Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1905-06-09

lt VA my own preacher who started Il.
He called me up on the telephone and
asked me If | could get transportation
for himself and his wife to a certain
city and return. There is not a mem
Der here from the city whose life is not
made miserable by men, most Of whom
are our representative citizens. who
practically demand that We get either
passes or half-rate privileges for them.
And II we don't see our way to do it
they fight us ever after. And these very
men are the first TO denounce us II we
happen to get a little easy money down
here"
If congress should pass a law COMPEL
ing the railroad companies to publish
the names of pass getters and users an
unbelievable number of our best peo-
pie would be plunged into deepest
| gloom. for of course the publicity would
end grating by proxy"
There is no doubt that the legislative
conscience is dulled by the giving Of
railroad and sleeping-car passes and
telegraph and express franks. The IA
vors bestowed on lawmakers BY public
service corporations cause them to
Jean towards those who give the ia
vors. The commonwealth would be bet
ter served II 1t were made illegal for
public officials Of every kind to accept
special favors in the way of passes and
franks. And, strange as it may seem
members of legislatures would welcome
such a law if they were allowed actual
mileage twice a week between their
homes and the state capital.
A law making illegal the issuance Of
passes to or on behalf of assemblymen
would relieve the legislator from the
incessant demands for free railroad
transportation made by his constitu-
ents. And any man who has served in a
general assembly will tell you that his
hardest task is to write letters to rail-
road companies for passes for his peo-
pie.
1t is the popular idea that the cor
porations' are the only interests which
seek to influence legislation illegally.
But blackmail, | take it, is as unlawful
as bribery, and every session of a legis-
lature sees farmers, labor unions and
business mems associations endeavor-
ing to pass or kill legislation by the
use of blackmail: the blackmail OF
threats. The members of these great
classes have no passes to give away
and no money to distribute, but thes
have votes and organization. They de-
mand compliance with their wishes
coupled with threats of defeat at the
next election for the member who does
not vote their way.
Perhaps no body Of citizens are so un
reasonable in their demands on thu
legislature as the farmers, The homes
tiller of the soil apparently does no
care how much his bill may injure tn
state as a whole; it will help him or hi
community, and he mirces no words il
telling his member of the Legislature
that If he does not vote for it he nee,
not expect to be reelected. There Is
constant warfare between the labo
, unions and retail business men over tn
: matter Of the Mount Of exemption il
garnishee suits, and each class threat
, ems political humiliation to any mem
! Der who does not vote right" That
why almost every lew which relates t
> suits for collection OF debts is a com
3D., promise satisfactory to no one.
Now politicians can stand almost any
thing but defeat. Threats have more in
fluence with them than money bribei
The skilled m~anipulators of the publ
service corporations know that and o
one occasion, when | vas speake
adroitly used the weapon of fear I
kill a bill which could not have bee
defeated with money.
!, An amendment to the revenue la
came out OF a house committee. 1t We
designed to compel railroad, street ca
. and telegraph companies to pay MOI
taxes. The railroad lobbyists scente
danger and sent hurried word to the
principals. At once the customar
methods were put into effect to bloc
the bills passage, but public sentimel
in favor Of 1t was strong and it locke
N as if it would go through.
Some trifing error in phraseolce
SEM the bill back to the committe
" and when it reappeared a few words ha
been inserted, apparently with the d.
p sign Of making it stronger. The add
n ton had peer made by a member
the committee at the i%nstigation Of
. railroad ATTORNEY