The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-06-14
THAT TNsIDIoUs LOBBY"

THAT "INsIDIoUs LOBBY"
The Buffalo Express comments at length on
President Wilson's "Insdious Lobby" While be.
lieving with the President especially free sugar
the Express takes sharp issue with him the lobby
question. The article follows:
Webster said something about the ACCESSIBILITY
of the tempesttossed mariner improving the first
chance to take his bearings and find out whittier
he has been drifting Now that committee of the
United States senate has wasted somewhat more
than a week in taking the personal oaths of senat
ors that they have not been corrupty, insidiously
or otherwise improperly approached by any lobbyist
with the net result Of merely bringing out brand
new definition of "insidious lobbying" 1t may be
well to look back and where started and then
perhaps we shall have a better idea OF what we
getting to or getting away from.
The beginning of this singular diversion from
the ordinary of tariff progress was public
statement made by President Wilson on May 9th.
1t was as follows:
think that the public ought to know the ex-
traordnary exertons being made by the lobby in
Washington to gain recognition for certain alter
atoms of the tariff bill Washington has seldom
seen SO numerous, so industrious so nsidious
lobby. The newspapers being filled with
paid advertisements calculated to mislead the
Judgment of pubic not only, but also the pub
lie opinion of the country itself. There is every
evidence that money without limit Is being spent
to sustain this lobby and to create an appearance
of a pressure Of public opinion antagonistc to
some of the chief items of the tariff bill. 1t is of
serious interest to the country that the people at
large should have lobby and be voiceess in
these matters. while great bodies OF astute men
seek to create artificial opinion for their priv
ate profit. It is thoroughly worth the while Of the
people ofthIs country to have a knowledge of this
II. ,,,,,g,, p1,an and dos.
troy it, The governn ent in all its branches ought
to be relieved OF this intoerable burden and this
constant interruption to the calm progress of de-
bate | know that in this am speaking for the
members of the two houses, who would rejoice
much as | would to be released from this unbcar-
able situation
Here was very definite charge. II located the
alleged lobby in WASHINGTON" 1t ascrbed 20 the
lobby the purpose Of obtaining certain alterations
in the tariff bill. 1t declared that the lobby was 'nu-
merous," ''ndustr GUS and "insdious. That word
insidous' is not in such common use that its
act meaning could be given by every reader Off
hand. 1t may be well to quote the New Internaton-
al-"full of plots watching 70: opportunity to
insnare, or intended to entrap; characterized by
treachery and deceit sly crafty; willy" An "insd.
ious' lobby, therefore is not kind of lobby any
honest statesman allow to influence him. The
III wishing to clear themselves at from any
suspicion of being tolls OF such a lobby But more
than this, the President brought up directly and
positively the subject OF money. He said that the
newspapers were being filled with paid advertise.
ments calculated to misead the judgment OF public
men and also to mislead public opinion. He said
there was every evidence that money being
spent without limit. And he thought the people
ought TO know about 1t. Certainly the people should
know about anything Of that KIND. II money Is be-
ing spent without limit by o. the most num-
erous, industrious and insid Gus Hobbies ever
In Washington to obtain certain alterations" in
the proposed legislation, that is matter of very
great public concern. 1t implies corruption or at.
tempts at corruption and whether the proposed tar.
If is held to be wise unwse there can be no two
opinions on the point that II should be honestly en-.
acted
The senators have been investigating for more
than week and so far it appears that senator
had noticed the presence in Washington OF this
most numerous, Industrious and nsidous lobby.
They had seen or heard nothing of the corrupting
H'uences which were so apparent to the eye of the
Pres dent. In fact the testimony was becoming so
amazingly contradictory OF the Presidents asser.
tons as to arouse fear among his friends that II
would convict him of having spoken mpulsively and
without knowledge OF the facts, Courtesy forbade
that he be personally summoned before the com
mittee to tell under oath the basis for his charges
but senator after senator visited the White House
with the apparent purpose OF asking him privately
what he knew and what line of inquiry the invest.
eating committee should pursue in order to sustain
him. The first definite hint of what the President
was driving at was brought from the White House
by Senator Hoke Smith on Thursday Senator Smith
said
Everyone is entitled to his day in court and