Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-02
Wine, WOMEN And
SONG HAVE MADE
way AT LINCOLN
Straight, Narrow Path Now
for Members of Legisla-
ture Gathered to Make
Laws of States.

argue for or against a proposed law
with members of the legislature
frankly and on merits of the issue.
He stands in the same relation to
the committee or individual member
as an attorney does to his client or
cause of action in a court
But the old-time member of the
legislature who can look back to
the time when brides for votes were
paid in the camouflage of poker
game winnings, and when favors
were sought by lavish presents of
liquors and cigars, with numerous
other pleasant considerations to give
variety, may sigh for a return of
its forbidden pleasures and unlaw-
full opportunities.
The Days of Free Passes.
In the olden days the railroad
pass was one Of the minor agencies
used as a means of influencing
politics and votes, by the lobbyists.
Time wasFwhen it seemed as though
the whole of Nebraska rode on rail-
road passes. In almost every COM
munity of the state was a political
agent of a railroad who was furnish
ed with bundles of railroad passes
which he gave out where they would
influence the most votes.
1t is related that there were
times when a train to Lincoln, over
the division Of the Missouri Pacific
from Union, rarely carried a passen-
ger who had paid for his or her
transportation Members of the
legislature, who,f at the end of a
session, had won from the railroads
the encomium, well done, thou
good and faithful servant" were
especially favored with bundles of
passes \ which they were permitted
to issue to their friends.
Bulls Were Included.
But to return to the lobby as it
flourished in the state capital in
these days of easy legislative virtue.
Brides ranged all the way from a
room with bath, free, during legis-
lative session to a Shorthorn bull or
Percheron stallion at its close.
One member from the southeast
ern part of the state, well-to-do and
prosperous, but whose home was
primitive in its lack of modern i'm
provements, was taken in hand by
a hospitable lobbyist during a ses-
sion that occurred at time when
there was need for men who would
stand pat AGAINST saloon legislation.
His Private Chamber.
On his arrival he was shown to
a finely furnished room with bath
and toilet facilities at a leading hotel
and was told that it was for his use
without money and without price as
long as he remained.
He walked into the tiled bath
room, glanced at the snow-white
towels and inviting cleanliness of the
sanitary bath tub. He was covered
with the sweaty CRIME, cinders and
dust of travel. 1t was Monday and
he sighed as he said longingly:
Il wish it was Saturday. Then
could take BATH" He was too set
in his ways to break the rule of a
lifetime,
Once there was member who
promised to vote for a certain meas
ure at a stipulated price. The sum
agreed on was a comfortable one.
He delivered the vote as per agree
ment and hung about the lobbyist
for his pay. The latter never men
toned the date or method of pay
ment.
Made IL at Poker Table.
One night, though, the lobbyis!
met his legislative friend and in
vited him to a poker game in which
all engaged were lobbyists except
the member. The latter won $500
on one hand. 1t was the same sum
as the amount agreed on in the bar
gain.
The next day he met his friend,
the lobbyist, and dunned the latter
for the money coming to him.
You got 1t last night" said the
lobbyist with an injured air.
last night How was that?"
Table stakes" was the laconic
reply.
why, won thatf' exclaimed the
statesman, Indignantly.
Like hell. you did" was the an
swer Il dealt you your hand.
Several decades ago, when the
Good Templar movement was
strong in the country, a wave of
prohibition sentiment struck Ne
braska and an effort was made to
make the state bone=dry at the
time.
The sentiment was about equally
divided for and against the saloons
and when the membership OF the
house was canvassed it was found
that it was about stand-off.
The prohibitionists need one man
and they concentrated their efforts
81 one of the vets, man named
Roberts.
Roberts refused to vote against
saloons but he promised. for a con-
sideration, the dry leader that as
soon as the prohibition bill came up
Tor a vote he would absent himself
and thus defeat the vets.
The test day came and the menu
Der was reported sick" by the dry
leader, who was some slick politi-
clan himself. The other side was
in doubt as to Roberts real condi-
ton and the sergeant-at-arms was
sent to inquire.
Some" Beefsteak.
He went to the hotel where Rob
erts was staying, found the door of
the latter's room locked, but the
resourceful officer climbed through
the transom and found the sick
member sitting up in bed, the pic
ture of health and engaged in de-
youring a beefsteak two inches
thick and two feet long.
Roberts was hailed before the