Montgomery County sentinel., 1935-05-02

NfIUR perhaps uOEc 1ODDy-
lists in Washington
than at any time in the last fifteen
years. 1t is true they are influencing
legislation, and I think it can be said
without fear of contradiction that lob
byists are responsible for a portion Of
the baking tactics in congress.
Existence Of this unusual condition
An Washington carries more signifi-
cance, however, than just the fact that
special interests or individual interests
are trying to protect themselves. From
a good many sources gather the opin-
ION that the condition means the Pres
idents power has weakened.
It is to be remembered that when
Mr.. Roosevelt carried his New Deal
into the White House and led the
largest Democratic majority ever to
control the national legislative body,
that very fact thwarted lobbying. Very
few Of the so-called special interests
had the courage to button hole indi-
Nidual representatives or senators to
plead their cause. These representa-
tives and senators were looking to
White House leadership; their fate
rested on the New Deal, and they were
unable accurately to gauge what public
sentiment would be If they openly dis
agreed with Presidential orders. In
those days, the corridors Of the Capt.
tol and the house and senate Office
buildings were virtually deserted Of
petitioners that is what a lobby
ast is.
To the extent that lobbyists oper-
ated in the early days of the Roose-
welt administration, they sought to in
huence Presidential decision and the
activities Of the brain trust and un-
derlings who drafted the Presidential
programs. Once these programs had
been submitted to congress, the oppo-
sition to them largely subsided and
members jumped to the crack of the
Presidential whip. AS stated above, in
dividual members were afraid to go
against White House orders and lobby
lists were afraid to combat the Presi-
dents popularity.
But year ago, various interests
throughout the country began to sense
a feeling that they could again talk
with members of congress safely. They
began organizing their representations
here as they formerly had enjoyed, and
little by little broadened the scope of
their activities. A singular part about
the present condition is the mushroom
growth Of the lobbyists. Supplement-
ing their growth has been an unusual
fearlessness. They are busy pushing
all kinds of causes, good and bad.
Some forces estimate there are close
to five hundred different groups and
organizations actively petitioning con-
gress to do this or that according to
their lights. There are such gigantic
lobbies as that of organized labor, ag
riculture and the American Legion
There are lobbies for religious and ra-
cial groups. The power interests at
the moment bulk large with their lob
bying activities. Individual lines of in
dustry have their representatives here
In numbers. The railroads, for example,
have headquarters here for their Asso-
citation Of American Railroads and it is
also the headquarters for the Short
line Railroad association. The bank
ers maintain legislative committee
of the American Bankers association
here, and even scientific groups have
their people treading water in the halls
of congress, watching and waiting to
be sure that nothing detrimental to
their interests is done by the legisla-
tors.
1t will be recalled that several weeks
ago Mr.. Roosevelt let loose one of the
bittereSt messages he
pees F0Der has ever sent to con-
Waning gress in denunciation
of the activities Of
the power lobby. At that time, the
vicious character of his accusations
against the power interests was attrib-
uted by many observers to his intense
FEELING that public utility holding COM
panies should be abolished. He felt
that cliques of financiers were taking
advantage of innocent investors and
ne wanted to tell the country about 1t.
Now, however, it develops that he
was shooting not only at the power
group but at all so-called special inter-
ests which were seeking to protect
themselves from what they regarded as
hagrant violations of property rights
OF the established business practices.
1t must be said that for a few days,
the Presidents message did have the
effect Of slowing down lobbying activi-
ties but the lobbyists had tasted Of
their own power. They are not to be
frightened by any Presidential attack
nor by the threat of Senator Black Of
Alabama to- force through legislation
compelling lobbyists in Washington to
register. AS matter Of cold fact, 1t
Is my conviction that Senator Black
VIII find himself thoroughly clrcum-
vented in any move he may make to
press for action on what is generally
regarded as a ridiculous piece Of legis-
lation. It is thirty-year-old proposal,
anyway.
1t all goes to show that, at least
among those with the courage Of their