The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-11-16
A LOBBY IN THE
PEOPLES INTEREST
Need Of Permanent Representa-
ton az Washington 60 Combat
Attorneys for Special
interests"

A Washington correspondent has mar
rated this incident:
One day at a hearing before a com
mittee of the House of Representatives
man in the rear of the crowded
chamber came forward and asked TO be
allowed to speak on the bill under con-
sideratiOn. Apparently none Of the
lawyers or representatives Of manu-
facturers who were present knew him.
Whom do you representa-" asked the
chairman of the committee.
"The people," was the unexpected
What people, asked the chairman.
incredulously.
THE people of the United States"
The congressman burst into open
laughter.
~ am sorry that we cant spare you
any time" began the chairman curlly
1--WE have here q number Of gentle
men representing special interests
affected by the bill, and we must devote
what time we have to them"
The senate of the United States,
sometime obstructive, but now de-
clared by many observers to be given
over to radicalism, is, in reality, the
same unwilling senate. Severe criti-
cism-much Of IL fair and iust-ren-
dent Roosevelt did the reat The domI-
nation of the House Of Representative
is unaltered. The popular brareh''
of the national legislature h under the
speakers thumb. Az "Unele joe
Cannon commands, 90 the committee
on rules executes; s-the committee
reports, so the servile majority agrees;
as reads the special rule, 20 che house
"legislates.
At the close Of the last session, one
Of the big attorneys q Legislation who
had sueceedad n shelving some meas
ure opposed BY his clients (he repre-
sents great manufacturing intete1tal
did not hide his disgust 90 the general
character Of the work Of congress-
But, In common with others Of his pro-
fession Of persuasion, be has an abid-
ing faith IN the future. t'My people
or the vested interests, Is the muck
rakers call them must have their rep
resentatives In the Senate and also In
the House. They can't get along with
out them; they won't get along with
out them. In the long run Congress
must listen TO the demands of big bust
ness interests,
His unconcern means that he and his
90 meddlers will be on hand from the
beginning 90 the end of the next seB-
sion of congress, and throughout
the session Of succeeding con-
crosses; that they will appear before
he committees of the Senate and the
House, and their statistics will be
eagerly sought and freely used by leg
and that senators and repre-
iv. nd -
rooms, will give heed to the gentle
Affected by the bin d" In other words,
hey will mold legislation they have
n days gone by.
Theoretically, the members Of Con-
yress themselves form the peoples
obby But, strange as It may seem,
he people are not adequately repre-
iented in the Congress Of the United
states. The interests Of the people are
,ften neglected. sometimes as much
through carelessness as with intent.
What can the people do about il?
elect new members of Congress who
will be representative of the people2
Yes. But Il takes time to overthrow a
The substitution of indie
PENDENT for subservient representatives
md senators is a slow process. II
hould go steadily on. But, as an i'm
Mediate safeguard TO popular govern
nent--as factor in achieving govern
nent OF and by the people-there
hOuld be maintained at Washington;
Anational, non-partisan organization,
Of concentrated capital
nd organized labor, establis ed to fur
her, in a practical, effective way, leg
station in the interests Of the whole
eOple, and 20 expose and defeat mis-
sading special and vicious legislation.
Call il a bureau Of congressional in
ormation. or a department Of legisla.
i've inquiry, or by what name seems
lost fitting. But il will popularity be
nown as the peoples lobby. Henry
leach Needham in Success Magazine.
~~-N~~-~-~~~~-~S~~-~~-
TAllAhass0ean Promoted.