Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-06-30
By AN EX-sPEAKER OF A STATE
LEGISLATURE.

Copyright, 1905, by Joseph b. Bowles)
Long before a member of the legisla-
ture takes his oath Of office the first
lime, 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 in 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 influ
ence. This knowledge of a new mans
makeup explains why many legislators
are never even approached, much less
''seen" by those who stand ready to pay
money for votes; because the lobbyists
know such legislators will not be good
fellows"
Soon after mans name is connected
with his ambition to become member
of legislature the knowing ones"
start in to get line on him. They,
either in person or through agents,
learn his political pedigree and connec-
tions; his family history; all about his
business affairs and particularly his am
billions.
If he secures the election he becomes
at once subject for intelligent analysis
and finally he is labeled and put into his
proper class once saw the "memoran-
aa'' of members which a 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
sembly 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 communicative mood. He opened
his memoranda book and said
Dunn and Bradstreet are we'll enough
for the ordinary business world, but
they will not do for us who have to deal
In an unbusinesslike way with men
who sometimes are very business like
Yet we freely use the big rating houses
to get for us the business and financial
standing of newly-eected members oil
the legislature. We don't have to get q
line on man who has served one tern
here; we know him, but it is the un-
known fellow who is about to make his
first plunge that we want to size up
Il go about the business of getting
up records on the new men who are
headed this way as soon as the first can
didate for Office peeps. subscribe fol
county papers and have my clerk rea(
them carefully, and | also subscribe Il
some clipping bureau Thus get ad
vance information about prosperity,
senators and representatives. TIL,
names Of the candidates are listed &C
cording to their legislative districts, AM
as soon as feel convinced that any o
them is on live wire get busy looking
him up. AS you have seen by tina
memoranda first get his political max
up and If find he is some politician
fellow and that politician is on our o. X
list, put him in the same classification
for know that our political friend vii
deliver his fellow. You've got to go I
abe head of the mess anyway, so what
the use of bothering with the small fry
I'm general the political history of
man is enough to give me good line o
him, for | know don't know a bette
field In which to apply the old adage,
man is judged by the company he keeps
ahan is found in political life. Show m
the political friends and intimates of
man and III tell you what kind of a fe
low he Is But, of course, that rul
doesn't apply in all cases so, frequentl.
am compelled to delye deep into famil
life, business connections and relation
and all that. One thing, however, Ell
Reavor to find out: what does my ma
want?
Take a young lawyer, for instanc
who breaks into the general assembl
He may want to use the legislature as
stepping stone to the bench, or he ms
simply want to get before the public fl
advertising purposes, to become know
make reputation to aid him in the pra
tice of law. Every man doesn't come
The legislature to get rich quick.
fact, my observation rs that the maio
ity of them come here with hone
motives, and to further laudaSlo ami
tons Ii | find out however, that mi
IS seeking a seat in the legislature sol
ly to crafty his ambition, find o
what he is after, and when the tir
bones for me to get next to him, | s
about helping him to realize his hope
of course, CD reciprocal basis 1t Is
eur interests to know all we can OF
member of the legislature, and havi
the knowledge, we put 1t into practit
vote getting USE"
My wire pulling friend was not al
gether frank with me, for he stopr
"confessing" when it came to tell
me what he did with doubtful n
members, those men whose b
tories do not indicate their p
thasability. Such definite inform
ton is not secured until the n
man has been In the capital long snou