Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-04-08

LOBBY Chatter NOW Being USED as
Club Against the Elson Telephone
Merger, Which Has but Little op-
position to It-cry Of Crooked
ness" Used by Yount to Save His
Text Book Bill.
Columbus, Special 1.-The in.
vestigation into the bribery charges
SO flamboyantly circulated some
days ago will develop into an inquest.
And of course everybody knows that
inquests are held over the remains of
dead ones.
The corrupt" lobby and the 'in-
iquitous" proceedings of lobbyists
were favorite themes Of some writer's
not long since, but after careful in
quiry into the many stories set afloat
1t looks as If somebody's bull was
about to be gored-and there is no
denying that the gorirg will be
good one. In fact, it might he safe
to prophesy that the people who
made all the noise about the lobby
will be the ones who will be hard hit.
This lobby business has been
joke from the outset. Now it is
worse-it is becoming nauseating.
The men who inspired the talk of
a corrupt lobby are now fearful that
an investigation will drive them
ir,fN hn mil hni
statements put them into the mud.
AS matter of fact, every man who
has loudly demanded an investigation
and who promised to divulge fearful
Information now wishes he had never
opened his mouth on the subject.
1t develops that this talk of per-
nicious lobby originated on occasions
of trips "about town" participated in
by members of the legislature and
outsiders. Perhaps some Of the
strong lobby talk was the result of
stronger drink-at any rate the in
vestigation movement is not as pop
ular as 1t was.
The real leaders of the Republican
and Democratic sides have not been
in sympathy with the probe PROPOSE
tion. They have not been able to see
that there was any real crookedness.
Just put it down in your notebook
that the investigation of bribery and
crookedness will result in the black
ening of some mems reputations-no
because of the lobby, but because o.
their antics outside of legislative
haIl rft al, t1.at
the whole thing will turn out to be
q huge Joke.
It's popular move to cry "crook-
ed lobby" Senator Yount Of Darke
county, than whom there is no more
fiery lawmaker in this general assem-
bly,, is trying to make a law by loud
ly whooping it up against the LOB.
by" In his minds eye he sees a
working tooth and nail against his
bill to foist uniformity of text books
upon rural schools. He says the
schoolbook trust and it's minions are
here to kill the Yount bill, now in
the house, and he charges that prac-
tically every rural superintendent in
the state is tool of the book trust
and Is working against his measure.
1t Is fact that the rural superin-
tendents and teachers are against
the Yount bill to compel rural
schools to use text books selected by
a commission sitting at Columbus,
but up to this writing the author of
the measure has not led the house
members to believe that the move
ment against the bill is result OF
crookedness.
And as statement of fact, 1t may
be set forth herein that there is
some doubt in the minds of many
Legislators IL the so-called book trust
really is against the Yount bill. To
many 1t looks as II that measure
would make fine picking for the big
schoolbook publishing house.
This lobby talk is also being used
as club against the Elson telephone
merger bill, which is before the sen.
ate. No one will deny that one tele.
phone, properly regulated, is better
than two telephones.
1t develops that Governor Harmon
may not be opposed to the Elson bill
in its present shape. That 1t is q
step in the direction of better service
for less money no one doubts. The
only question has been whether the
public interest has been sufficiently
safeguarded. Practically all who
have given the measure considera-
tion are of the opinion that the pub
lie is amply safeguarded. Since 1t
has become generally known that no
consolidation can be made except
with the approval Of the railroad
commission, and that the commission
Is authorized to hear complaints and
fix rates. the friends of the bill are
rapidly increasing, These facts no
doubt have had much to do with the