The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-01-12


This stilty scare of the presence of
the masked lobbyist at our legislative
councils has no place in real mes
sage. No message reference should be
made to possible state of affairs,
that does not exist and can have no
real existence without the connivance
Of those officials who have in advance
made distressing reference to loby-
ism.
The governor in his message saw fit
to assume a pessimistic attitude, and
with studied emphasis declared "The
bane Of every legislative body is the
subsidized lobby" The statement is
not true in general sense and is
therefore a reflection upon the integ-
rity of the American legislator. The
condition which seems to alarm the
governor for the safety of the state are
not alone the work of the pernicious
lobby. The personnel Of the legislature
cannot escape responsibility.
The majority of all legislative bod
les are normally honest. and are con-
scious of moral responsibility to their
constituency. 1t is the minority Of
such bodies that give the lobby tan
gible existence The venal nexus be-
tween the minority of legislative
body and the lobby which is engen-
dered in corporate greed, and manifest
Ing IS Itself In individual appetite, can
only be established and maintained
undet =. weak. incapable and dishonest
administration. The history of legis-
1ation in our country affords many brill
liant examples of governors under
whose administrations the Shiny brood
NEVER made any tracks within the pre-
fincts dedicated in the name of courage
4nd conscience to the interests Of the
pmmOn veal. Notably the late Gov
sfnor Pingree of Michigan, had no oc-
d@sion to sound a lobby alarm because
tn lobby will only vegitate where
coalitions are favorable. When he
w called to the Office he SO ably filled,
heNound the venal minority and well
0rGRnized lobby. whom he attacked at
theRery Threshold of his administra-
tionl with courage and singleness Of
purpose, that the corruptness retired
abasAed in the face of "a man."
ThN state of Illinois has had legis-
lativt texperience with and without q
lobbyN under the retiring Governor
Yates 1.-THE venal minority and a well
organized lobby seemed to be in con-
troll ofIlegislation. The governor sta
toned NE troops, during the session of
the Legislature in the state house
groundslin readiness to Quell a riot.
Thu Al - hn
realizingAthe evident faithfulness of
their representatives, swooped down
upon theA venal crew. and dispersed
them. TIN speaker of the house mar
rOwly escaped mob violence at the
hands of Outraged citizenship. While
under the Aate Governor Altgeld. the
venal few With boost from the long
green lobbyH representing the gas COM
pany of ChiAago, succeeded in passing
the gas billsl The governor promptly
came to the fescue of the peaple, and
vetoed that Vicious legislation. In his
veto taking 81 high position in ethics
nd morals. Ne fearlessly denounced
corruption in Nigh places, sought out
the sponsors Oh vicious legislation ex-
posing their methods and motives, the
corruptionists Ntired under a judg-
ment of jublic 0Ainion, from whose de-
cree there is ndaapeal
How insDiringf and reassuring in
these sordid dam OF commercialism,
is the strenuous Example of Gov. La
Toilette of Wiscon&n, engaged In NOR
tai combat with organized greed,