Pressure Groups (1952)

[Music] in a democracy people constantly Endeavor to have influence in the conduct of public affairs the right of all citizens to speak their minds on political questions is recognized as the Cornerstone of the democratic process in recent years people have developed a powerful but highly controversial instrument for political action this is the pressure [Music] group sorry fellas I can't give you but a minute that Highway bills coming to a vote the pressure boys have been after me all day now Senator about that Highway no no comment on that see you're new on this job AR you yes Senator this is Joe Tuma he's the new man covering the state house with the sun glad to meet you Joe time don't they well yes no well but they do get your hair a good deal don't they young man do you really know what a pressure group is well I've seen him in action around the State House long enough mhm but you still don't know let me tell you something any spokesman for a pressure group who comes in here to see me is talking for people important groups of people and believe me I listen to them but Senator what about your party isn't that organized to give expression to people's political opinions yes political parties are organized for that purpose but pressure groups do a somewhat different job after all political parties are largely concerned with getting people elected to office and pressure groups aren't no in a little different way as you'll find out after you've been here a while certainly pressure groups are interested in who gets elected and they often work for the election of candidates but you won't see a pressure group nominating and supporting a candidate for office in the same way the political parties do no sir they leave that to the yeah they're too busy pulling wires behind scenes sometimes they are but that's not the point all pressure groups regardless of their aims and methods are made up of groups of people who have certain common interests and who want to get the public and the government to adopt certain policies by the way what are the important pressure groups in your District well just about the same as they are everywhere else in the country I suppose yeah take a look at some of the letters I get for example there are all kinds of groups interested in political issues these days in fact there are a few people today who are not involved in one way or another in the activities of pressure groups among the most active and effective are the economic pressure groups all these organizations of businessmen Farmers laboring men professional men and even consumers they carry on pressure activity to further the economic interest large groups of people then there are other pressure groups who speak for special interests groups acting to protect racial and national interests and minorities organizations promoting patriotism and groups working for a wide range of Civic reforms and improvements all these groups put pressure on him yes I can always count on hearing from them whenever anything comes up that affects their interest I bet you do if they had their way you fellas would be running the government exclusively for them not for the General Public that's what's wrong with public affairs today all these pressure groups in every city hall every state capital even down in Washington all playing politics scheming conniving putting on the heat and for what to get you fellas in government to run things their way that's where you're wrong son actually pressure groups serve a useful purpose in giving people a greater voice in their government I'd like to see you demonstrate that Senator well I think I can you remember the that slum cleanup Bill we passed in the last session of the legislature sure that was a constructive piece of legislation uhhuh well a pressure group had a lot to do with putting that over and I'll tell you how it happened it seems that being fair with you Thomas hasn't done much good has it on four different occasions and with only minor punishment I've attempted to consider your disrespect for the law as something you might possibly outgrow but now it appears the only thing that is growing is your disrespect for that law sir judge I don't think Tommy understands you he does respect the law I'm sorry Mrs Williams but after careful consideration I find it necessary to send your aboard to the state reform school for a term of not less than one [Music] year you won't change your mind chge no I'm sorry your boy is certainly old enough to be responsible for his action he's responsible huh well look at the neighborhood we have to live in no place for the boys to play nothing around them but filth and Corruption who's responsible well it's you people now Steve you promised last week not to bring your cases home with you I'm sorry Helen more and more I find it impossible to forget what I see in my court I know Steve perhaps the answer is on its way the answer his mother had the answer she said all of us were to blame that we're to blame for conditions in that part of town and she was right Steven we think we have a progressive Community but we've been keeping our eyes closed it's up to us the parents to clean up those slums what can we do we'll take an act of the state legislature we've talked about it for years but where's the support the people of this city could get the legislature to act if they put on enough pressure and I'm going to do something about it a lot of people feel the same way what are you going to do launch your pressure group I don't care what you call it but I'm going to start it right now responsible citizens with common interests turn automatically to pressure group activity to gain political ends a movement May begin with a single person or a few with a common CA it's up to us to make every neighborhood in this town a fit place for our children to grow up it's up to us to clean up the slums we must do it now thank you ladies ladies I know we all want to thank Mrs snow for her very eloquent appeal and we're going to get behind this drive 100% why it's just shocking but what can we do about it yes Madam chairman just what can we do it takes an act of the state legislature we'll all have to get to work on this thing and there'll be plenty for everyone to do now here's what I suggest many organizations maintain headquarters in state and National capitals here the paid representatives of pressure groups keep watch over government and battle for the political demands of their members back home so that's what we're up against our people want action you've got to help us Mrs snow we're ready to put the whole state organization behind you we'll show you real pressure won't we miss do I hope so fine our people are really up in arms about this all right now the first step is to get the plan for cleaning up the city's slums introduced in the house and the Senate well I've already talked to representative Pritchard from our district he'll introduce the bill in the house now miss DOD who would you suggest in the Senate you usually carry a senator to around in your handbag well there's Senator BRS he's from Mrs Snow's District he'll introduce the bill and he carries a lot of weight all right what's the next step I have a plan of strategy but first let's get together with BR and [Music] Pritchard there's the bill ready to go we're going to introduce it tomorrow does it cover anything Senator if it'll give us the power to clean up the slums in our town then it covers everything I think it does the job representative Pritchard will handle it in the house I look after it in the Senate we'll get it through the house easily enough that senate committee is the real hurdle if we can sell it to the committee the Senate will pass it and the committee is loaded with men who are against the whole cleanup idea let's see who's on the committee now well there's Barum Smith there's Jenkins Carrie there's one vote you can out on yes Miss Dad they say around the state house that every time Senator Jenkins has dinner with you he Chang his