The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-21
EFFECT ON CONGRESS-

cludes mental picture of body ol intelligent and patriotic statesmen un- movable save when confronted by legis- lation obviously of a pro bono publicC character. There are some members oi Congress who could easily measure UT to such a view. There are others, how. ever, who proceed with attention to the fact that their fate is in the hands oi the voters, and the voters must be satis- fled irrespective of the condition of the treasury, or the need for certain specific legislation.
 It is because the above is true that lobbyists are in Washington. While the object of their work may be worthy it is of course selfish object It is the exception when a lobbyist stands fol any other than class legislation,s leglsia. tion which would benefit this class or put that class out of business.
 The farmer is as much involved as any other man. And judging from the list of lobbyists issued by MT. Barrett prac- tically every other man is involved as deeply as the farmer. In as much as lobbyists have always profited more gen orally at the hands of republicans than democrats, the Incoming administration it is, already indicated, will be followed by additional crews determined ''to ge, theirs while the getting is good.''
 THE LOBBIES CITED
 This probability is stressed by Mir. Barret in his address to the farmers of the United States, as follows: "The in coming President will be besieged by individuals and interests, all of whom will consider themselves competent to advise him as to the course he should adopt in relation to the fundamental concerns of the nation
 As instances, he cites: Every interest q. 1I~t1 ing, the transportation systems. and the distribution of the nations commodities, is ably represented and well entrenched here" He then cites examples: "The packers, said by Senator Kenyon to be stronger than Congress itself; the coal operators, the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. the Association of Railway executives, the shipbuilders, the lumbermen of the north, south, east and west: the fertilizer trust and every other interest which might profit from gov ernmental action or inaction."
 That is list. which in view of it's financial strength, would make the av- craze individual fear for his govern ment. But it is by no means complete. At does not include some of the most powerful both in influence and money.
 THE VERY STRONGEST f
 Tn the supplementary list must be in- cluded, first of all, the Anti-saloon league, rich and virile, which marks a mans every public-andS Sometimes pri- vate--rhovement: secondly. the American Federation of Labor. opulent, populous. tenacious in struggling for everything of benefit to that orginazation, and thirdly, the national board of farm organizations, so industrious and intelligent that it's membership is ubiquitous, and so wealthy that it's operations on whatever scale attempted, are in no danger from fund shortage.
 And the organizations of women vot- CTS, all of them rich as result of mil onairess' assistance must not be over- looked These lobbyists have the virtue of being bold. They admit their iden- tity. and so we'll aware are they of the hesitat ton of Congress to move against them, that they defy Congress, the su- preme court and even the President of the United States.
 As a matter of fact, the situation is so and so dangerous in the opin- ion of many public men, that an ines timable opportunity is presented to a statesman with the necessary intelligence and courage to establish an undyiTg rep utation by scourging all of them from the portals of the peoples house.