Great Falls tribune., 1921-01-27
6be SPIRIT
OfAMERICA
D A 1 L Y
EDITORIAL
DIGES T
Prepared Exclusively for The Tribune.
Todays Subject:


Today's Subject:
I! HOW TO KILL A LOBBYIST
The violent epidemic of lobbyism
from which congress complains it is
suffering is 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 de-
clare his interests is champoned by
some writer's, but many think that only
showing up" the individuals, their con-
lnections, the money they receive and
what they spend, will cure the evil
The Kansas City Star (Ind.) makes
its comment ironically. In discussing
the law that would force the lobbyist
to reveal his connections it remarks:
"The question for congress to decide
is whether these proposed regulations
would be unduly harassing to their busi-
ness and restrictive to their rights, If
so, then of course the law would be
unconstitutional. 1t must be remem-
bhered that it is not always convenient
for the lobbyists to announce their ap-
pAodCA ny Dlaie VI IL ouPctS
While the st. Louis Post Dispatch
! (Ind.) does not believe that registra-
ton would go to the root of the evil, it
believes that it would help. 1t de-
scribes the new form in which lobbying
appears The men are no longer mem
bers Of "a third house." but
"They are the managers or publicity
agents of bureaus pretending to be de-
voted to some public objective. Or
they are attorneys or officers of some
commercial organizations with high
sounding name, which maintains a
Washington headquarters in evidence Of
its national scope and Importance"
Oil, lumber and other interests are
sending big checks to Washington. the
paper continues, and publicity" which
'acts with penal effects on the lobby
ist' is the only cure. Two papers at
least feel that little difficulty will be
found in handling the situation if Mr..
Wilson's example be followed. The
Sandusky, Ohio. Register (Rep) de-
| clares that there is an obvious rem
edy at hand" for President Wilson
created lobby committee" which still
exists and presumably understands
the situation thoroughly The Fort
w dsElS uludl-utLStle tDeH.I states
that during the last eight years Wash
ington has been more free from this
pest than in full generation" and
Mr.. Harding will make ten-strke
with the public when he calls congress
in extraordinary session, and finds this
familiar army smirking and sneaking
about. if he will initiate Woodrow VIII
son eight years ago and give them an
other touch of the pitiless publicity
that then sent them sneaking for
cover
There would be shortcomings in any
law providing for the registration and
regulation of the special pleaders. for,
as the New York Globe Ind.) remarks,
washington cannot be turned into a
monastery, closed to all human pleas:
Yet we must admit that rich and
poor are no more equal in our law max
ing assemblies than in our courts so
long as those who have the time and
money to spend on it can maintain paid
advocates to hang about the Railways
Of the capitol and buttonhole our rep
resentatives. There are always minori-
ties with power to throw obstacles ir
the way Of changes looking toward jus
tice. We know without asking that the
packers, the railroads, the oil compa-
mes, the coal operators, and the specu-
lators In water power have men in
Washington whose business it is to in
fluence votes. We know without ask
ing that Neighbor Jones, the teacher.
the truck gardener or the tailor is
without voice i'm Washington except for
his vote. And these things we are
powerless to chance"
The Chicago Daily News Ind) ha-
lieves that upon the integrity of onr
representatives rather than upon me
chanical and artificial devices rests
the peoples hopes, and it points ont
that the average congressman is not
as simple minded as he is sometimes
painted and he is under no obligation
to discuss legislation with anyone at
the wrong time or in the wrong
place" The Akron Beacon Journal
(Rep.) takes the position that CON
gress should be given a chance to nav
attention to the interests of the mere
people without being bored and bully
ragged by any special interests" but
this paper believes too, that IF con
gressman is worth his salt the man ar
business who approaches him through
a lobbyist will at once prejudice his |
case even if he has one" On tha |
other hand. every congressman should /
not hesitate to give all his time and
attention to every constituent, rich or
poor, to protect his interests This is !
his business. 1t is what he is hired
for. That he may do this. the Jour-
nal believes the law must "placard"
the lobbyist, "and place these gentle
men where they belong" With this
sentiment the Binghamton Sun Gnd
Dem.) is in full accord. It adds that
the paid agents should be forced to
"tell the public just how much the
passage of special legislation il cost
ing them and the people through their
representatives will make a quick end
to that sort Of business
In the same strain the Charlotte Oh.
server (Ind. Dem.) declares that tho
questions, who gave you the money |
to come here?-and how much =, |
would curb the lobbyists activities for !
no law could be passed that would |
keep the lobbyist away from Washing
ton," but the right kind of publicity
would mean his doom. The Ohio
State Journal (Rep.) does not believe
that publicity alone will do the trick
but demands courage on the part of
congress for thorough and SEARCHING
Selfish interests" +
says, "have sent an army of LOBBYISTS
to Washington. 1t will require mora
than congress usually DISPLAYS
10 Ston their activity puhI;c;ty III |