An interesting peak into the past by Dilip Chaware
on the ever controversial subject - LOBBYING!
The public would like to believe
that that no self-respecting journalist becomes a tool for some political, business
or commercial interest. Media persons, too, like to flaunt their ‘impartial’ and
‘incorruptible’ credentials. Still, clandestinely, many serve the interests of
certain individuals, corporates or groups. Those within the media are aware of
such operators but keep mum.
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| The author - Dilip Chaware is a veteran journalist and active member of PRCI Mumbai Chapter's Managing Committee |
Similarly, the ones actually
lobbying never admit that she or he is working for a particular interest.
Against the backdrop of the present media-related expose and the subsequent
outrage in India, it will be interesting to read about the lobbying done by an American
editor about a century ago, though for an altogether different motive. Thus, if
some journalists are doing lobbying today, albeit surreptitiously, one can only
console oneself by saying that the profession has come a full circle, indeed.
‘Editor as Lobbyist’ is a chapter
in the book, “My Twenty-Five Years in China” written by famous journalist John
B. Powell. The book was published in 1945 by the Macmillan Company of New York
after Powell returned to the US for good in 1942. Powell first went to China in 1917. This is
the story of those 25 years, during which he edited and published the China Weekly Review, became managing
director of the China Press and was
the Far Eastern correspondent for several American and British newspapers.
He
covered the civil wars in China, the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and the
early years of Second World War. His vivid description of the events before and
after Pearl Harbour based on first-hand information earned him all-round
plaudits. Powell was imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese at that time. The
book is full of interesting events and anecdotes. One of them relates to
Powell’s performance as a ‘lobbyist’ for the US. But he was not condemned for
doing this. On the other hand, his contribution gave a great boost to the
American industry. Powell has described his ‘lobbying’ effort with utmost
transparency since he had nothing to hide. In fact, he was proud doing it for
his country.
After the Review became self-sufficient, Powell decided to undertake a trip
to the US for ‘establishing advertising contacts’ in 1920. Before his
departure, he was invited by the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce for
a farewell dinner. Many prominent Americans turned up for the dinner at which a
strange request was made to Powell. He was asked to “go to Washington and put
through a China Trade Act, providing federal incorporation for American
concerns doing business in the Far East.” He was assured that his hotel
expenses in Washington would be defrayed by the Chamber. From the tone of the book, it is obvious that
neither Powell nor the Chamber felt that anything improper was happening in
asking him to ‘lobby’ for them.
In the US, Powell arranged to
meet the President-elect, Warren Harding. When he explained the purpose of the
call, Harding promised to help him and lived up to his word. The object of the meeting
was to pass a bill through Congress for adopting the China Trade Act. Powell
broached the subject at the Press Club in Washington since he had no firsthand
experience of the Capitol.
The journalists laughed at him and some veterans
explained that Washington was full of people who had come there ‘to get a bill
through Congress.’ They (the lobbyists) expected it to happen in a few weeks.
However, they had stayed on and on and in many cases, the lobbying job became
their sole source of support.
Powell persevered and a ‘hearing’
was held for the bill since Herbert Hoover, who was then secretary of commerce,
understood its importance. The proceedings were printed in a special edition of
the Congressional Record and its
copies were sent to chambers of commerce by Powell to arouse their interest. He
was successful in achieving this but unwittingly, he was instrumental in sparking
off a war between the State and Commerce departments since both wanted credit
for the legislation. However, the bill again was held up due to Washington’s
typical style of functioning. Powell then had a brilliant idea. He went to
Boston, used his business contacts. As a result, Congress received many
representations from Boston area, urging it to pass the bill early. Eventually,
the bill was passed since many Congressmen had received communications from
influential bankers and industrialists about it.
The China Trade Act became of
great assistance to small business enterprises. Moreover, it fitted neatly with
Hoover’s plans of expansion of American business in China. Powell proudly
stated that this was the first federal Act ever passed for the incorporation of
commercial companies directly under the government. In later years, practically
all important American firms doing business in the Far East were incorporated
under this Act. One beneficiary of the Act was the shipping industry. Thanks to
the Act, it could compete with British or Japanese shipping lines on an equal
footing.
Powell, the accomplished
professional, lucidly describes working of the Capitol in those days, the rivalries
and jealousies between and within various departments of the administration,
the shortcuts to get something done by Congress and the post WW I atmosphere,
in general. He has not flinched at all while writing about his lobbying
initiative since his conscience was clear. He knew that what he was trying was
not for any personal or corporate gain but was for his country. So, nobody
challenged him to prove his credentials neither did he pursue the lobbying activity
thereafter. As soon as the Act was passed, he was back in China, where he stated, till 1942.
