Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-11-22

IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
to the lobbyists themselves. There
fore it is that they usually put forth
the merits of the measures in which
they are interested, without attempt
ing to offer corrupting suggestions.
There are few female lobbyists
here, but very few. There was
time when women fiourished here and
were openly and. brazenly known as
having corrupting influences upon GER
tain men. 1t is matter of fact well
known to some men yet in public life
that there was a beautiful woman
whose hold upon one public man was
so great that she could sit in one OF
the galleries and call her man off the
floor by signal code even when he
was making a speech. And that man
was known as one of the greatest men
of his time in many respects. His
memory is cherished by thousands of
his countrymen until this day.
Women lobbyists have had their
day. Time was when they fairly in
tested the lobby. Women pushed the
Galpin claim, the Gardiner claim, the
Corpening claim, the Comanche claim,
and many others which were famous
or notorious. The Corpening claim is
yet wildly remembered.
During the twenty years succeeding
the civil war the capitol was a swirl
Of corrupting influences, and women
were predominant in all of the
schemes. Sam Ward, the king of the
lobby, had women working for him.
He was a liberal man, and paid them
well for their services. But the ma
iority of the women were claim
agents working for themselves with
out any man for master or en-
ployer. Gambling flourished in those
days. and some of tke best appointed
and most alluring of these dens were
conducted by women. When any sem
atorial or representative spider
walked into their parlor they en-
meshed him, not merely in their
games, but in their legislative
schemes. Many statesman in those
days entered those parlors at night
perfectly sober, with no other pur-
pose than to gamble-and drank a
little-for drinking was quite COM
mon. But they would awaken in the
morning to find themselves in such
compromising positions that they
were Enthusiastically in the tolls of the
merciless. Their votes were not their
own after that.
1t requires not great stretch of
memory to recall the fact that a SEN
ator who was the presiding officer of
that great body, and much-talked-
of presidential possibility, fell into
the depths of disgrace in the Nation
al hotel because of the wiles of a
young woman and her scheming
mother. Maybe he was no worse than
others in that day. But he declined
to allow his vote and influence to be
hawlled about. In that, at least, he
was honorable. His political purity
caused his downfall. When the moth
er found him uncomfortable she
caused her daughter to compromise
the senator; then she raised a hue
and cry so that everybody in the ho-
tel was made aware of the existing
NO-iN''''S'''' nv SNhuNoi was
and died in poverty, obscurity, brok-
en- in health and broken-hearted.
But the gambling days are over.
Women no longer serve the wine.
Women no longer serve the cigars.
Women on longer appear in droves
in the lobby. Women no longer APP
pear with uplifted finger and threats
of exposure, to compel legislation.
The causes of temperance and moral
tity have triumphed in the national
capital. 1t is fair to presume that
these advancements Indicate national
advancement along those lines. Rep.
resentatives of the people are usually
representative of the real conditions
OF their constituents.
ISut the new members are here.
The professional legitimate lobbyists
are here, and the petty claimants
with their agents are also coming
They are the palpable harbingers of
the coming of the congress. 1t will
be great congress, for il is to be
guided by good men of great expert.
ence, 1t will not have the influence
of our martyred president; but there
is in the white house man whose
motives and principles are honora BILE
and noble. SMITH d. FRY.