaten the
Country's Peace-A Very Pessimistic
View of the Situation-The Lobby ALI
Powerful aud Legislative Integrity At a
Low Ebb-ORccrs of the Law Bought to
Neglect Their Duties.
SARATOGA, n. Y, Aug. 24.-Moorfield
Storey, of Massachusetts, delivered an ad-
dress befers the American Bar association
on ''The American Legislature" After
referring to trades unionism as an Or
ganiZation that insists that when its
members choose not to work no one else
shall; that unless n man will join some
strike association he shall not earn a liv-
ing, this being enforced by refusing to
work with the recalcitrant and boycotting
those who employ him, the speaker
said: "Respect for the result of elections
seems to be disappearing. and political
partisans are ready apparently to resort to
any expedient to enable them to retain
or to acquire power. There is to be heard
every day adverse comment regarding
congress, state legislatures and city alder
| men and and councilmen, aud distrust of
their acts is generally felt.
The Danger That Is Deplored.
"For my present purpose l mention it
as evidence that the leading members of
the house Of representatives do not trust
! that body, and frame their rules accord
ingly. Loss of faith in the legislature is
loss of faith in representative government,
loss of faith in the people themselves. and
| this feeling really lies at the root of the
changes in public opinion of fundamental
| l., ,.t, I pu,l
made the excuse for anarchy. The danger
against which we guard in constitutions
and which in conversation we recognize
and deplore is the danger that private in
terests can afford to pay for the privileges
which they seek prices which the ordinary
| legislator cannot refuse.
Lobbyists Have Paying Trade.
| I'm many states certainly there has
| grown up an irresponsible body between n
the people and their Representatives, which
undertakes to sell legislation and finds
| the business extremely profitable. When
the legislature meets each professional
lobbyist has body of members who will
listen readily to his advice, and whose
votes he can influence to n greater or less
extent. Certain large corporations
which are likely to be interested in legis.
lation adopt the same methods of select
ing representatives, and each has its CO.
hort OF disciplined supporters. The issues
upon which these representatives have
been chosen have played no part in the
campaign, have been discussed in no po-
iitical meeting, have attracted no public
attention.
kamitications of the Evil.
The real question that is to divide the
legislature which they choose is whether
one party or another shall acquire the
right to control the streets of some grea,
city. The lobbyist also plays promine Mt
part in the selection of the speaker of the
house, and pays well for it, the private or
personal interests at stake being some
times enormous, and the corruptible law.
makers greatly profit by the transaction.
Committee decisions are also affected by
these evil agencies, and it is only aftel
some designing bill is favorably reported
that the public awakens to the dunger OF
| the situation"