Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-18
STATE SENATOR ESTUDILLO TELLS
CITY CLUB OF SPLENDID WORK OF
NEWLY FOUNDED PEOPLES LOBBY
Legislator Lauds New Factor in Political Situation
and Describes Method of Observation-Disclosures
Adopted Supporting Direct Election OF Sena-
tors and Commenting Police Chief
State Treasurer Speaks

as can be learned, not one leaked.
Some of these attaches of the peoples
lobby (all but three of whom served the
cause without hope of pecuniary re-
ward) knew nobody else connected with
the novel institution excepting its re-
cognized head and the office employees.
The organization was far from perfect,
but its limited equipments contained no
faulty material. The structure held
firm to the last
"There is no question that the lobby
was in close touch with everything
going on in the legislature. Nothing
happened behind closed doors the lobby
did not discover. Even the closed doors
of the Republican caucuses, for in
stance, when the vote to admit Senator
Bell into the Republican caucus was
taken, did not prevent the peoples
lobby from finding out what happened.
The peoples lobby knew all about the
vote within a short time after it was
taken.
TT was this espionage deferred the
other lobbies from carrying things with
high hand. 1t was this close watch
frustrated the plans of the race track
gamblers.
Lobby Has Friends
"The objections to the peoples lobby
were not general among the members
and had no reference to political align
ments I believe the lobby had a great
many friends at Sacramento, also a
good many cordial enemies. l never
heard any objections to it founded on
sufficient grounds.
THE man in charge Of the lobby was
quiet, unassuming gentleman, always
courteous, and 1 believe always fair,
who went about his business In most
marvellous and mysterious manner.
1.-The charges of unfairness brought
against the gentleman who had charge
| of the lobby were caused by irrespon-
sible and blackmailing newspaper men
| with an ak to grind, who wanted to set
even with some representative or other.
The peoples lobby gave the facts,
which the blackmailers twisted and dis
| torted to suit their purpose.
"It would not be in accord with hu-
man experience if such an institution
as the peoples lobby did not meet with
some opposition. Certainly some hon
orable gentleman found fault with the
manager Of the lobby These honor
able gentlemen resented the pointed
question put to them by Mr.. Anderson,
with the result that Mr.. Anderson, the
peoples lobby representative, was
ruled off the floor, and not only off the
floor, but clear off the legislative pres
serves, Sundays, holidays and all.
"The senate, it seems, was not so
sensitive. That body took no official
action In regard to the unWelcome Mr..
Anderson. BY direction of the presid-
ing officers of that higher branch of
the legislature, the secretary refused
although it was demanded of him, to
give Mr.. Anderson the badge that en-
titled him to admission and which had
been prepared for him.
Was Fathered Here
"There may be some who believe the
! peoples lobby and the Direct Legisla-
! ton league were one and the same
This is an error. They were not the
same. l believe this impression spread
abroad from the fact that the people S
lobby worked for the measure known
las senate constitutional amendment NO.
6, providing for the initiative.
1T may be interesting to know that
this unknown intruder in the political
field, known as the peoples lobby, was
born in Los Angeles. Rumor has 1t
that a we'll known political writer OF
this place, not a thousand miles away,
assisted at its birth. This gentleman
had help. Between them all they
brought forth a lusty political kid that
was bound to make rumpus before he
cut his eye teeth.
at will be also interesting to know
that the work of the peoples lobby was
twofold.
First, to make public through the
press of the country and civic organiza-
tions all over the state the individual
records of the members of the legis-
lature.
"Second.> the gathering into perma-
nent shape and form the records of
the members of the legislature for fu-
cure USE
"There is no question that the peo-
ple's lobby influenced considerable leg
islation during the session. However,
this was outside of the plan contem-
plated by the lobby when organized.
The plans were somewhat vague when
the lobby first saw the light OF day.
But once on the ground, 1t seemed to
have gotten busy.
1.-THE most powerful weapon of the
lobby was publicity. One hundred and
fifty-nine newspapers throughout the
state received and published the letters
sent out from Sacramento by the rep
resentative of the peoples lobby. Fifty
one out of this number were daily pa
pers, the rest were Weeklies and semi
weelxlies. This information contained
in these letters was sent without adding
coloring matter or doping in any par
ticular.
Has Come to Stay
"This, I wish to say, though I am not
a prophet nor the son of a prophet, that
the peoples lobby has come to stay.
The history compiled during the last
session may retire to the rear several
legislators who believed themselves to
be the whole legislature of California
Further, the peoples lobby has come
to be permanent fixture, for there
must be a change in the management
of the state of California, and the
people will get 1t.
lowing to the present condition OF
things the peoples lobby is needed'
The good such a lobby can do is be-
yond my power to express. A people
| lobby, in the hands of the right man,
properly handled, will retire to private
| life all other lobbies whose work is
against the interest of the people. 1t
must be conceded the greatest trouble
now is that the people allow few
self-styled bosses to run the govern
ment for them. The special interests
and the bosses never do, the people
turn against their representatives upon
the representation of some hypocriti-
cal mountebank, the special interests
hack up their men to the very last,
and provide for them In the future.
"The peoples lobby will keep the
neople In touch with their representa-
tiyes. and tell what they are doing;
also pick out the bugs in the bills and
point out the way to exterminate
] them"
was short. He did not deal with the
question OF how money should be dis
bursed, but told only Of the physical
handling of the money. Mr.. Williams
said:
"Previous to the legislature of 1905
| +ba laws reo1lired that all state money