The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-07
LOBBYING A CRIME.

Thou shalt not follow multitude
to do evil, neither shalt thou speal
O In a cause to turn aside after a multi.
: tude to wrest judgment" "-Exodu,
Q xxiii:-2
The Bible. therefore, prohibits lobby
ing. Upon this was founded the laws
of the United States and the laws OF
the state of Oregon, prohibiting lob.
bying. Section 1894 Of the laws Of Ore
gon makes lobbying crime punish
able with a fine and Imprisonment. But
there seems to be certain class OF
people In Oregon who preach ENFORCE
ment of the laws except When violat-
ing them win work to their advantage
Most of the lobbying done at Salem has
! been by the friends OF prohibition
against the Jayne bill amending the
local option law. These people imagine |
they are privileged characters and be-
came so intolerant and insolent that
the legislature was compelled to pass
a resolution denying them privileges
of the house. Not only have they vio-
lated the law by persistent lobbying.
but by inuendoes and base inslnuations
have cast aspersion on the motives OF
the members of the legislature Both
houses have been flooded with tracts,
circulars and personal letters demand
ing that the members vote against the
Jayne amendments.
SO persistent ana arrogant have ,
these professional lobbyists become :
that they have antagonized many mem
bers of the legislature against them. ,
Every member OF the legislature has ,
the rignt to vote or or against any I
according to the dictates OF
his own conscience. and no men or SET !
of men have any right to impugn their q
motives No man who has a spark
of manhood will stand unmitigated In ;
reference of his rights. No man will
stand for unjust, criticisms enunci- =
ated from the pulpit, and the minister
that uses the house Of God to further r
political interests will have no infiu- /
ence and loses the respect OF the pub.
lie. It Injuries the cause Of religion and /
keeps men away from the church. No y
man can be converted by abuse. No
measure, however meritorious, will re- r
eeive the support Of members Of the =
legislature, when the advocates indulge u
IN wilful and malicious prevarication
and perversion Of facts. 1t places a u
minister Of the gospel in the category a
If professional lobbyists and grafters
and casts a stigma upon him that ii
,annot be eradicated. a
Every man who goes to Salem to
obby for or against any measure is q,
criminal, according to the laws of u
Sod and of the state. Attempting to
legislation, whether for good
'r evil, Is crime per Sc. There is no q,
Inference between buying votes and
members. Every mani
as a right to express his opinion uponl
II measures coming before legisla-
i've body and to use all honorable al
means to secure remedial legislation.
ut he mas no right on the floor of
ither house to lobby for any measure
A person that insists upon the en-
0rcement Of the laws should obey
lem, else he is a hypocrite. AS to the
lerits of the Jayne measure it is un-
ecessary to express an opinion. The
uestion should be left to the good
alignment and conscience Of the indi-
idual members. Every man who so
esires has a right to believe in pro-
ibition, and every man who does not
elieve in 1t, has right to his opin-
ms. Bulldozing and intimidation will
ever bring beneficial results or pass
emedlal measures.