Evening star., 1935-05-19
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

MOueEn lODDylnB technique Is max
ing something of a madhouse out of
Congress. 1t botherS the President,
definitely increases the hazards of DO
litical life, and. if persisted in, is going
to take much of the fun out of being
a Congressman.
When tied in with the propaganda
machinery now functioning full tilt
both inside and outside of the Govern
ment, this new-style lobbying can be
highly effective. But the politician.
needing to keep his ear to the political
ground, no longer can tell so we'll
whether the noise he hears reflects
some special interest or the voice of
the people. That adds to his troubles.
There was time not long ago when
lobbying carried stigma. The lob
byiSt was pictured as suave back
stage operator, who pulled wires and
held out rewards to those members of
Congress who did his bidding. Most
of this activity was carried on by in
dustries interested in tariff favors and
by other business and labor groups
seeking Federal bounty.
But look at the situation today.
X X
The country's leading lobbyist Is
Father Coughlin, radio priest Of De-
troit. He does not even operate from
Washington. His appeal is through
the radio. His persuasion is applied
on Congress in the form of kilograms
and letters from large numbers Of in
dividual followers. He insists that, if
wanted, he can produce 1000 900 tele-
grams with 100000 signatures almost
overnight.
Senators and members of the House
like to reply to each letter sent them
by voter. They establish a personal
contact in that way. OF late congress
sional letter-writing had reached the
stage where the Office of an average
Senator was turning out around 1000
a week. Then came Father Coughlin
and the whole machinery broke down
Members of the Senate complained on
the floor that they no longer were able
to write individual replies to their
constituents.
The telegram and letter lobbying
technique is being applied by more
and more groups. Utility interests,
financial interests and other interests
use it.
Yet that is but one form of lobby
ing. Another is offered by the Amer
lean Legion and the American Fed
Grafton of Labor They base their
activities on the knowledge that Con-
gressmen definitely fear organized
minorities of voters. Elections turn on
a relatively small number of votes.
Groups that definitely can swing
solid blocks of ballots command a
high premium in politics. The Anti
Saloon League showed that and pio-
neered the way to power and influ-
ence through that form of lobbying.
The Legion and the A. F. of L.
can point to results accomplished as
testimonial to this form # influence
on legislation.
An older method of lobbying is pro-
vided by the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States, the National
American Manufacturers Association
and the Liberty League. These busi-
ness groups can point to control of
fewer votes. but they represent infiu-
ential business and industrial interests
in whose livelihood Congressman are
interested.
There was plenty to think about
in the modernized technique for in
fuencing legislation before this week
came around. Now there is even
more.
X X X X
The reason is that Washington has
been supplied with yet another type
of lobbying, and one that suggests
almost endless possibilities. 1t was
in the form of a farmers march on
the Capital, designed to convince
members of Congress that the farm
voters back home had their eyes
centered on what is happening here.
Speakers emphasized that from now
on agriculture was going to see that
it got a fair share of the favors
handed out by benevolent Govern
ment and would not stand idly by
while industry took its tariff benefits,
unless something equally as good was
given the farmer.
President Roosevelt oraised the
1000 marchers who came to Wash
ington to make known their views,
and told them:
"It is a good omen for Govern
ment, for business, for bankers and for
the city dwellers that the Nations
farmers are becoming articulate and
that they know whereof they speak"
That raises the question whether
the Nations 100000 unemployed
should organize lobby for a march
on Washington to make known their
demands. 1t suggested the idea to
some business men to stage a march
in favor of extending the life of N.
r, A. II direct persuasion by mass
demonstration is to be tried, then
Congressmen have something more to
think about.
They see themselves subjected to
steadily increasing pressure from spe-
cial groups In the population. And