The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-07
THE PEOPLES LOBBY.

Some highly enthusiastic reformers
have conceived the notion of a sort OF
committee which is to appoint itself,
apparently, and keep check on con-
gress with view. to reporting publicly
on the conduct of members. One of the
magazines which is exploiting the idea
halls is as "a step toward bringing
congress back to first principles, max
ing our representatives really repre-
sent u.s."
The idea originated with q Wash
ington correspondent, who is to be in
charge of the movement, and associat-
ed with him are a number of reform
ers who believe it is good thing. The
organization is to examine all bills and
resolutions introduced in congress and
report on them; it will follow the work
of committees, scrutinize amendments
TO bills, fix the responsibility for i'm
portant changes and keep an official
record of each senator and represent
ative, which record will be accessible
to the newspaper correspondents and
writer's generally. In addition it will
be general interference committee on
such subjects as come handy.
Theoretically the idea may seem a
good one, practically it proposes to as
sumo a responsibility for the general
public instead of stimulating that pub
lie to assume more responsibility than
it now does. The committee is self
sible to no one but its own members
It is quite conceivable that such a
committee might be utilized for i'm
proper ends, even IL composed of men
of irreproachable character. Suppose
for instance, a case arises such as con-
fronted Senator Lamar of Mississippi
when his state legislature demanded
that he vote according to their direc-
ton on a measure of great public i'm
portance. Lamar differed with the leg.
islature and he said so frankly, declar-
ing he would be governed by his OWL
conscience alone, and would resign be-
fore he would be coerced into voting
to suit somebody else's judgment.
Take another case: The rate bill of
fered an opportunity for wide differ
ences of honest opinion. Men who ven
tured to disagree with the president II
the early stages of the bill were de-
nounced by his followers and wor'
shippers as corrupt and unfit to repre-
sent their constituents. In either o.
these cases such a committee or "Peo
pies lobby" could easily be ranged OIL
one side or the other of a debatablC
question and do irreparable harm t
men of honest convictions and SINGERS
desire to do right.
Possibly such a voluntary arrange
ment might work, but we doubt IL:
utility or it's necessity. The peopl'
may need to keep closer to their rep
| resentatives, but the way to do tina
| is by taking part in the choice of con
gressmen and senator's or the men wh'
name them in conventions and lesls
| latures The American public has sub
| let too much of it's public work to ir
responsible or misguided committee
and rings and bosses" 1t is time TO
themselves instead of leaving it u
others When good men take a han'
| in the primaries and conventions. who
| they insist on naming good men TO
Office. there will be no difficulty abou
the membership of congress Or it's rep
resentative character; and until thel
the organization of such lobby "A
this seems superfluous cheek.