Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29
Lobbyists in Capital

ton by the Legislature, bond issue
and taxation.
Who brought that about? In the
course of preparing history of Our
Times" I felt 1t duty to include the
history of the building of good roads
In America. Among the material gath
, cred I have a letter from q pioneer of
road building in the United States. His
letter begins Il condense and para
phrase 1t somewhat:
"In 1901 I was elected president Of
q roadmaking machinery company.
From that date until 1909 established
and carried out the policy Of absorp-
ton of competitors. In 1901 the total
volume of roadmaking machinery bust
ness was a few hundred thousand dol
lars. BY 1909 our companies were what
Bryan used to call trust Having the
direct responsibility OF pushing forward
of these companies, began to do some
real thinking. My thoughts took the
form of realizing that whatever roads
we're built in the United States they
were going to be paid for by the people.
The problem. therefore, seemed to De
a simple one of getting the people OF
the United States interested in road
building. II they were interested they
would tax themselves to build them. II
they did this our companies would get
their share of the business. So 1t came
down to q question Of how TO get the
people of the United States interested
In roadbuilding. became a director
in the American RoadbuilderS Assocla-
ton. I thought that bringing the
manufacturers and highway builders
fVata
would be an important factor In help
ing to gain public interest. as we'll as
be beneficial to the industry ITSELF.
Good Roads Innovation.
The good roads that have spread
throughout the United States are COM
monty considered to be laudable in
noyation. But 1t was private interest
profit making interest--the interest Of
manufacturers of roadmaking ma
chinery that started the movement
Joined later by cement manufacturers
and automobile manufacturers and
others. And their method Of operation
was largely propaganda and lobbying.
Just O few weeks ago there was
started In q Southern State a move,
mept for bond issue to build improved
TOnUN. 9uteiy VIC pcOpsC Va eAA&s SS :
must have known that movement DID
not Just happen" In any event, pres
entity there was q "joint committee for
highway bonds" Presently there was
campaign manager" Presently the
campaign manager wrote q letter. des-
tined 10 be embarrassing. In which ne
set forth the need for money what lis
to be known as the legislative fund
the funds TO come from the material
men, contractors, bonding and insurance
companies and machinery people. This
fund IA to cover the legislative expenses
In getting three or four men directly
inside OF the organization to check up
and keep contact with the individual
legislators and to report TO the general
steering committee as to the several
movements in the two houses. We
have selected excellent, well trained and
well posted people in whom we have
complete confidence to handle this
History ought to (but rarely does)
tell how things come about. Things
commonly come about because some
person. or persons want them to be
brought about and are willing TO pay
money to have them brought about:
That simple formula describes more OIL
the mechanism behind events than any
other one. Yet rarely do the books OF
history or the newspapers md out the
name Of the man who wanted some
thing brought about, how much money
he put up and whom he hired. Il should
add that the newspapers are rather
shreWder and more penetrating than
the college histortans.)