Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1900-09-26
FRESH FISH FRIDAY.
Cash paid for Hides. Tai
low, pe1ts and Furs.
Give me a Trial.
Missouri Run by a Lobby.

Missouri Run by a Lobby.
An opportunity to reform the
government of this state comes
November 6: Missouri is plucked
by political ring that acts exclus-
ivly for its own profit, and to the
same end deserves powerful
lobby. From the beginning of the
present state administration, and
throughout the session of the pres
ent Legislature, the sole object of
both has been Doodle, first by plum
der of the state treasury and then
by disposing of legislation accord
ing to the orders of the lobby.
The existence of the lobby is undis-
puted. Occasionally a Democratic
paper denounces it. A few weeks
ago its operations were bluntly ad-
mitted by prominent Democrat,
who subsequently served his party
as delegate at large to the national
convention. II have never denied
that l am a lobbyist" he said in a
speech at Carthage, Mo. 81 go
to Jefferson City during the ses-
sion of the Legislature for the pur-
pose Of representing the railway
company in whose service l have
been for many years. There is
not man in the state capital who
is misled by any act of mine. l go
there in the daytime, and my pres
ence and purpose arc known, and
anything l say to an individual
member of the Legislature or to a
| committee is said and heard with
the understanding that l am the
paid representative Of the interests
for which l speak"
Such was the plain avowel of
Col. W. II. Phelps, who added
that ex-Gov. Stone has long been
in the same line of business,
though operating by methods in
tended to hide his tracks. Stone,
as we'll as Phelps, was a delegate
at large to the recent Democratic
National Convention. The grip
of the lobby upon the Democratic
leaders in Missouri is confessed.
1t is On record, and the testimony
is from themselves. The main
stay of tie lobby is the "appro-
priation ring at Jefferson City.
In this ring are state officers as
well as members of the Legisla-
ture. When a new Legislature
meets there is pooling of in
terests. Senate and House alike
are controlled by the ring. Trad
ling of votes proceeds according to
what the subdivisions of the lobby
arc willing to put up. No bill can
be passed if the lobby opposes it.
If it signals opposition the legis-
fative and state house ring kills the
bill. If the lobby wants the bill
passed, and it proposes nothing
except for private gain, the bill
becomes a law.
AS an example of how the sys.
tenn works, the course Of the pres
ent Legislation on trusts and fran
chise taxation is sufficient. Three
bills against trusts were introduc-
ed in the House, and were adverse
ly reported by the committee to
which they were referred. The
only bill introduced in the Senate
relating to railroad corporations
was held by a committee without
report. But the bill consolidating
the street railways of ST. Louis
was passed and became a law by
the signature of Gov. Stephens.
The laws governing corporations
were revised by a Democrat,
!. Legislature in 1879, and that par
ty has been in power in this state
ever since. On the closing day o.
last years session a bill taxins
franchises was killed. A few
hours before adjournment, wher
all was noise and confusion, Gov
Stephens sent in a message on th,
subiectsshich nobody could hear
t or was intended to hear. 1t is use
less to say that the Democrat,
ring in this state, and the lobb,
that surrosnds and directs it, cal
be broken~by anything short thar
| ldefeat atsthe polls. The admins
] |<tration of Gov. Stephens and th,
rEeenduct Of the present Legislator,
Iurs4ypieai IF what will continu,
|uh}esssvoterss.rise in their nigh
land fiecree "a. return to genuine
i populergoseraf,ent. Globe Dem
11.nAfkAt