The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-25
THEY DON'T LIKE 1T.
But Legislators Are Afraid to Defeat
Anti-LObby Bill.

But Legislators Are Afraid to Defeat
Anh-Lobby Bill
| It's silver dollars to tin nickels that
| the proposed anti-lobby bill would not
stand any more show than stein at a
sentatives of the ''peepuT' in the pres
| ent legislature could have their way.
There are some, it is believed, who
| would secretly take a fiendish delight
In taking out that little old lobby bill,
| tearing 1T into slender shreds and
Jumping onto the remains with both
feet-if they dared; but they das-
sen't.''
A politician may frequently get des-
perate, but he seldom becomes so des-
perate as to Willingly commit political
suicide. And that is just about the an
sWer II any member of the present leg
lslature were to hop out into the open
and fiercely take up the cudgels in op-
position to the anti-lobby legislation,
in the face of such a general demand
In view of such a state of affairs it is
hardly probable that any member of
either house now in session will care to
''eXtinguish" himself by vigorous,
open fight on the measure, even if its
provisions and purposes should be OBJ
noXious to him. 1t is not charged
against any member that he is in favor
of pernicious lobbying, or of permitting
the will of the people or their rights to
be frustrated or trampled upon by the
use of corrupt methods in influencing
legislation. But there are some who
seem to hold to the opinion that people
cannot be made good by legislation and
who fear that in seeking to prevent
evils of lobbying the radicals will in
sist on going a few steps too far and
bar constituents from a proper inter-
est and participation in their law-mak~
ing.
That the anti-Iobby bills now before
the legislature are. a bit drastic in
their prohibitions and requirements
many are willing to admit, but it may
be that the matter at issue requires
drastic treatment. On this point diff
ference of opinion, no doubt will be al
lowed without the calling of names or
odious insinuations on either side
While no member of either house has
displayed any unseeming haste in get
ting into the spotlight as the opponent
of the anti-lobby measure, yet it has
developed from the nature of certain Of
the amendments offered to the bill dur
ing its consideration that some of the
legislators are willing to trust them
selves to cautiously play the role of sly
Reynard. the fox, in putting a crimp
here and there wherever they can in
the measure. In fact, it has been in
timated in debate on the floor that
members have endeavored to insert
amendments so drastic as to bring the
bill into disfavor with legislators and
with the people. There has also been
considerable fOrtisSimo used in playing
up the rights of the folks back home'
to have their say concerning legislation
that may be proposed in the future.
OF course, these various things may
have some effect, but at this stage in
the game the open friends of the anti |
lobby bill appear to hold practically
all of the good cards in the deck and |
the cautious opponents have to be con- |
tented with what they can pick out of
sitting in with real poker faces and |
need not be expected to risk many I
chips in inpulsive bluffing.
And while all this talk is going on up
at the capitol concerning lobbyists, the
question naturally intrudes: Where |
are all these pernicious lobbyists, at |
this critical time when their interests |
are at stake and when they should be |
on the job trying to defeat the bill?'' |
They may argue to themselves that |
this is the open season for lobbyists in |
the state house preserves and they are
remaining away for fear |
some eager hunter may take a, shot at |
them at short range.
Be that as it may. the usual host of
brilliant, suave, genial legislative
this session thus far. How badly |
missed or how agreeabIy missed it is
not necessary to say. But many of
the old-timers can't help wondering as
to the whereabouts of that former gen.
eralissimo of the corporation agents
Dave Muvane and Col Joe Richards
of the Missouri Pacific and Col. N. H.
LoomiS of the U. P. and Colonel o. j.
Wood and Howell Jones of the Santa
Fe Gall the lobbyists are colonies ex-
officio). and Col. B. F. Pankey of the
telephone companies, and D. o. Nc
Cray of the American Book company,
Billy Buchan, who was charged with
keeping intact the sacred legislative
rights of the packing houses; and ].
K. Cubbison, who saw to it that the
stock yards were not torn down by any
legislative enactment. Col Earl Evans,
who looked after the Standard Oil in
terests, was in the city at the Cope
land at the time of the fire His ex-
perience there evidently convinced him
that it was too hot in the old town for
an oil man, and he went back to wick
ed Wichita and didn't even pay his re-
spects to the halls of legislation.
But wherever they are. no doubt they
are happy, and are keeping one eye on
the doings at the Kansas state capitol.
After the smoke of battle-should there
be any-has cleared away they may all
come back and register and be regular,
honest injun" lobbyists
st. Marys Pitcher to Marquette.