The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-01-11


Washington is organized not only as
an arm for the states defense but
primarily to fit the rank and file for
immediate service as federal volun-
teers at the call of the president. and
this theory is one to which I am glad
to give my endorsement To main
tain our national guard at its pres
ent high standard I urge upon you
the necessity of appropriating public
funds with liberality commensurate
with the state revenues.
State Institutions.
u trust that many of YOU have
already visited many of the state in
situations, and that you will during
this session. under the command of
the branch of the Legislature of which
you are a member, fairly inspect and
Investigate the management of the
various educational, penal and char
liable institutions. I know that if
you do you will feel a pride in the
spirit which prompted your predeces-
sors when they enacted the law pro-
viding for the establishment of our
educational and charitable institu-
tions, as well as the Soldiers home
at Orting
Il urge upon you the necessity of
making liberal appropriation for the
maintenance of this institution, be-
lieving that you will provide a gen.
erous amount to supplement the aid
received from the general government
for the maintenance of this home.
Il also urge your favorable con-
sideration of the recommendation
made by those having the active man
agement of the institution in hand go
that the remaining years of the lives
of the survivors of the Union army
and navy, who have accepted the
privilege of the institution. may be
filled with peace, quiet and comfort
The Legislative Lobby.
unfortunately for the cause of
good government, Legislative sessions
are generally attended by a class of
political cOrmorants who endeavor to
usurp the powers of accredited mem
bers. BY the exercise of skllful
legerdemain and a finesse known to
the professional lobbyist, they fire.
quently succeed in defeating the en-
actment of wise and beneficial laws,
They at times challenge the ability
and power Of the peoples representa-
tives to act as self governing par
liamentary body. and too often WELD
greater power than the body itself
You are the sole custodians of your
prerogatives, soley responsible to the
people for the record you make
These enemies of civic righteousness
and good government, bearing no
commission from the people, no let
tiers OF marque to engage in political
priVateering, acting under no oath of
office, worshipping only the god Mann
mon. cherishing no high ideals, will
haunt the corridors of this capitol
building from now until adjournment.
They dare not fight in the open for
they realize that, like the fatal basa-
lisk whose breath was poison and
whose look was DEATH their active,
open espousal of any cause would
damn it.
allow me to quote the denuncia-
tion of this class of legislative lobby
lists by Governor Cummings in his
message to the Iowa legislature Of
1902:
THE professional lobbyist has,
regret to say. become one of the feat
ures of legislative assemblies. Do
not understand me to suggest that
the halls of legislation should be in
accessible to either the individual or
the corporation. The lobbyist, how
ever, who is for anything or against
anything for hire, whose mission is
to promote one measure or defeat an
other who haunts the chambers of
legislation and taints its atmosphere
with his corrupt designs. who sends
for members for interviews in the
| cloakroom, who. carries a tally sheet
and watches the roll call, who
shadows the members at their homes
and hotels, injecting at all hours and
all places his poison into the public
| service, is criminal whose approach
| is an insult, and to whom the doors
Of the capitol should never swing in
ward
| I'm conclusion, I trust that your
deliberations will be characterized by
| that spirit of fairness and justice that
is an attribute of craftsmanship, and
that the business of the state in your
hands will be transacted with har-
mony and expedition"