Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-05
Not Anticipated That Situation
This Year Will Demand
Drastic Action
IOWA LOBBYISTS LEARN LESSON
Governor cummins Does Not Believe
Legislative Action Would be Effect
ive-Draws Distinction Between In
dlviduaI Effort and Organized Corr
porate Bulldozins-crossley's Views.

az the lobby is one OF the things thae
will come first to the attention OIL ehe
new legislators in Des Moines next
week. The lobby evil has attracted at
tention everywhere. Governor warner
OF Michigan. gave the lobby a haro
ran in his message. Governor Mickey
of Nebraska, Is hard after the loppy'
Governor Folk has inaugurated some
system Of registration after the WIS
consin plan, and as a result OF .h's
the general lobbyist for the Burlington
railroad in Missouri--where the Bur-
lington is openly democratic In politics
has announced that he will not main
tain a lobby. In South Dakota the
governor is Of type to stand nrm
against the lobbyists.
What will be done in Iowa? 1t Is re-
called that Governor Cummins created
n sensation in his inaugural message
by denouncing in harsh terms the ac-
tivities of the lobby, and during the
last session when the lobby undertook
to direct all legislation the governor
gave 1t such an exposure as has never
before been witnessed in Iowa. Inc
war between the governor and the loD7
by went on all last year. for those VINO
sought to direct legislation Went the
length of plotting complete defe1t OF
the governor. The campaign was mace
on the issues raised In the governors
opening speech in which he declared:
"rhe principle that the government
OF the United States and the govern
ment of the state shall be conducted
by it's men, and not by its corpora
tions. is nearer to the hearts of the
people than any article OF partisan
faith"
And on this the governor won out
But Governor Cummins does not be-
lieve that 1t is either practicable or
right to undertake to exclude from the
privilege Of influencing legislation IN
diyiduals or persons representing cor
norattons But he does believe that
corporations as such should be rigor-
ously excluded from politics. He makes
a, distinction, as he always has done,
between the attorney or agent OF
company or corporation who appears
enforce a legislative committee, or te-
fore legislators individually, and
speaks for him his principal in regard
to matters directly affecting him. Gov
ernor Cummins as a. lawyer had oc-
casion. many times to appear before Of
ficials to represent the interests or MS
clients in proper matters and THIS IS
right which cannot be denied to lndl-
yidual or to corporations. But when
he was elected to the legislature ana
his former clients came to him to In
duce him to take action especially de-
sired by corporations and inimical to
the interests Of his newer client. the
people. he declined firmly.
Neither does Governor Cummins be-
lieve that the lobby evil can be cured
by requiring registration and an effort
to exclude by law the lobbyists from
the capital city Of the state.
"After ALL" he says, "the real cure
for the evil lies in the election to office
of men who will do their duty to their
constituents and not be open to the
Establishments of the lobbyists and in
the backing up of these men by pub
lie sentiment which demands faithful
service"
In other words, the remedy is in the
hands Of the voters themselves, and If
they demand Of their representatives
such performance of official duties as
will make 1t impossible for the lobby
lists to manipulate state affairs. they
will get good service.
Representatives of the railroad in
terests recognize that the situation as
1t will appear at the state house the
next ninety days Is not such as to en-
courage the plans Of the lobby. They
have actually been considering wheth-
.er or not it would be best to keep the
lobbyists away from Des Moines. A
year ago a molly collection of fail-
road attorneys, claim agents and pro-
fessional politicians gathered here to
direct legislation They undertook to
dispose of the primary bill, and did it;
then tried to dispose of such other
legislation. They got themselves into
such bad repute that if there is to be
a lobby this winter it will be almost
necessary to bring in a fresh bunch.
1t is limited that in view of this fact,
and that the pronounced sentiment of
the state is against the management
of the state in corporation interests,
the lobby may be abandoned.
1t is certain that if the lobby makes
any such demonstration as that made
a year ago there will be the fiercest
kind of a fight made to GUST the lobby
from power this session. The attitude
of the governor has not changed since
he made his first campaign for the
The lobby must keep it's
hands off of general legislation.
Senator Crossley, Of Madison coun-
ty, who introduced the primary bill
consistent fight for the primary prin-
ciple covering a number of years, does
not desire to be at the head Of the
elections committee of the senate this
year. The chairman of that committee
ought to be the man to handle the
primary bill in committee and on The
floor Of the house. Senator Crossley
does not desire this task. He would
like to be ct the head of the ways and
means committee, since he is he
ranking member, but does not expect
this. Unless he can get something
better he would like to be at the head
of the schools committee again.
II have worked faithfully for the
primary law" said Senator Crosslsy.
tha other day. y feel that the friexda
1ss5