Evening star., 1921-01-24
Editorial Digest
How to Kill . Lobbyist.

kAVW " xA4Ax - 10O0yAoSs
The epidemic Of lobbyism from
which Conxress complains it 10 SUI
fering 10 . disease which the press
thinks can only be cured by strong
application Of pitiless publicity. The
suggestion from Senator Kenyon and
others that . law be passed requiring
the lobbyist to register and frankly
declare his interests 10 champi oned oy
some writer's. but many think that
only showing up the individuals.
their connections, the money they re-
cefve and what they spend will cure
the evih
The Kansas City Star (independent). }.
In discussing the law that would force
the lobbyis st to reveal his connections.
remarks: THE question for Congress
to decide is whether these proposed
regulations would be unduly harass-
to their rights: If SO. then. Of course.
the law would be unconstitutional.
1t must be rem rendered that 1t is not
always convenient for the lobbyists
to announce their approach by blare
Of trumpste"
While the 81. Louis Post Dispatch
Independently does not believe that
registration would 60 20 the root Of
the evil. It believes that it would help
It. de.cribes the new form in which
longer members Of q third house."
but they are the managers or pub.
licity agents Of bureaus pretending
to be devoted to some public objective.
or they are attorneys or Officers Of
some commercial organization with
high-sounding name which main
tains a Washington headquarters in
evidence Of it's national scope and
Importance"
OIL: lumber and other interests are
sending big checks to Washington
the paper continues. and "publicity"
which acts with pena; eTects on tine
lobbyist" is the only cure. Two pa
pers at least feel that little difficulty
WIN be found in handling the situa-
tion II Mr.. Wilson's example be fol-
ter (republican) declares that "there
is an obvious remedy at hand" for
President Wilson created q lobby
COMMITTEES" which still exists and
presumably understands the situa-
journal Gazette (democratic) states
that during the last eight years
washington has been more free from
this pest than in = full genera tion."
and Mr.. Harding will make q ten
strike with the public when he calls
Congress in extraordinary session and
ffnds this familiar army smirking and
sneaking about IL he will initiate
woodrow Wilson eight years ago. and
give them another touch Of the pitt
iess publicity that then sent them
There would be shortcomings in any
law providing for the registration and
regulation OF the special pleaders. for.
as the New York Globe independently
remarks, washington cannot be
turned into monastery, closed to all
human please. Yet we must admit that
,1ch ana poor are no more equal in our
law making assemblies than In our
courts SO long as those who have the
time and money to spend on it can
m
the Railways Of the Capitol and button
hole our representatives"
The Chicago Daily News (independent)
Deieves that upon the integrity Of our
representatives rather than upon me
chanical and artificial devices' rests the
peoples hope, and it points out that
the average Congressman is not as
simple minded as he is sometimes paint
ca and he is under no obligation to
DISCUSS legislation with any one at the
wrong time or in the wrong place."
:. The Akron Beacon Journal (repub-
lican, takes the position that Congress
should be given a chance to pay at
tention to the interests Of the mere peo-
pie without being bored and bullyragged
py ,;a any special interests. ut this paper
worth his salt the man or ks,iness who
approaches him through a lobbyist will
a.. e. once prejudice his case even II he
Auo 0IHBndMtOn sun independent
democratic) believes that the paid
,,!s,,a asssnts ,o should be forced to tell the
special legislation is costing them and
the people through their representatives
viii make a quick end to that sort Of
business"
In the same strain the Charlotte
Observer independent democrat) de-
clafes that the questions, "Who gave
you the money to come ere?-and
how much?" would curb the lob
byisfs activity. for no. law could
be passed that would keep the lob
byfst away from Washington" but
the right kind Of publicity would
mean his doom.
The Columbus Ohio state Jour-
nal {republican) does not believe
that publicity alone will do the
trick. but demands courage" on the
part of Congress for a thorough and
searching. investigation. Selfish in
terests;" It says. have sent an army
Of lobbyists to Washington. Pub
licity will deter them. make them
secretive: but only scandal that ruins
some will serve to interrupt them"