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

and again to G. cate sentiment and work upon the
judgment of the members of congress is insidious
! and highly obje enable obbying.
| Now that w have this singular definition we
| must note that it corresponds somewhat with the
| Presidents orig nal statement The "Insidous lob
by" Of which he complained was inserting pad
| advertisements in the newspapers to misead the
judgment of puDiic and to mislead pubic opn-
ion. 1t was trying to create appearance of a
pressure of public opinion"
1t is, of course well known that the various
business interests likely to be affected by the re-
vision of the tariff have sent committees to Wash.
ington and have hired attorneys to their side
of the and that they have printed and distrib
uted great deal Of literature to put their argu
ments before the public. Newspapers have printed
more or less of these arguments, it their
legitimate and fair duty to do. No newspaper which
would refuse to give all sides reasonable hearing
could pretend to be fair. Whether any such mat
ter has been printed paid advertising The Elk
press does not know. 1t is not uncommon for ar
guments public questions to be displayed and
paid for as advertising. But it is significant that
no such advertisement has yet been shown to the
committee during the progress Of this investigation.
One would have supposed that II the President had
actually such advertisements and considered
them llegtimate he would have sent them to the
committee at once. Without such evidence he
the amateursh delusion that any newspaper state
ment which does not accord with his own ideas or
conception of facts must be paid advertisement"
II is hoped that great public man as Mr.. VIII
is above such childshness.
But putting aside the newspaper end Of the dis
cussion what is there about Of this distribution
OF literature and presentation Of argument which is
unfair Legitimate nsldous? Take the Of
the most active interest at work to obtain al
terations in the pending bill-the sugar interest
The Express believes in free sugar and hopes that
the free sugar clause will be enacted. But 1t is
undeniabe that sugar is a great industry in the Uni
ted States and its dependencies. If the men
gagged in this industry believe that the pending bill
is going to injure them, have they not the right
beyond question, to say so, to explain to congress
and to the country why they believe they will be
injured? Public opinion may or may not agree with
them, but, far as they limit their activities to
open and public argument it is entirely unwarrant-
ed to call their efforts ''insidous lobbying"
The claim that congress is a court and has a
right to close public argument is not admissible
Congress is not court, and, If it were, it would
not have right to close public argument. Courts
do not limit arguments even before their own tri-
bunas a rule, and they never attempt to say that
discussion in the press and on the platform must
cease when they have made up their minds. Such
an attitude by court would be intolerable. Much
less can it be admitted privilege of legisa.
tive body. If arguments against the tariff bill
against any features Of 1t are making an impression
on the public which is causing some senators to
doubt the wisdom and justice Of the bill, it is
very poor way to meet this opinion by charging
that 1t has been worked up by an "insdious lob.
by" The senators ought to be intelligent enough
to Judge whether statements are untruthful mis-.
leading and not entitled to influence them. At any
~.
are saying that the President himself has been the
chief influence seeking to dssuade them from the
exercise of their conscientious judgment and 1t is
that the Investigators ask senators how
far they have been subjected to such Presidential
influence. Whatever may be said on that line 1t
looks at present If the Presidents charges
more expression of chagrin over the drift of
public sentiment against the tariff bill than OF any
definite knowledge of the existence of an "insidous
lobby"
We are glad to note Mayor Hayballs ideas on
the water question, and commend him for his pub
lie spirit in offering to stand behind $4,000 OF the
necessary funds. We trust that from this beginning
plans will be matured that will insure water sys
TEN in keeping with the needs of the city. We
shall be glad TO open columns to any citizen
who desires to express his views the question,
and trust the matter will awaken public interest.
i i i
The turkey trot, the bunny hug and the tango
are forbidden at White House dances, but 1900
Office seekers continue to do the hen-ona hotgriddle
the front lawn Philadelphia North American
i !. i
II costs Chicago charitable institutions $4,000
to investigate 81 ha'.ty case in which less than
$500 expended This should become the clas-
sic OF charity beginning at home.
i. j. 4
Prof. Taft says that political bosses have their
redeemng qualities. Redeeming their promises is
not the foremost one.
y \. !.