The Washington herald., 1909-04-25

There are among US, even at this late
day, those who stin think OF the lobby
at Washington as It was in the days OF
Col Sellers and The Gilded Age" Theg
know. in a general way. that progress has
developed all American industries. and
yet never suspects that the lobby ha:
enjoyed the benehcent effects or that
progress as we'll as others. says the New
York Times
Among these unsOphisticated person:
may be mentioned the pIaywrights Of the
United States. the nOveiists. and especi.
ally the well-meaning persons who write
short stories for magazines These three
classes may De included in a body. neck
crop. and heels. and x some member oi
any one OF them can prove an slibi q
graceful apology viii be rendered Mere
proof that the member has never writer
a play. novel. or short story dealing viii
Washington will not be accepted as al
alibi. for it viii be regarded as certain
that II he ever did write one he would
surely treat the lobbyist from the ancient
standpoint
Outside these professional classes there
are countless unpTOfesSiOnaiS. comprising
let Us say. almost all the adult persons ir
America VINO know how 10 read. VhC
conture Up with delightful shuGders ths
beautiful and wicked female lobbyist who
weaves an imperceptible web for th'
guileless Senator. or the dark mustaehec
lobbyist with the sneering smile who digs
pitfalls for the unsophisticated Repre-
sentative
March of Progress.
Maybe they did exist in Col. Sellers
day. but they do not now. The march oi
progress has struck the lobby business
In fact. the old-fashiOned lobbyist ha,
disappeared. 10 all practical intents
There are a few Of them left. but mos
Of them exist not by bribing Congress
men. bUt by making their own idioti
clients believe they have bribed Congress
men. and then collecting money for th'
fictitious bribery.
With the growth OF centraHzation and
consolidation IN legislation as well al
IN other businesses it is no longer prof
table 20 work on the individual Congress
man. Power being lodged in a feV
hands yOu get your results by working
on the men in control An Old-fash
ioned lobbyist would have about as mucI
chance Of getting beyond the initial sen
tence in talking 20 the half dozen nieT
who have the final word on any giver
bin as he would have OF buying Up Ih'
( President with box OF cigars.
IN the place Of this lost figure OF leg
islation there now looms I'D the railroad
attorney. the corporation lawyer. and th'
promoter He would repel with rag,
the inslnUatiOn that he is a lobbyist. Ere
qUenJIy he is man whose fame Is Ia
tion-wide. usually re is a man az leas
OF prominence always he Is a solid man
stops at Best Hotels.
When ne comes u Washington he takes
a lot of rooms in ore of the best no
tells TIE rooms are the best 10 be had
Generally the lobbyiSt-or perhaps j
would be better to call him the acceIeratol
/ % legislation. taking z lear from Lem
ueI Z Quiggs Albany and New YOrE
[ bOOk-briags a stenOgrapher and a cleTl
with him. and conducts his business quit
/ openly On many occasions he prepare
! typewriter statements for The press. AM
sends for the reporters 10 come and &c
them.
He does not bother with obscure Con
Sressmea nor with Congressmen VII;
are not in the knot OF men controlling
the fortunes OF his particular bilI II
economies time. labor and other thing
/ by trsnsacting MS business with fev
only. but those few are carefully picked
The accelerator Is never seen in IN
hotel lobby. except IN the act Of huTryiui
through 10 get into his automobile.