Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-22
BY SENATOR cAPEHART

BY SENATOR CAPEHART
The word influence" In pub
lie matters has come 10 carry
with It unsavory implications
which. under q true definition
based on the everyday practical
experience Of those who do q
good Job In public service, are
altogether unjustified.
Frankly. members OF Con-
gress particularly. and those
in public service generally, are
constantly subjected TO at
tempts TO Influence" them in
their votes or in their admins
trative actions.
Everyone Of the several hun
dred people who write to me
every day giving me the benefit
Of their views on legislation
are. in fact. attempting to "in-
fiuence" me.
There is another source Of
so-called "infiuence"-the lob
byist. It has always been my
theory that every taxpayer is
a lobbyist. or he should be.
because as a citizen with a
stake in the Government, he
should express his views freely
and frequently to public off,
Gals.
: Another Lobbyist
Now, there is another type Of
lobbyist-the paid lobbyist
whose Job is to represent the
interest by which he is en-
ployed. This Job again is one
which falls within the broad
definition Of the word "in-.
fluence."
Here again. it is my firm
opinion that these people :
the paid lobbyists-render a
great service to the American
people thorugh their contacts
with members of Congress and
administrative Offices even
though they admittedly are
seeking something for a given
group.
My own experience has been
that the so-called professional
lobbyist is invaluable to a mem
Der Of Congress. One Of the
most difficult tasks for a men,
Der Of the Congress is to obtain
the facts Of a given situation
$50 that he may be better
equipped to cast his vote on
the right side.
Again, the duty Of a member
Of Congress is to listen to both
sides-and both sides Of most
issues are represented-and on
the basis Of their influence"
arguments. to make up his own
mind on what is the states
manlike thing to do.
There is no need to have
ANY dificulty with these people.
They do not come to my Office
land say Senator, If you will
vote this way, / will give you
something Of value" My own
experience has never included
any such offer and if one should
ibe made, would handle the
fmatter personally. 1
The same code of conduct
which should. in my opinion,
govern an elected or appointed
Official is not at variance with
the rules Of good citizenship
which govern a man in his
private business or his private
life. Real honesty Is the key
note.
They Are Appreciative
Taxpayers, lobbyists and
Others are appreciative-and so
are the people they represent
and often times they express
that appreciation in the form
Of token gifts at Christmas
time, or on birthdays, etc. The
test Of whether these token
gifts Of appreciation should be
accepted is:
rs this for something specific
I have done? or. is it an ex-
preston Of appreciation for the
fact that representative or a
Senator has done a good Job
generally or simply that he
is a good friend?"
Government has grown so
complex and peoples lives are
so vastly more affected by
Government these days than
ever before that there are a
great many instances In which
about the only protection open
to a private citizen against
what he believes are inequities
or unfair acts on the part of
administration officials is an
appeal to a member Of the
legislative branch.
Taxpayers are entitled to my
help as a Senator. They are
entitled to help, also, from Of
ficers Of the executive branch.
Certainly they must never APP
proach us on the basis of buy
ing help. Nobody ever has so
approached me.
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