The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-03
GRIP OF The LOBBY.
Gov. Stone Says Missouri Must
be Released.
Now a Question Whether People
Or Lobby Shall Rule.
A SPECIAL SESSION.
Legislature Convoked to Deal
With the Evil.
The Governor and Others Have
Been Appalled,.
l SPECIAL SESSION.

Stone today issued a call for a special
session of the state legislature to meet
on April % for the following purposes:
First to enact such legislation as may
be necessary and expedient. and proper
ly define the relations between the diff
ferent classes of employees of railroad cor
poratlons IN this state, and also the proper
relations between all such employees
and the railroad corporations employing
them.
Second-To provide such legislative
enactments as may be necessary and ex-
pedIent to prevent the maintenance of an
organized lobby at the capital of the
state, either to obstruct or to promote any
legislative or executive act; and also to
regulate the manner of presenting any
question affecting Legislation by persons
interested therein before. the general
assembly, or any committee thereof.
Third-TO enact such laws as may be
necessary and expedient to prevent fraud
against the elective franchise and to Sc
cure honest elections in all cities having
100000 inhabitants.
In his call the governor says: "FOr
number of years the state has been dis
graced by an organized and salaried
lobby, maintained by special interests at
The capitol during the sessions of the
general assembly for the purpose of in
fuencing Legislative action.
Encouraged by a seeming lack of
| public sentiment at their presence, and
emboldened by repeated successes these
lobbyists have from year to year in
! creased in number, influence and auda-
city until they have become an almost
dominating force in Legislation. So con-
ident have they grown in their strength
and so potent in influence, that they now
| ply their vocation almost without dis
| guise, i'll defiance of public authority
and in utter contempt of public opinion.
lit has come to pass that almost every
| important measure of Legislation must
undergo the scrutiny of the lobby before
its fate can be determined. What it ap-
proves is not without hope, but what it
condemns is lost
perhaps the most conspicuous illus
tration of this disgraceful domination is
to be found in the treatment accorded
the so-called fellow servants bill. | do
not now care to discuss the merits of the
measure; l refer only to the means
adopted 10 suppress and defeat it.
"a number of senators and representa- :
| tives as we'll as a good many citizens
who have felt appalled, at the overshad-
owing influence, and humiliated at the
triumph OF the lobby, have pressed upon
me the Importance of reconVening the
general assembly to the end that the is
sue may be fairly presented and an open
test made as to whether just Legislative
measure of this character can he enacted
into law in spite of the communicating in :
fuence of those who openly boast their
ability to direct the current of legisla-
ton.
''These are strong words l know, and
l write them with the greatest regret.
But it is clear to me that the time for
mild protest is past We are confronted
by the question whether the people or
the lobby shall rule in Missouri The
public safety and the honor of the state
are at stake Every senator, member,
public official and citizen familiar with
the truth knows that these words are
justified by the situation at Jefferson
City"
The governor then mentions the neces-
sity of passing new laws governing cleo
tions.
"The truth of this statement is made
evident" he says, ''by the fact that both
Republicans and Democrats, SO called
have been recently indicted in St Louis
and Kansas City for active partici cipatiou
in such frauds. When such wrongs are
not only possible but are actually anC
boldly committed, it is evident that the
public safety imperatively requires suct
changes in the law as will not only ter
inmate existing abuses, but preven
their election in the future.