INFLUENCE OF MINORITY ORGANIZATIONS.
Minority group organizations, which are directed towards special ends and equipped with a highly developed technique for influencing legislation, and have come to play an increasing part in American politics, are just now the subject of intensive criticism. A number of Congressmen are seeking means to control lobbying activities. In a comprehensive study, Dr. Edward Logan, of Pennsylvania University, finds that an individual to-day must take his place in one or another of the lobbying organizations if he is to have effective political representation at all. Nevertheless, Dr. Logan considers that lobbies have their legitimate and valuable uses, in bringing into the open matters which otherwise might pass without public notice. A warning, however, comes from the pen of Ex-President Coolidge, who notes the growing " timidity " of Congress in the face of lobbyists, resulting in the passage of much legislation which " if not entirely bad " is at least " excessively expensive." Indeed, were it not for the rules of the House and the veto of the President, Mr. Coolidge considers that lobbyists would within two years double the cost of government. Undoubtedly the growth of lobbies, cutting across the party system, is creating new problems in democratic government.
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