Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-06

overrun SO with persons interested in push
ing or preventing legislation as now, re-
ports the New York Herald. This is the
short session OF congress preceding the be-
ginning of President McKinley's second
term. All Of the plans that have been laid
for great schemes in connection with the
expansion Of the Amer ican nation fol owing
the war with Spain are beg inning to sprout.
1t Is no new thing to see promoters
of legislation coming here by the carload,
but 1t Is a new thing to see them coming
literally by the trainload. A trainload Of
brewers arrived here during the first week
In December. At the same time dozen
trainloads OF members of the Woman's
Christian Temperance union arrived. The
brewers came to have the war tax taken off
beer. They constituted what is known as
the beer lobby The ladies' of the
Woman's Christian Temperance union came
to keep the tax on beer and abolish the
army canteen. They were known as the
anti lobby.
A trainioad Of bankers came on Deem
Der 8, headed by A. b. Hepburn Of New
York. Myron I. Herrick Of Cleveland and
J. ii. Eckels Of Chicago. They desired the
tax on bankers and brokers remitted. Men
representing steamship lines are here in
sufficient force to make high-priced suites
in the hotels hard to obtain.
Representatives Of the oleomargarine
manufacturers Of the west, all Of them look
ing fat, sleek and oily. are holding forth
In the corridors of the hotels and besieg
ing the room of the agriculture committee
Of the senate. Hearty looking citizens with
weatherte eaten faces and heavy tread In
dicating cowhide boots at home are watch
ing these same oily gentlemen. They Of
the weatherbeaten features are the repre-
sentatives Of the National Dairymens as
sociation, and might be known as the anti
oleomargarine lobby.
These are few Of the interests repre-
sented here. Clustering around the one
subject of an interoceanic canal on which
the government will spend $500. 100000 are
able and versatile agents Of a half dozen
different "vested rights" Some Of them
represent the Pacific railroads. others are
looking after the Maritime Canal company
that once had a concession from Nicara-
qua; still others, II they were to divulge
their paymasters, would be found repre-
senting the Panama Canal company. There
are agents of the French government and
the Russian government on hand and in
terests are 30 interviewer that frequently
three or four Of these different influences
are found working toward one end. These,
collectively speaking, make up the anti
canal lobby.
There Is an army and navy lobby. and
that, like the poor, lis always with u.s.
The secretary Of war wants one BILL the
general commanding the army wants an
other the line pulls In one direction, the
stan in another. Makers Of patent guns and
patent shells, manufacturers Of armor
plate and builders Of battleships. promo
ters Of private claims, seekers for Increases
in salary. commercial bodies that want
their home creek deepened and delegations
from interior towns that demand new
post ofiice-all of these elements contrive
to make the short congressional session
continual round Of lodging and yielding to
the lobby.
New King of the Lobby.
There have been changes since the old
days when the famous Samuel Ward and
DR.. Il. Bruce Bradford were the acknowl-
edged leaders In promoting legislation. II
any one can be called "the King Of the
Lobby" now It is probably Colonel W. e.
Ayres. Colonel Ayres has been one Of the
most successful members OF the Third
House." His life is a romance.
When he came to Washington, In the
neighborhood OF twenty years ago. he was
In desperate straits financially. He him
self tells the story how, not having street
car fare In his pocket. he walked miles to
the Washington and Georgetown car stables
In order to apply for a position as con-
ductor. He Is now very rich.
Colonel Ayres for years has repre-
sented the Union Pacific railroad in con-
gress. He was long known as personal
friend Of Charles Francis Adams. When he
became versed in all the ins and outs of
legislation he succeeded to the task Of
plotting the famous McGarraghan claim.
Sam Ward had 1t before Ayres. 1t had
been dragging Its slow length along In
congress for many years. A day. few
years ago, the whole capital was convulsed
with astonishment The McGarraghan
claim had passed. but was vetoed by the
president.
A well known representative Of corpora
tions is John Boyd. Mr.. Boyd is medium
sized man, dresses much like a parson, with
very bright eyes set in a very small heed.
The size of hat Mr. Boyd wears Is no Index