The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-04-27

protest that they siould not persist
in practice that brings only reproach
upon the state. The people are not
hostile to railroads. but quite the con-
trary. Whatever prejudice that may
exist is chiefly the result of injudi
cious policies adopted and persisted in
by the railroads themselves Railroads
are necessary to the well-being of the
state. They are great enterprises. re-
quiring large investments of capital,
and in the successful operation of
which the highest intelligence and
the most exacting attention are
demanded. Any causeless prejudice
against them is stupid and con-
temptible; any unreasonable hostility
towards them would be the height of
folly. If railroads would simply attend
to their legitimate business and do
right, have the utmost confidence in
the belief that they would have moth
ing to fear. 1t seems clear to me that
the interests of these great corpora
tions can be best promoted by methods
that tend to elevate, not lower. the
standard of public administration.
They ought to be the very last TO intro
duce practices that exercise a corrupt
ing or demoraliziny influence on public
affairs. But in any event, the arro-
gance of the lobby should be restrained
by putting some severe check upon its
constant. impertinent interference in
legislation.
1.-The right of any citizen to be heard
in a proper way before a committee of
the legislature, or before any execu-
tive officer or body, is one that cannot
and ought not to be denied. A fair and
intelligent presentation of the views
of those having interests at stake, so
far from being forbidden. should be
invited. But band of lobbyists, or
ganized and main tanned as permanent
institution, to hang about public offices
and the halls of legislation, with the
sole object Of interfering with public
affairs, and with authority to use any
means, however questionable, to pro-
mote their ends, Is altogether another
thing. That kind of thing is wrong.
wholly and irretrievably wrong. This
evil of professional lobbying has in
vaded other states as we'll as Missouri,
and scandals of the most disgraceful
| character have frequently occurred.
THE necessity of exercising public
authority to lessen, and il possible tu
| suppress, the evil has been very gen
orally recognized. Particularly have
the old commonwsalths of Massachu
setts and Virginia. representing the
best types of the Puritan ana the Cava
lier. struck blow at this vice which
Missouri would do well to initiate. II is
unnecessary that should say more a,
this time. The subject does not require
further elaboration, for the evil to
which direct attention is so patent, sc
glaring. so pronounced, and has been
so generally observed and commented
upon, that nothing l could say could
make palmer or more imperative the
necessity of devising some adequate
means of ridding the state of its debas
ing influence.
10 these several subjects have tn,
honor to invite the careful and consid
crate attention of the general assem-
bly,, and since two of them have beer
already considered at great length an(
exhaustivelv discussed, both in com
mittee and in the house and senate,
indulge the hope that you may be abl,
to reach an agreement without seriou
difficulty or much delay.
| "WULIAM j. STONE"