Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1909-06-02
A Study in English.

A Study in English.
Gov. Hadlev may or may not be
able to name the times, places and
persons present. The Democratic
state senators who deny his charge
that ''the railroad and brewery
lobby participated in every Demo
cratic council that was held during
the session of the Forth fifth AS
sembly," say that no representa-
tives of either of these interests ap'
peared in any of the councils OF
the Democratic senator's which
they attended. Senator Fields
thinks that he was present at all
such councils. Senator Alice is
certain he was present at all that
be knew of. The Governors
charge that the lobbyists partici-
pated in all of such gatherings is
resented by both of these gentle
men as to the meeting they attend
ed under the impression, no doubt.
that the word ''participated,' .
when used IN such a connection,
must mean the actual and visible
presence. This error proves again
the truth of the tribute we have
often paid to the governor of be.
ing one of the best users of Eng
lish in the country. ''Participa-
ton" can nowhere be found as
meaning or necessarily implying
presence. The word is found fre.
quently in the English literary
classics, and used almost invariably
in spiritual sense and as showing
afinities in thought and action be-
tween kindred spirits, often wide
ly separated.
Toboganning down from the
English classics to the Jefferson
City lobby, another definition sug-
gests itself. As an intransitive
verb this word is used as indicating
sharing, division, a cut-up, OF
what is sometimes called in Jeffer.
son City "a killing" We are not
aware that the governor intended
his use of the verb to be so under
stood. If he did, there is nothing
in the intransitive use of the word
to imply the actual presence OF
lobbyists at meeting in the re,
suits of whose work they partici.
pated through making those re-
suits what they wished them to be.
We incline to the opinion that bis
use of the word was the other in
transitive meaning found in the
dictionaries, under which individu
ais or bodies having the same char
acteristics and purposes in common
are said to participate with one an
other. Bacon says: "Some Gre
atures participate of the nature OF
plants and metal BOTH" We select
Bacon as one Of the many citations
only because his name carries with
it some weight of authority in {
controversy possibly involving
situations such as that which Mr..
Lincoln was once called to deal
He was defending a man charged
with hog stealing, and was about
to challenge juror when his client
whispered in his ear: ''Teke him
He got some of the pork Thi
famous case is now pat, because
although the juror was not presen
at the hog stealing, he actualI,
participated in it.
! Bacon's use of the word is ma
terial for another reason. 1t il
undoubtedly the use the governo
intended. And since the lobby
and the Senate were in that fine
harmonious accord which he ha
) pointed out as existing between
them from the beginning to tn
close of the session, it is plain tha
} the lobbyists were participating il
the councils of the Democrat,
senators whether or not they wer
present at senatorial Democra,i
caucuses, and whether or not the,
! got some of the pork. 1t may b
that they got all Of the pork. thr,
ldsxltous appeals to The narrow