Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-11-03
COMMONS LOBBYISTS.
They Have Ready Recognition In the
House Under the British
Constitution.


The lobbyist at the house of COM
mons is an essentially modern product.
Parliamentarians of a former age knew
him not. They did very well without
him and perhaps never even suspected
that he was destined to be created. But
with the quickened interest in the pro-
ceedings of parliament which followed
upon a widened franchise and Il cheap
ened press, there came a desire for
closed link between the house of COM
mons and the organ of public opinion.
Reporters in the gallery could near
well enough what was said in parlia-
ment, but as language was given
especially to ministers-to enable men
to conceal their thoughts, it occurred
to somebody that it might be useful
if the press were permitted to invade
the sacred precincts of the members
lobby and find out what was really in
the mind of the house of commons.
Whether the idea originated with the
members themselves or with the invad-
ers is a matter Of no importance. 1t was
probably q case of six of one and half
a dozen Of the other. Anyhow, the
lobbyist walked downstairs one fine
day and he has been recognized as part
and parcel of the British constitution
ever since.
There is a common impression that
the lobby representative of news
paper has nothing to do but listen to
the condolences of members of the cabi-
net and fend off a crowd OF Unofficial
members, who desire to deluge him
with information. This is only partly
true. Now and then a cabinet minis
ter does cross the lobby, but in nine
cases out of ten he wears a worried
"Don't-speak-to-me look, which Sc
cures him an immediate passage, even
through groups of his own supporters.
They remember that the great man has
just answered, or essayed to answer,
series Of embarrassing questions and
they assume that he has spent the
earlier hours of the day unravelng the
knots tied for him by the kind-hearted
officials of his department.. Pity, there
fore, goes out to him and nobody would
willingly add to his burden of care.
But ministers have their happier and
less busy moments, and sometimes they
are the possessors of news which, for
various reasons, it is desirable to make
public without delay. Then comes the
lobbyists opportunity. He secures in
formation which circumstances do not
permit to be announced in the house
itself and he is able to write something
which the next morning will be read
with peculiar interest. The occasion
may not often arise. So much the more
need, consequently, for turning it to
the best account when 1t does present
itself.
Unofficial members of the house may
have news to impart, but it is not al
ways of overwhelming Importance.
There are, for instance, those who have
a political ak to grind and who lose no
opportunity which may serve their pur-
pose. They are not to be blamed, for
they are only paying their tribute to
the power of the press. But the lobby
ist needs to be on his guard. He must
weigh the information which comes TO
him unsought, Tor it is his business to
reflect the real mood of parliament.
He must not attach undue importance
to what may at best be a mere will-o'-
the-wisp. On the other hand, he cannot
be like Mr.. Toots and declare that Its
of no consequence" when there are
premonitory symptoms of what may
ultimately prove to be a serious po-
litical emeute. He must keep his fin
ger on the pulse of parliament, and any
sudden accession of temperature de-
mands his immediate notice. He may
be told that, although the political Their
mometer has gone up, it is only sign
of temporary feverishness, but if he
is wise he will not be lulled into a sense
of false security. If partisan on one
side of the house tells him one thing
about the condition of the body polite
he will, for safety's sake, call a witness
from the other side and hear what he
has also to say. In word, the lobbyist
must preserve independence of mind
and of judgment against all comers.-
London Telegraph.