Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-11
LETTERS FROM BEE READERS
Charles Wooster Defends Lobby as One Of
Necessary Institutions.
SHAPING LEGISLATION A PATRIOTIC OUT <
Every Citizen Should Take Interest in
the Proceedings of Legislature
and Urge Action One Way
or Another on Bills.
SHAPING LEGISLATION A PATRIOTIC OUT

SILVER CREEK, Neb., Jan. ITO the
Editor of The Bee: Just now 1t appears
to be the fashion to jump on to the poor
lobbyist. Governors. state conventions and
newspapers have it in for him and no one
has word to say for him.
What is a lobbyist anyway? Nothing
more or less than person who frequents
the capitol and hotels during a session of
the legislature and works among members
with view to securing or preventing GER
tain legislation in which he, or those he
represents, is interested. But to do that
is the undoubted right of every citizen
under the constitution. Not only is IL a
right, but within certain limits 1t is a
duty the citizen owes to himself and the
people Of the state. II every man kept sill
ent-never said whether he was for or
against any proposed measure, or suggested
a measure of his own, thus leaving mem
bers in blank Ignorance of what the people
wanted, 1t would be impossible for them
to act intelligently. Instead of having
fewer lobbyists it would be better to have
more.
But" says some one, I'VE do not object
to that sort of lobbyist. 1t is against the
professional lobbyist that we protest"
And what is a professional lobbyist? A
lobbyist who works for hire or a repre-
poration. and who upon occasion, is sup
posed to resort to corrupt methods to ac-
complish his purposes. But, waving just
now the question OF corruption, there can
be no valid objection to such lobbyists
II a municipality. fraternal organization,
the brewers association or the state anti
saloon league, for example, is interested
In certain legislation, what good and suf-
ficient reason is there why they should not
employ competent persons to represent
them? Or would 1t be better that they
should shut up shop and go enmasse to
Lincoln? And why should not railway
telephone and street car companies, banks
and all that, have their representatives. to
favor or oppose legislation affecting their
interests? The contention that they should
not is monstrous, preposterous, undemoc-
ratio and unrepublican. 1t is very desr-
able that they should have such repre-
sentatives or lobbyists. v you please, to
present their cases from their own stand
point For how could members of the
legislature act intelligently II they did not
hear all sides and have all the facts? And
what difference TO them whether they got
their facts from professional lobbyists or
any other source? They, themselves
would be the final judges Of their value.
As 10 corruption. we have our criminal
code II that won't meet the situation, no
special legislation will. law against
lobbyists as demanded in convention plat
forms and newspapers would be not only
impracticable, but unconstitutional. Shall
we undertake to say in this boosted land
Of free speech that men and women shall
not talk 10 members Of the legislature?
Are we prepared 10 admit that those we
have chosen to make our laws are a lot
of knaves weaklings and idiots? Are men,
bers of the legislature themselves prepared
to admit that they are a flock of eve
lambs, around which should be built a
tight board fence TO keep out wolves and
vicious dogs? VIII they stutify themselves
and cast suspicion on every one OF their
constituents who may happen TO come TO
Lincoln this winter by enacting an anti
lobby law? II they are men let them have
none Of this anti-lobby monkey work
No lobbyist ever hurt a member of the
legislature who was Mt 10 be a member OF
the legislature. CHARLES WOOSTER.
Lobbyist Frank Young at Close Range
BROKEN BOW, Neb.. Jan. Ito the
Editor OF The Bee: Burlington Lobbyist
Frank II. Young OF Broken Bow Is talking
OF locating at Lincoln. 1t is also reported
that he will work under G. w. Holdrege.
Custer county has been standing dis
grace in state republican politics. owing