Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
LOBBYISTS KNOWN TO FAME
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Navy others the daughters of Congress-
men of a past generation, and others
have driftad from home localities where
they have found themselves subjects Of
scandalous comments. They are re-
tanned with instructions to exert their
influence upon designated Congressman.
Sometimes the Congressman are in
duced to vote aye on certain measure;
sometimes to vote no and it often
occurs that where the lobbyist cannot
make an impression on them one way or
another, they will endeaver to keep
them away from the House when the
roll is called"
Some Of the Methods Employed.
Keeping members off the floor was
an entire branch of the lobbying pro-
fession in the earlier and PALMER days
AS in every Congress. there were plenty
of incorruptible members. Also. there
were men for whose vote an opposing
lobby had paid higher price. Many
measure has been put through Con-
gress because an opportunity was seized
when only handful of members known
to favor it. were present Such oppor-
tunities it was part of the duties of
keen lobbyists to manufacture. Who
can blame a Congressman" asks Poore
cooking of his hotel or boarding house,
| with the absence of all home comforts,
to walk into the parlor web which the
| cunning spider lobbyist weaves for
| him?"
In greater detail Paul Reinsch. In
| American Legislatures and Legislative
Methods" describes the methods en-
ployed by the skillful, old-time lobbyist,
He says:
THE inexperienced legislator without
money or friends becomes acquainted
| with some tactful lobbyist; through
him he is introduced to influential
| members and also, if he desires to the
social life of the capital. He is given
| assistance in preparing his bills, ma
terial is collected for him when he
wishes to make speech, or to favor
or to oppose some measure in COM
mittee. Thus difficulties are smoothed
! over, information supplied, and social
| pleasures made accessible by a cordial
friend who never mentions legislative
| business Should toward the end of
the session, this friend casually remark,
BY the way, Bill Number 2l2 comes up
today and want to see it pass. hope
you will give me your assistance there
are few members who have gone thus
far who will refuse this request, and
the purpose of the lobbyist has been
accomplished"
1t is entirely possible for a member
to vote for bill as the result Of such
PCAS OdoAOh "4k4AOQb CfCA AAIOWAAS lA4ab
he has been Influenced by lobbyist.
= Earliest Lobby.
The very first Congress was worked
upon by as open and active and corrupt
| lobby as has ever existed and no
Congress has been without lobbyists
since. Measures for funding the colo
NAL debts, for moving the capital city
to Washington and similar measures
having strong bearing on financial
affairs were under consideration. Here
Is an interesting entry indicating how
matters stood: The House was evenly
divided on Federal assumption of the
State debts under the Hamilton plan.
Representative Vining of Delaware, who
arrived just before the final vote was
taken, had the deciding vote. Senator
Maclay Of Pennsylvania wrote In his
diary at the time:
I'm the Senate chamber this morn
ing Butler said he overheard a man
say he would give Vining 1000 guineaS
for his vote (more than $4,000, but
added, I question whether he would do
so in fact So do ], for he might get
it for a tenth part of that sum-"
When Daniel Webster, while United
States Senator, was also acting as a
lobbyist for Nicholas Biddle, promoter
of the Bank of the United States, he
wrote Mr.. Biddle q complaining letter,
saying: ST believe that my retainer had
not been renewed or refreshed as usual.
It may be well to send me the usual
retainers."