The Lincoln times., 1955-04-11
PRO" LOBBYISTS

PRO" LOBBYISTS
Government today is the biggest
activity in our nation. 1t touches
he daily life Of almost every citi-
7en and every business enterprise
Il exerts great influence upon the
economy Of the country. AS the
activity Of government expanded
powerful groups and organizations
have been created to represent ev-
ny interest under the sun - all
,Onyerging upon Washington seek
ing to promote a further projec-
ION OF these activities or to re-
strict them. The representatives of
fhese groups and organizations are
he professional lobbyists.
These organizations spend hun
1reds Of thousands of dollars each
year in their efforts to influence
The course OF legislation. They
maintain permanent offices, re-
search staffs, and press agents.
They send their representatives to
Capitol Hill to work" on Con-
greSs. Some of them keep records
of votes cast and send out Htera-
ture during campaigns showing
how many times this CONGRESSMAN
or that one voted for" or
against" them.
There is a widespread impress
sion that the lobbyists in Wash
inetor represent only "big busi-
ness" You see frequent references
n columns and editorials to the
power lobby, the railroad lobby.
and other lobbies representing
professional and manufacturing
groups. These lobbies are here all
light. but lobbying is certainly not
restricted to the big business
groups in our country.
HERE is A LIST
Following is list of some of the
organizations that reported spend
ng large sums on lobbying activi-
les during 1854:
National Milk Producers FEEDER
alton -. S185 .496.13; Association
If American Railroads -. S185.-
1885: National Federation of
Post Office Clerks -. S146,012.75;
American Federation of Labor :.
s125 ,996.l6: Congress of Industrial
Organizations -. S120,1l9.09:
American Farm Bureau Federation
g.. Sl12. .403.00: National Associa-
ion OF Electric Companies . -.
Sl10,537.14; Southern States In
lustrial Council -. S99,805. 5.88;
National Farmers Union -. $685.
1852 40 National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association -. S83.-
1852: Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
Association s81 .995. 80: Nation
Wide Committee of Industry, Ag-
'iculture. and Labor on Import
Export Policy -. S81 ,89058; The
American Legion -. S78.513.84: !:
Council of State Chamber of Com
merce -. S76,815.22; National
Housing Conference >. $72 .268. 90:
Friends Committee on National
legislation -. s64.82o 90: Interna-
fional Association of Machinists
.. s62 $1,000; National Associa- :
ion of Real Estate Boards -.
t60.571 90: National Association of
Letter Carriers -. S50,33909.
There were others. but those
listed will illustrate the point that
'obbving in Washington is not con-
fined to business groups. but all
segments of our economic life en-
gaze in the practice on a big scale.
EXERT STRONG PRESSURE
Don't make the mistake of un-
dereStimating the pressures these
ORGANIZATIONS can exert, and offer
4 silent prayer for the conScien-
tious Congressman who recognizes
the right of his constituents to let
their views be known. individually
or through ORGANIZATIONS to which
they belong. He not only must lis
ten and give consideration to the
conflicting views and arguments of
the lobbyists, but remember that
he also represents vast numbers of
people who are not represented by
lobbies. He must be careful to see
that their rights and interests are
not overlooked in this constant
struggle between well financed and
powerful pressure groups seeking
to pull him in opposite directions.