The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-09-26

hAaAhNh AaANhAuA MNAO hOL NOhuNhAh0h
because one wretch had sold his honor.
THE CORRUPT LOBBY MUST GO.
But, my countrymen, If corruption
is to be finally eradicated we must
attack the evil at it's source The
knife must go to the root of the can
Ger. The corrupt lobby must be driven
from municipality, State and Nation.
On July 4th, in a public speech, l
said this and added, THAT worse than
the bride taker is the bride giver, be-
cause more dangerous" l stand upon
that statement.
Back of all boodling is the effort
Of some n to gain an unjust priv
ilege or escape a Just demand, either
through legislation or the lassitude or
ignorance of some officer. According
ly, the officer or legislator is cajoled
with flattery, awed by power or may
even be corrupted. In any event, the
people are cheated.
The existence of an organized lobby
at the State Capitol during the recent
sessions of the General Assembly is
a matter of common knowledge. Os-
feasibility this lobby was engaged in
protecting the railway corporations
from what they were pleased to term,
unjust legislation" The charge has
been publicly made that these "leglsla-
tive agents" inspire bills attacking
various business interests in order to
compel their employment to prevent
the enactment into laws of the very
measures they themselves originated.
Nor are they thus satisfied. When
wholesome legislation is proposed by
IN honest legislator, these wolves are
ready to pounce upon 1t, and by pre-
venting its passage compel If possible
Its honest author to withdraw his OPP
position to some unjust measure In
order that his bill may pass. So
the members Of the lobby soon become
mere Hessians ready for any employ
ment, experienced in evil, skilled in
deceit, 1t Is but necessary that they
find a few plant tools among the
members of the legislature in order
to exert a powerful influence upon
legislation.
They become the purveyors Of
legislative poison. They tempt the
weak; they trap the unwary
they meet in the dark, conspire
behind closed doors and plot while
honest men sleep. They combine the
cunning of the fox, the appetite of
the wolf and the subtlety of the spider
with the instincts of the hyena. When
It is necessary their touch is as soft
as the gloyed hand of a woman. If
1t suits their purpose they can de-
stroy without pity. Their voices can
be as tender as the whispers of a love
lorn maiden in the ear Of her sweet
heart and they can utter threats with
the hiss of a serpent. They pro-
nounce eulogies upon virtue which
would do credit to a saint, and shed
crocodile tears over the misfortunes
Of the victim whom they have dragged
to the gates of perdition. But at all
times and in all seasons they are the
enemies of society, of law, of order
and of good government. They are
the most dangerous conspirators
against the Republic.
The professional Legislative lobby
list is such a combination and har-
monious blending of im~pudence, de-
ceit, treachery and scoundrelism as
entitle him aGong the assembled vii
lians of the SaFth to stand without a
rival and without a peer"
We are told that the remedy for
corruption is to sel&ct honest men
to office. True, if we could always
look into the heart of a candidate,
read his soul and divine his future.
we need not then select any but the
honest and the brave, and the cure
would be complete. But we are not
thus gifted. You have sought in the
past to select honest men. You be
lieved Lee was an upright citizen
Mistakes have been made and may
be made again. Your judgment will
not suddenly become infallible. We
will certainly in the future get some
men who have an itching palm"
We cannot always discriminate be
tween the honest and the dishonest
In the crowd which cries, "StoI
thief" the thief Is frequently con
cealed; and the clearer his guilt the
more plOuS 10 ulS COuulSndnSC, Jut
greater his fervor and the lAstier his
lungs. Just now, we have some
strange reformers in Missouri.
The greatest step toward the Grad
ication of corruption is to be found il
the destruction of the lobby. Here /!
the chief source Of the %iniquity. L
had infinite power and wanted t.
stop all evil l would first kill thu
devil and then turn my attention t
the lesser scoundrels. II Beelzebul
were gone roguery would lack Its in
spiration.
say now, as | have said before
get the bribe giver as well as tn
bride taker; get them both. The,
ought to be chained together. Blu
more dangerous than the bride take
is the bride giver. Let us scourg
both from legislative halls. The brib
taker must go, but the professions
corrutionists must be driven from tn
capitol.
Can the lobby, be expelled? / ar
4 swer that 1t can
In the first place, all excuse 70
! the maintenance of the lobby shoul
I be removed. The veto power shout
! be used against every measure Intro
|. duced for a sinister purpose and q
I the same time It should be clearl
! understood that improper interferenc
by any corporation or individual, wit