The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-07-15

= Il
Takes Life. Pleasant for Doubtful
0nes-once Landed, the Question
Is. Vow Much Will He Take?n--
Rigging UP a Mans Past a Com
mon Way to Extort Votes-one
Member W1so Refused to Be Won
over by BlaekmaiI.
81 AN Ex-sPEAKER OF A STATE
LEGISLATURE
4 Copyright 1865, by Joseph 3. Bowles,)
Long before member OF the iegisla-
ture takes his oath of Office the first
time, he is known by the men whose
self-interests impell them to keep tab on
general assemblies. They know his
standing in his community; his financial
condition and his moral rating. His
name is down til their books and the in
slant he arrives at the state capital to
begin his first term as law maker he
steps within the circle Of their infiu-
enee. This knowledge of new mans
makeup explains why many legislators
stxA never even approached, much less
seen by those who stand ready to pay
money for votes; because the lobbyists
know such legislators viii not be good
2 fellows
Soon after a mans name is connected
with his ambition to become member
of a legislature the knowing ones
start in to get a line on him. They,
either in person or through agents,
{. learn his political pedigree and connec-
lions; his family history; all about his
business affairs and particularly his am
billions.
II. he secures the election he becomes
at once a subject for intelligent analysis
2 and finally he is labeled and put into his
proper class. once saw the 'memoran-
da Of members which well-known
and successful lobbyist carried The in
formation which that man had of the
domestic, political, social business and
financial conditions and relations of the
house members was astounding even to
me: an old member of the general as
sensbly. The lobbyist, tapping the red
covered book said:
That layout cost my people several
thousands Of dollars. but every cent was
well spent
The legislature having adjourned
sine die" my friend, the lobbyist, was
In a communicative mood. He opened
his memoranda boob and said:
and Bradstreet are well enough
for the oydInary business world, but
they will not do for us who have to deal
IN an unbusfnesslike way with men
who sometimes are very business like
az We freely use the big rating houses
SO get for US the business and financial
ling Of neWly-eiected members Of
tsIature. We don't have to get a
man who has served one term
know him, but it is the un-
low who is about to make his
Arst plunge that we want to size up.
- go about the business of getting
4 up records on the new men who are
headed this way as soon as the first can
didate for office peeps subscribe for
county papers and have my clerk read
them carefully, and also subscribe to
some clipping bureau Thus / get adj
vance Information about prospective
senators and Representatives The
names OF the candidates are listed ac-
eordfng TO their legislative districts, and
as soon as feel convinced that any of
them is on a live wire / get busy looking
aim Up, As you have seen by that
memoranda | first get his political make
sslp and II find he is some politicians.
that politician is on our %. X.
i'm In the same classification,
that our political friend will
Low. You've got to go to
the mess anyway, SO what's
hothering with the small fry !
leral the political history of a
enongh to give me a good line on
Tor know don't know a better
IN which TO apply the old adage. d
Is judged by the5 company he keeps,
n is found in political life Show me
& political friends and intimates. of a
g and + Il tell you what kind of a fell
be IS. But, Of course. that rule
asn.t apply In all eases so, frequently,
I'm compelled to delYe deep into family /
Ifa, business connections and relations
SIS nd all that. One thing, however. | en-
FieaVor to find out: what does my man
want2
Take a young lawyer, for instance.
who breaks into the general assembly. /
He MAY want to use the legislature as a
stepping stone to the bench, or he may
simply want to.get before the public for
advertising purposes, to become known
make a reputation 10 aid him in the prae- |
1 tice. OF law. Every man doesn't come To
Ethe legislature 70 get rich quick. In
fact, my observation Is that the major
lily of them come here with honest
motives, and to further laudable a1nbi-
atians II / find out, However. thata man
seeking a seat infthe legislature sole
81 sIatlfy his 4nhition find out
Ut hs Is after, md when tie time
nos for me TO next to him. L set
6ouf helping hinJ realize his hope
sSsDf course On q reciprocal basis. i is to |
5sSr interests to know all We can Of a
ssaember Ut tAe sIslature, and having
q knowledge, Wefnsut it into practical
3ssatting use.
NY wire pulling friend was not alto
thar frank with me, for he stopped
senfessing' when It came to telling
IL what he did with doubtful new
eabets, those men whose his
ries dos not indicate their pur-
disability saoh definite informa-
is not secured until the new
~ has been Id the long enough
gsiEeaRtle wise asaes hanee to test i