The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-05-26
BY AN EX-sPEAKER OF THE LEGIs-
LATURE OF ONE OF THE LARG-
EST STATES IN THE UNION.

BY AN EN-SPEAkER OF THE LEGIS-
LATURE OF ONE OF THE LARG-
EST STATES IN THE UNION.
Copyright, 1895, by Joseph D. Bowles.)
you scratch my back and III scratch
yours is the golden rule among law
makers. Reciprocity and compromise
are essentials in every legislature. The
uncompromising member, the legisla-
tive hero of the do-or-die order, seldom
accomplishes anything and almost al
ways stands alone upon the bare pedes-
tai Of his own construction. 1t is all
very well for enthusiastic citizens to ap-
plaud the brave words of some newly
elected and totally inexperienced legis-
going to the state capitol to pass this
or that bill or tie UP the whole general
assembly, But the applause would bet
ter be saved until his return-if he
brings back the goods.
The chances are against his doing it
if he puts himself forward as a kicker
and a "flibuster" with the idea of com
polling the state legislature to suspend
other operations until his particular
pet measures are run through the legis-
lative mill. But if he absorbs ONE
practical wisdom on the way to the
state house, adopts the golden rule Of
lawmakers as his code, pastes com
promise" and reciprocity" in his hat
and acts accordingly he probably will
take back to his constituents the statu-
tory goods which he promised to de
liver.
A member who has a bill to pass must
secure a constitutional majority Of al
frmatiye votes on a roll call before that
bill is ready to go over to the other
house or to the governor for his sigma
ture. Most bills are of consequence and
Importance only to the respective dis
tricts of their i~ntroducers and sponsors.
Those measures which attract wide at
tentlon and affect the entire state are
comparatively few in number. So it is
that the great majority Of bills, each
concerning a single district, depend for
their passage upon the individual lob
bying'' of the members who introduce
them.
Now n member who introduces Uuv of
these home" bills must look AFTER MS
measure himself. He must watch II III
committee; have ii called up for It's sue
cessive readings in the house, and on inc
final vote must hustle aroun ana set
his fellow members to vote LOT IL anu
enough of them to give 1T the maJorlts
required by the state constitution. As
averv member has one or more bllls OF
that kind he wants to pass the system
of trading votes is employed, II is
largely through this system mat u
dominant clique in the house is aDle u
control important legislation.
In every legislature a few men early
fake the lead. Almost always they alt
did bers who have been in INT
house and in public life so many year
that thew have acquired the art OF hano
ling men. They are men posSeSSins
those qualities which attract other mel
IN them. They are srst-ciass parma
mentarians and know the rules ol VI
house from beginning to end. lhey al
successful politicians, which means the'
are scientific compromises. Ines
men get together and organize Ia
cIiope gang, ring, syndicate, coterie 0
whatever the opposition calls then
Generally they call themselves the o.
ganization. p,
This organization sometimes Is D
PARTISAN, particularly il us PURPOSE
craft and Doodle, for Doodle knows I
T,rtv lines But more often than II
nublic can be made to believe tne y
sanitation or clique is formed TO pr
vent boodling and sandbagging' VIVA
ever IFS purpose, however, some co.
+~rol,ing organization is always enec'
soon after a legislature cohVehes d
continues to control until some ON
p~rganization springs up to deieat IT,
As eoon as the clique is tormeu
members canvass the situatloh' ~
is they ascertain in one way or aho.n
wbat net bills each legislator has up !
sleeve. The clique undertakes 10 p'
those bills provided the introduces
the hills agree to stand BY the cliq.
Tbe organization thus becomes !
clearing house for tradeable votes a
"tradeable" by no means always III
Gates p~urchasable votes,
An analysis Of the WORK gone ?, 20
legislature will show that IN nos "a.
thp big bills, the important neasui
M doodle or vicious bills are Eaa'
late n the life of the genera asse
b1y. Before such measures are Leau -,
naasage the calendar has been cleare :,
he little home" bills. They nave y
nasspd and signed or yetoea ps .
Governor. The clique first ma
sooda and then when it needs voseS :,
,be hills required by us ciien.s 4
IN position to call upon the noosu =
70 make good their promises anu '