The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-28
WATCH THE LOBBY.


1t is as r-grettable as il is that strong
demonstration OF public conscience cannot Of ITSELF
pso facto and at once accomplish reforms The
mere fact that public opinion is outspokcn against
an evil does not necessarily mean the end of that
evil Otherwise should have very clean state OF
things here in Missouri al present During the last
two years the people have almost constantly cried
out against various forms OF corruption. The pull
pit, the politicians and the press have combined 10
place the stamp of public disapproval upon almost
everything which is reprchensbc in governmental!
and administrative concerns. But the actual re-
suits for good will depend upon the who have
been pur in office the peoples agents
Especially have the people decried that form OF
corruption with which The lobby is associated. and
have laid the ban against the lobby itself. Lobby
ism is in deepest disrepute in Missouri But IFS dis
grace The public clamor against it. the anpa
thy TO it, will only drive it greater secrecy and
caution That the coming Legislature will have
strongly organized and closely knit lobby. perhaps
the formidable in years. is conclusvely indi-
Gated by drifts which come from the undercurrent
of politics.
Governor Folks election has not accomplished
REFORM but has merely brought him 10 the threshold
of reform in this direction To watch. detect and
10 thwart the lobby which will include and proba-
bly, have its nucleus in members of the Assembly
themselves will demand the most unremttinS
vigilance and vigorous opposition: and in this task
he should have the intelligent aid of the honest
members in both houses \ lobby working from
within is difficult and dangerous matter than
one operating from without. but with the coopera
ton of honest members the Governor should be
able to solve the problem.
The final routing of lobbyism will only
when the man who wishes 10 influence legislation
is compelled TO do his work in the open in public
The laws which made for the people by their
representatives must be made publicly deliberations
must be public. objections and qualifications must
be in full view. and solicitations must be open and
aboveboard. When such legislative conditions
come they must inevitably. there will be an end
to what we know the lobby. But the lobby may
he at once rendered virtually nuiity il honest
forces in the Legislature will combat it integently
Between the lobby influence and the lawmakinC
force the point Of contact-the place where the in
fuence touchess difficult to locate under any cir
cumstances. But when the lobby is the INSIDE.
when the lobby influence and the lawnaking body
are TO a certain extent the same it would require
some power almost supernatural to detect it's op.
erntions from the outside The Governor will IT.
quire inside help to combat the lobby Jefferson
City during the coming session. and that help should
he given at the very outset. The lobby should be.
If possible. prevented from lining up weak cgis-
laiors. Weak ones there are. Many of the Repuh- |
lican members were nominated by machine ee /
Republican voters in the counties payn: |
little attention 10 the matter. being without hope
o. elcctinC their tickctsand their election came
n surprise. Some communities avokc to find unGn. |
sirable men in legislators shoes. The "od guarl' |
in the Senate and the professional lobbyists on The
outside will exert every effort to own" the new
members. Republican or Democratic. How many
oi them capable OF being possessed remains
to he Ihe senatorial struggle indicates tha.
several Of them but. happily. that not all of
them are. Some of the new timber appears TO .,e
strong.
Honest forces in the Assembly should be organ
lied in aid Of the Governor. who has declared i'm
plarable antagonism TO the lobby. for only by or
ganized vigilance and common effort can the anti
obby clements he thoroughly effective Between
honest members Of the Legislature no partsanship
should be allowed to prevent earnest cooperation to
this end.