St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-07-22
REVELATIONS BY
An E:X-SPEAKER

Inside HISTORY OF 4 STATE
LEGISLATURES BY ONE
WHO KNOWS.
Sizing OPP Prospective Memh.r.-
~ The "Glad Hand' Committe.
Aakes Life Pleasant for Doubtful
ones-once Landed, the Question
1s, How Much Will he Takepv-
Ngging Up Mans Past Com
mon Way to Extort Votes-one
Member Who Refused to BE Won
Over by Blackuail.
AN Ex-sPEAKER OF A STATE
LEGIsLATURE
downright. 1905 by Joseph B. Bowles..
Long before member Of the legisla-
lure takes his oath of Office the first
time, ne is known" by the men whose
sei-lnterests 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 a law maker he
steps within the circle Of their influ-
ence. This knowledge of q 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 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. q
II ne 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-
da" OF members which q 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-elected members of
thc legislature. We don't have to get
line on man who has served one term
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
mp 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, aid also subscribe to
some clipping bureau. Thus get adj
vance information about prospective
senators and representatives. The
names Of the candidates are listed ac-
cording to their legislative districts, and
as soon as I feel convinced that any of
them is on q live wire get busy looking
him up. AS you have seen by that
memoranda first get his political make
up and If find he is some politicians
fellow and that politician is on our O. X
list, put him in the same classification,
for l know that our political friend will
deliver his fellow. You've got to 60 to
the head of the mess anyway, SO what's
the use of bothering with the small fry.
~In general the political history Of q
man is enough to give me q good line on
him, for know don't know better
field in which to apply the old adage, a
man is judged by the company he keeps,
than is found in political life. Show me
the political friends and intimates OF q
man and I'll tell you what kind Of fell
low. he is. But, OF course, that rule
doesn't apply in all cases SO, frequently,
/ am compelled to delve deep into family
life, business connections and relations
and all that One thing, however, ! en-
deAvor to find out: what does my man
want?
Take a young lawyer, for instance,
who breaks into the general assembly.
He may want to use the legislature as q
stepping stone to the bench, or he may
simply want to get before the public for
advertising purposes, to become known,
make reputation to aid him in the prac-
tice OF. law. Every man doesn't come 70
the legislature to get rich quick. In
fact, my observation is that the major
ity of them come here with honest
motives. and to further laudable ambi-
lions. II ind out, however, that man
is seeking seat in the legislature SOLE
" to crafty his ambition, ] find out
what he is after, and when the time
comes for me to get next to him. set
about helping him to realize his hope
of course, on reciprocal basis. It is to
our interests to know ell we can OF q
member of the legislature, and having
the knowledge, we put It into practicai