Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-07-07
OR.
CANIzATION
PLAN
To Watch the interests Not
Known as Special
President Approves
Idea and Support
is Promised.
BY ellison Gardner.

Special Correspondence,
Washington, d. c., July "A move
ment is on foot in Washington look
ing to the organization of what
might be called a peoples lobby"
The idea Is to have the Interests
of reform" looked after. Other "in-
terests" are well represented but no
body in particular is charged with
looking after the cause of "decency"
and of honesty
What is everybody's business is no.
bodys business. This axiom applies
no less to the national welfare than to
other things.
The idea of peoples lobby" is to
have an organization-an office with
manager and employees at Washing
tonic do for the people in general
what the other lobbyists are doing
for the people in particular whom
they serve; to have a man or men
whose only business it would be to
keep track of Legislation and legisla-
| tors. and let the people know
That is all the lobby would do--let
the people know. Who are honest I?
What bills are supported by what
members? Who do the dirty work
|
in committee? Ii requires time to
| keep track of these thirgs. The peo-
pie want to know and would support a
lobby 20 be told
| Publicity would do the rest.
! The President Approves.
4 The idea of a peoples lobby is said
to have originated with President
Roosevelt. 1t is known, at least, that
a number of people have come from
recent interviews at the white house
full of the project. Whoever origin
ated it, there is no doubt that the
president approves cordially of the
plan and will do everything in his
power TO aid carrying ii out.
The idea itself is not entirely new.
IL has been tried quite successfully on
a smaller scale in some cities and has
done an incalculable amount toward
the purifying of politics.
In Chicago the organization is
known as the Municipal Voters Lea
que. This league consists of a COM
mittee of high-class citizens-men
not in active politics, or identified
with either party organization. The
committee names a chairman who Is
the practical manager.
The league advises the voter al
election time as to the eligibility OF
the candidates. This advice Is based
on the candidates record
The Chicago league has been in
} fluential in retiring many boodlers
. from the city council, and a similar
organization has done much to purge
, graft from the Illinois legislature.
A National League Needed.
similar organization is needed, 1t
is felt, for the nations legislature
There are men in both branches OF
congress whose records are black
All that is necessary is for an intel
ligent man to dig into the official re-
cords, and to set forth the results.
An inquiry among the president S
friends and advisers shows that there
would be no lack Of publicity There
are magazines and newspapers by
the score which would he very glad I'd
turn on the light.
President Roosevelt will be asked
to name the first committee of the
National Voters League, or People
Lobby. 1t is believed that the peo-
pie have confidence enough In Theo-
dore Roosevelt to believe tha he
would appoint high class, high mind
ed men TO such positions. Preferably
the committee viii be made up of men
who are not actively engaged in poll
tics Its members would be expected
10 serve without compensation and
from purely patriotic motives. The
active manager, however, would bt
under an annual salary, and would be
expected to give his entire attention
.
ploy good legal advice, and each con
gressman's record would be made the
p subject of a separate record.
The cost of this work would have tC
be met by voluntary subscription
Many offers have already come to the
president to contribute, even before
the work has been officially launched
Correspondence on this subject ad
: dressed to the white house will be
turned over to proper parties