The Detroit times., 1917-09-21

draft it, but is now spending his time ir
Washington 20 explain II 10 anyone IN
congress.
There are signs that the big insurance
companies are none TOO eager 10 see the
bill made law, and that the pension
sharks and pension attorneys are also
opposing it.
|. Hence there is good reason for alert
ness.
It seems Judge Mack committed the
high crime and misdemeanor of sitting
in the house gallery the other day. tax
ing notes on the speeches on that bill and
occasionally sending suggestions to those
who had charge Of the measure.
Now YOU can fool some people, but you
cant fool Representative Walsh Of Mas
sachusetts.
He is very Sherlock Holmes.
His eagle eye spotted Mack at once.
Here was great conspiracy 10 have
federal judge SIT on high and dictate
now the house should act.
So he spouted about it.
Ineu another alert patriot. kepreSen-
tat.ve Meeker of Missouri, stepped into
the breach.
With eloquence that must have thrill
ed the dreary stone statues 10 the Cal
leIy III Horrors, Meeher exclaimed IN
stentoriau tones.
1T is "a gratutous insult TO the house
for man 70 sit in the gallery and under
take TO direct legislation.
Then warming UP TO the JOB ne brayed
this gem:
There is just as much propriety in a
member of the bench OF the United
States sitting in the gallery OF the house,
sending notes and suggestions 70 the
floor of the house, a. there would be FOR
a member Of this congress 70 sit IN his
court and send notes 20 him when ne sits
on the bench.
After some more Of this kind Of school
boy reasoning. Representative Decker
cleared the air by saying
II there Is any man here that objects
to the lobby sitting there now In the
person Of a federal Judge of the United
States who. al the request of President
Wilson and Samuel GomperS and Vii
=.
brains and his efforts In drafting legis-
laton for the benefit of the men on the
firing line 10 fight for your cause and
my cause, then l say long live that kind
OF lobby
That Is a complete answer.
The fact is. OF course, that the Judge
attacked was lobbying for a bill that
meant no pecuniary, political or personal
advantage 20 himself nor 70 those asso-
ciated with him.
There IS vast difference between lob
bying for that kind Of thing and lobby
ing for some of the perniclous trusts con-
corning which our vigilant statesmen
have never opened their mouths.
For instance, for years and years one
IF the most notorious lobbies has been
that OF the beet sugar trust It's repre-
sentative- brazenly sit In the galleries
and send notes % senators and congress
men.
Yet we do not recall that any cor
gresham or senator ever rose In right
eous wrath a Ia Walsh, Meeker and Co,
to point the finger Of scorn at them.
Nor have We heard anything about the
more insidious lobby that meets lawmak-
ers In their hotels or their homes. and
persuades them 20 vote for something
of benefit to selfish private corporations,
and against the interests of the people.
We recommend 10 our timid congress
men that before they become white with
fear, they study the bills lobbed for
If they are honest bills. designed 70 help
the people. there is no room for scare.
But If the bills are designed 20 foist
a new monopoly there is room not only
for indignation, but for positive action.