St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
KEEP THEM AT HOME.

1t Is not probable that the Demo
Gratis Of the state can send enough
senators and representatives to the
legislature to elect Democrat to the
senate. They may be able to- send
enough to be able, with the Populists,
to defeat the election of any Republi.
can. But there are other things as i'm
portant to the state as electing federal
senator. There are questions of taxa
ton. amendment of corporation laws.
repeating laws passed at the command
OF corporations and against the welfare
of the state, wIping out the horde Of
sinecures provided for the trenchermen
of the Republican party. Democrats
can aid in this work; can at least initi-
ate it. leaving to the majority the re-
sponsibility of defeating it.
But to do this 1t Is absolutely essen
tial to send men down 10 the capitol
whose palms do not itch for brides; who
do not hunt up the Lobbyists and make
traffic of their votes; men whose first
inquiry on the introduction of a meas
ure Is not "What is there IN it for me?''
They should be as carefully selected as
II the Office were cashier of bank or
custodian of any great trust; men of
the lobbyist would at once mark on his
book as ''n. g." because they ware un.
approachable by him. Every such leg
islature has honorable men in it; men
who hear the talk of corruption and
disbelieve 1t because they have not
been tempted. The lobbyist knows
whom to touch. As soon as the nomi-
nations are made he makes it his b usi-
ness to find out all about them; what
their home reputation is; if they h ave
ever been dishonest; if they are open to
offers; and such other information as
will enable him to ''size them up'' and
fix their.value to him. Could the pri-
vate book of a well.known lobbyist of
this state be printed, 1t would be a SEN
sation that would clear the characters of
some and betoul those of many more.
Senators and representatives, approach
able or not; If ever bought, the date and
amount. and if not. the amount that will
fetch them, are Its features.
1t Is a shameful fact, but fact none
the less, that there were Democrats in
the last two legislatures whose names
figured largely in the lobbyists account.
Some OF them were crafty and shrewd,
and supposed they had covered their
tracks well; while others we're open, be-
traying in their frankness a want of
moral sense that was Astonishing. They
watched every bill that came In, not to
see if it was meritorious or the opposite,
but to see what chance it gave them to
strike some one. There is no partisanry
among the boodlers; Democrats and
Republicans were cheek by 1owl in
these schemes. The senatorial fight
was fat picking for them, and they
worked it mercilessly. Some of the
Republicans In that deal were of the
kind that lobbyists term 'honorabIe;"
that is, they took the bride and honored
it-staid bought-and there were others
whom the lobbyist calls by stronger
term than dishonorable. those who took
Dribes aud then voted against the briber.
There is another senatorial contest
coming. and the buzzards scent the
Doodle alar off. They are already Law
ing pipe to get to the senate or the
house. There are some of the old gang
of Democrats in this lot who want to
get back to the feast of the lobby.
There is no need Of naming them. No
man can be corrupt and keep it secret.
They are the dishonest men of their
community; the ''smart" fellows; the
ones known to be immoral and unscru-
pulous. They carry their corruption in
their faces, aud it hangs about them like
noxious atmosphere. They must he
left at nome. Every Democrat is con-
cerned IN this, for 1t affects the party as
a whole; discredits 1t; and, particularly,
it disgraces the districts responsible
for it. We are glad to note in some Of
our state exchanges opposition to the
return or election Of such men. and we
hope the fight will be kept up until
they have to retire under 1t.