South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-04
MASTER MINDS AT
CAPITAL CIRCLES
Legislative Agents Take Place
of Lobbyists in Wash
inpfon Halls.

most clever men about congress are
those who have their seats in the
galleries
The galleryltes are The regulars
who are on hand 20 observe. Most
o. them are paid for their observa-
tions and are professionals at #.
The lobbyist" has long since been
deceased I'm Washington. In this day
q advancement IN things political
we have Legislative agents" They
are perfectly legitimate workers and
can not be said 10 be the successors
&c the old-time lobbyists. but al
least they are the outgrowth Of the
demised gentleman lobbyist
legislative agents work I'm the
open. They appear before commit
tees 20 plead the cause Of their var
1ous interests. and they do mission
ary" work with the various mem
ers, but they are very circumspect
lU their transactions and most care
ful not 20 cross the line Of demarca-
tien between propriety and impro-
Triety in influencing legislation.
Wheeler Among CIcverest.
These legislative agents are mas
Ter minds" They are clever men.
most OF them conceded TO be more
clever than the men with whom they
are working
Foremost i'm the ranks Of the legis-
l5tivc agents at the present time IS
Wayne r. Wheeler, general counsel
40 the Anti-SaIoon league. SO far as
=, onsress IS concerned. Wheeler is
the Anti Saloon League.
Light recently because OF the denOue-
rlents against him on the floor OF
the senate. after he was invited 20
Fit with members OF the house and
uatc on the conference report on
tho anti-beer bill
Despite the cartOouists. Wheeler is
aa affabIe and likeable man person
ally. who never deals with the ques-
lion of prohibition as a sin, but who
attacks 90 as a scientific problem.
once ianitor Of a middle western
college. he has risen TO the ranks OF
great attorneys and probably has
had more influence upon vital legis
lation in the last two years than any
other private citizen. 1t is generally
admitted that Wheeler nad much to
do with the writing OF the prohibit
tion law and that the Volstead act Is
Pretty nearly mis- own child
Thorn Represents Roads.
When a question concerning pro-
hibition pops up in congress
Wheeler is on the job. He doesn't
preach. but he gets down 10 cold.
hard legal argument. and thus far
he has succeeded in winning every
fight he has entered upon I'm the
cause OF prohibition. although this
ant-beer bill may come along 10
spoil his record.
Alfred p. Thorn. n lawyer of note.
represents the cause OF the railroads
before congress. as a rule. Thorn is
the Washington representative OF
the American Association Of Railway
9FXecutives, and he turns up every
where that matters affecting the
railroads are BEING discussed. Short
I'm stature and given to mucn
avOirdupois. Thorn is not impressive
in appearance. but when he speaks
he generally gets attention Thorn IS
not hand-shaker He does not
gush lie meets members OF con-
TrcSs and government officials OH a
strictly business basis and expects
70 win his Eoint by legal argument.
and his measure Of success IS fairly
full Unlike Wheeler, Thorn does not
have l--sidor conferences and makes
his most frequent appearances be
fore committees. where he shows up
with huge piles OF briefs and stalls
tics and presents legal arguments
that sometimes win by their sheer
length
Farmers Representative.
Benjamin G. Marsh gives an en-
tirely different angle on the leglsla-
tive agent Marsh carries the title OF
legislative agent for the National
Farmers council and sundry kindred
Crga r izations. He IS most active
agent and resorts 20 the buttonhOle
method Of persuasion Marsh is per-
haps the most frequent conEression-
al witness. and he appears before
every and any committee that will
hear him.
Charles Lyman. secretary Of the
American Board or Farm Organiza-
tionz. gives still another slant on the
sort Of men who keep their finger
ON the pulse OF congress. 4 college
man. who looks ike a college man.
and student. Lyman appears be-
Afore congressional committee with a
Orapld-fre line OF argument that
sweeps most Of the members OF con-
gross. doing in their chairs into
action. Lyman always livens things