The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-01-05
Observations
Lobbyists Discover
Astute Washington
Residents Gullible
BY Helen Esssry

We in Washington who like to
think We are so asture are some
times gullible. ,e are particular
ly gullible If, in any way, We touch
the fringe OF official life
And we never-well, almost new
er-recognize a lobbyist il he is
graceful party giyer Lobbying
for or against -rtain government
measure is often carried off sue.
cessfully with the aid of party Civ
ing for the official group and its
fringes.
We who have lived in Washing
ton longer than a fortnight know
in our rarely honest moments that
We should look man parties herce-
" I'm the face and ask, why rs
this being done for me? Why am
! here
I don't mean that there aren't
many charmir dim crs, lunches
and receptions given for no reason
except for the pleasure OF having
friends and amusing people about
ones own hsarthstonC.
/ do mean however that there are
about TS9,S26 aud oue-quarter par
ties given annually for a reason
II is in the failure to recognize
the reason that one phase of our
cullibility lies. Or maybe the word
isn't gullibility II IS vanity
We are so vain that We can say
10 ourselves. Senator and Mrs.
Catfish aud Secretary and Mrs. Old
Fashioned are here because tue
host thinks they will be useful IN
some way. But you and J, dear
are here because We are so fasci-
mating Nobody would try TO van
gle anything from US with Scotch
and soda or a black market steak
Thereupon We eat aud drinv-the-
bribe-find it very tasty. and there
after become easy pickiugs for the
lobbying host II you don't Ike
the word lobbying call It ''iufu-
encing But don't fail TO call It
or recognize II For II exists IN
the capital and follows its course
as determinedly as the Potomac
flows 10 the bay. And il digs its
channel deep and vide while war
IS on.
IN GLAD PERSONALLY THAT
military authorities in Washing
TON and London have become dis
satisfied with the widespread dis
cussions over when. where and how
an invasion Of Europe will be
launched
Such talk has always seemed
both silly and dangerous to me. or
course. | don't think for an instant
that anybody will tell purposely
the truth OF the when, where and
how" OF that Second Front.
But a kindergarten could see
that constant guessing does not add
10 the secrecy OF military move
ments. Indeed. II the guessing
we're good il might reveal a truth
that should be kept hidden.
WERE 4 MEMBER OF con.
GRESS during this frantic year |
would vote exactly as my own
conscience and my own thought d.
rected me. and "let the chips fall
where they may II there ever
was a time in the history OF this
nation when courage political as
we'll as personal was needed 1t is
now.
So. II I were member Of Con
Sress. I'd not be influenced by
pressure groups. pressure groups
is a new name for lobbyist. Or for
lobbying in the grand manner.
Sometimes TO a patriotic tuneD
I'd try, II we're a member oi
Congress, Id try with all my
strength not to be hampered by
the thought that III vote this way
or that my constituents won't like
it and III be defeated next cleo
ton day
Id try with all my strength not
TO be hampered by what thought
my own political party wanted me
to do. I'd vote the way ! honestly
thought | should.
Then II | we're defeated on my
next election day Id say that while
my sons and other young men were
offering their lives TO the world
struggle, had contributed the best
! had to offer-honesty and cour.
age.
Maybe ! wouldn't be defeated Il
offered complete honesty and
courage TO my constituents. But II
| were defeated Id 90 back home
and practice law or edit paper Or
run a hardware store and find out
what the United States Id almost
forgotten about in Washington is