St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-18
RRIBERS AT WORK.

BRIBERS AT WORK.
The allegations now being freely
made that several of the United States
senators have been colruptly ap-
preached by the agents of this or that
monopoly now asking protection at the
hands of congress, are not at all COM
plimentary to the senators mentioned.
The charge is made tnat several have
accepted brides to act as agents for the
corporations, while 1t is said that others
refused the retainer offered.
Generally speaking. a man is not open
TO censure because of the fact that he
has been tempted In the case of our
senators, however, it is widely differ
ent. The lobby al Washington is com
posed of the most aStute men to be OBJ
tanned. They know how to put the
money of their employers where it will
do the most good. They never seek to
approach man who is superior to cor
rupt influences. That would be effort
wasted. And when man finds him.
self The recipient of the attentions of
the lobby. it is a matter of absolute
certainty that he has given some cause
for the belief that he is open to con-
vlctlon. and even anxious to be Seduced
from the paths OF rectitude. Did any
one ever hear of an attempt being made
to bride Roscoe Conkling during his
long term of service and in the days of
his great influence? We're Benton, or
Clay, OF Crittenden ever subjected to
the opportunities of lobby agents? The
first advances of such miScreantS would
have brought upon their heads such
deluge of wrath as would have driven
them from Washington.
The lobby is seeking to have no deal
ings withlncorruptible men, and one who
shows that all his public actions are
dictated by sense of public duty is as
safe from temptation as he would be
within the gates OF paradise. 1t is only
those who are vacillating. uncertain,
temporizing, who are sought out. When
a senator announces that he is unde-
cded as to the course he will pursue
with regard to given measure it may
be taken as an announcement from him
that he is open to conviction" and will
vote for the man OR the cause that pays
him the best. Protestations of virtue
from such source are ridiculous. No
one of ordinary common sense doubts
their purpose.
1t has long been notorious fact that
number of the senators are Tin the
market" SO far as the tariff is con-
cerned. They have confessed as much
themselves. They have INDUCED in
carping criticism of various features of
the measure, apparently with no other
purpose than to inform the LOBBY that
vote was on the block and to be had
by the highest bidder. And when a
mau declares that he has been solicited
to vote for measure for considera-
ton he confesses i'll effect that he has
solicited bIibe.
No man has reason to boast his virtue
because he has refused to accept a bride,
for brides are never offered to men of
unqueStioned character and acknowl-
edged Drobity. There are some senators
and representatives who nave been in
congress for generation who do not
know lobby agent by sight, and are
inclined to doubt the existence of 1.-THE
third house." The reason is obvious.
The lobbyists know the members well,
and realize that an attempt to influence
their votes by unworthy or mercenary
motives would be effort thrown away,
and they have no time to waste upon an
undertaking that is certain to be fruit
less.
There is abundant reason to believe
that the lobby at present in Washington
is large. influential and inscriptions.
1t has much at stake in connection with
the tariff bill. Almost every industry
in the country will be affected by the
provisions OF that measure. Each can
afford to pay literally for protection
that shall enable them to add to the
selling price Of their products. If or
binary influences are of no avail they
will resort to the purchase of.votes, and
they are at no loss to know precisely
whom to approach. And they never
make mistakes. The men they buy do
not herald the fact from the housetops.
The men they do not buy are either not
corruptible or would be comparatively
useless after their purchase. For the
lobbyist is an astute man. He is liberal
with his money, but he insists upon an
equivalent for every dollar he expends,
and he always gets it. But he is not
advertising his business, nor does he
''refer by permission" to this or that
senator or representative Gas an evil
dence of good faith" That which he
| promises he fulfills, provided the serv-
ice is satisfactory. Like the giyer of
| true charity, he takes care that his left
hand shall not know what his right
| band doeth. ''But he gets there Just
| the same"