Imperial Valley press., 1913-07-18
THE LOBBY MUST 60" IS
DECLARATION OF many
[By Congressman Clyde n. Tavenner

WASHINGTON. July is.-''The lob
by must 90" says United states ~ena
tor James q. Reed of Missouri. ''At lis
best a legislative lobby is nuisance:
at it, worst it is criminal: in every
stage it is a menace
Senator Reed is a mcmbcr Of The
senate lobby committee. For days he
las been mterrogating Witnesses be-
fore that committee. He declares
without another single word of teSti
mony being taken, President Wilson's
charges that a dangerous and insidious
lobby is in existence in Washington. has
been substantiatrd in every way.
"Thr time has come in thi. c"un-
try" says Senator Reed. 'When the
government ought To be regarded as
something besides a great goose out Of
which every selfish hand is permitted
to pluck lis bunch of feathers. Ger
tainly the time has come when. if these
selfish interests appear, the president is
justified in notifying the people that the
Philisincs are upon us.
Il do not include in the term lobby
those men who come to the capitol. ap-
pear before proper committee, pre-
sent their cause openly and publicl!
and then retire to their homes. d'
| include in the term those who MAKE
| their stay more or less permanent: vii,
effect an organization and embark oI
| effort to promote or rontrl legiS
Iatiom by bringing pressure to bear up
on the LEGISLATORS. or who employ meth
DDS more rcprehensible.
All its very best. the objection lie,
that Il lobby presents only one side -
case. and that if conducted skilfulIy
it is likely to affect the Judgment cVcl
Of intelligent men.
"Ninety times out Of a hundred
lobby i composed Of men who are ac
| tuatcd by selfish motives. The lobby
ist has an axe to grind. Generally -
IS engaged in q scheme to put none,
| into his OWL purse. This latter claSsi
fication embraces practically all 0
thse gentlemen who come to Wash
ington about the time a tariff bill i
under discussion.
"There is a lobby at Washington. Ii
my opinion it is an in~diouS lobby. !
fills every element Of Webster'S IL
finition-il iS full Of plots: if is watch
ing for an opportunity to cnsnarc:
las attempted "a enlrap: it is charac
trrizcd by treachcry and deceit: it j
sly. crafty and willy. | may add, il !
selfish to the last extreme.
'The business view Of two of it
leaders is illustrated by the fact tina
the commander in chief Of the sura
lobbyists sent here by the planters 0
Honolulu. when asked by Senate
Wash. OF course it takes money (
do all these things you have told Il
ahout?' answered. Precisely. And
will say that if we paid out $500 90
we would consider it very small i
comparison with the $50 .OOO. 900 iha
we have got involved in this industry
Thus far the evidence has di-
closed:
"t1 That eighteen months ago tn
Honolulu. and Louisiana planters IAN,
i! will be shown, the beet sugar mi
Proprletor>l began their campaign
} maintain The present tariff.
"l2) When Congress assemble
these gentlemen likewise assemble
and made common cause.
"(3l They established eNppn,i,
headquarters INDEED. three -rparai
headquarters. They held innIImprahl
conferences. They agreed upon con
certcd plan Of action. At the time ,
this interview the evidence disclose
2 total expenditure here at Washinrto