boat the next day Senator Jenkins is an intelligent man I see a good chance to line up a majority of that committee I wouldn't bet on it I'll do the best I can of course but the real work's up to you folks but why wouldn't you bet on it Senator after all we're fighting on the right side who could fail to see the wisdom of it nobody could m no nobody at all but they'll see it quicker if they think a lot of Voters are behind it you've got to put pressure on them real honest to goodness pressure from the people and so the pressure is on the strategy of a pressure group that works democratically is to mobilize widespread public support for its program by persuading citizens to express their opinions and stimulating discussion and debate the group group attempts to create sentiment which will influence the views of the men whose vote will decide legislation good afternoon Mrs Carlson I represent the association for Community welfare we're working on that some clearance bill you know I want to to let me explain the bill to you won't you come and time thank you we expect every one of you ladies to write your representativ in the legislature demanding that they vote on this bill we Ur you to Canvas the mothers in the neighborhood get them to write too now as you leave you will find the pamphlets on the table at the door ladies the evening times is giving you all the help we can look here a full column front page story on the mass meeting you held last night yes Mr Thompson but that's not enough we don't feel the public is getting all the facts but we are printing everything that's news Mr Thompson here's one of the pamp we've put out do your readers know that juvenile delinquency in this city has gone up 25% in the last 10 years no I'm sure I didn't know that myself let's see what else is here you'll find a lot of information there that's news Mr Thompson now wouldn't this be a good time to start an editorial campaign appealing to civic pride good morning Senator morning Miss George well there's a lot of mail again this morning Senator Jenkins most of it about that slum cleanup bill I suggest you look over some of these letters that's so any from my district yes you'll recognize the names well what do you know old George Whit he's worked for me in several campaigns I guess I'm going to have to give that bill some serious study these facts and figures you've given me tonight they're quite convincing Miss DOD better watch sity you know Miss dad is most disarming just before she moves in for the kill all we want Senator is your vote for our bill well you have presented a strong argument your most telling point is these figures on what slum conditions are costing the city and state but uh I've got to study this matter further consider both sides but Senator Smith how can you speak of two sides to this question surely no thinking people are opposed to this proposal I'm afraid so miss Dodd there's plenty of opposition and in the democracy there's usually two sides to every question vital to the processes of democracy is the aing of both sides of controversial questions through open discussion and public debate many groups of citizens however are afraid to present their opinions in the open for of public discussion instead they try to achieve their Ends by working entirely behind the scenes corrupting public officials and deceiving the public the aims of such groups may be either good or bad so far as the public interest is concerned but their methods are a grave danger to democratic institutions hi Carl Jo look at this the Stars sure going all out in that campaign to clean up the slums we've got to do something why do you know how much it would cost me in assessments if that plan went through it's ridiculous you're just making a mount out of a mole hill that won't go through they've tried it before I V own this building and run this store here for 10 years and nobody's going to ruin my business that's what you think but this time in serus let's look at this editorial look at those stories meetings radio broadcast the whole town stirred up sure sure but too many of us who have property here have too much to lose by it wait till the money begins to talk that's just why I'm here as chairman of the Westside Improvement club I'm calling a meeting tonight in Johnson's Cafe we're going to lick this thing but it will take money thus pressure for one course of action May in some cases generate counter pressure for another very often pressure groups gain control of Civic organizations in order to give their views a spurious appearance of public support no bill I can't go along with you on this even though you know how much I stand to lose by this slum cleanup program so what are you going to do cut your own throat not if I can help it but I've decided we've got to give into that plan in the long run we'll all profit by it well Gentlemen let's call it a night looks like we're not going to get together on this let's think it over a few days meetings AJ what was the idea of a journey before we could vote I was afraid to put to vote not enough of them were with us what are we going to do now we've got to fight that bill whether the rest of them like it or not we're going to fight it I'm still running this outfit it'll take money but I have an idea now here's what we'll do the most effective tactic of unscrupulous and undemocratic groups is to bring personal influence to bear on public officials no no no no that's not the point your arguments don't convince me at all where are the facts well senator this is our position on it and it's the position of most of the property interests concerned our association represents some well frankly Mr Drummond I'm not sure who you represent well George I wanted Drummond to explain this thing to you because I think he has a real case perhaps he has Henry but he surely isn't selling me well what you may not know is that a lot of our good friends are really against this slum Improvement proposition well you take Joe Morgan for example well he used to be a client of yours didn't he yes yes I did a lot of law work for him uh so he's against it huh well he feels like I do about it but the legislature should move along slowly there's a lot of money in this you know George yes I know I've been keeping that in mind uh I suggest that you uh think it over by the way uh do you remember a few weeks back when we talked about that little investment deal sure I never forget a promising business proposition well you know George I think we can really cut you in on that and I'll tell you what we're going to do when pressure groups work to achieve their ends through personal Intrigue and Corruption they become a danger to democracy under these conditions citizens freedom of discussion is undermined and public officials are apt to make decisions contrary to the public interest now listen sir Senator I'm wholly against this slum cleanup program at this time a great many people have taken a strong stand against it I think our committee ought to study the whole matter thoroughly no Senator you're wrong the facts are conclusive this bill is clearly in the public interest I'm not so sure who were these people that spoken to hearing why Drummond didn't really Express the views of the people he claimed to represent at all the others were probably just as phony I think Miss DOT and her group gave us good sound information yes and I'll tell you this they have the support of a good many voters in our district listen are you going to let the pressure build up by a bevy of females influence your decision on this not exactly now you listen they are having public support because they have a sound position that's right I've given both sides of this controversy careful study and I convinced the bill is in the public interest all right gentlemen shall we come to order and put this question to a vote it was a close contest but the went through and those ladies were responsible for it now that was a pressure group that really helped people to understand an issue and decide what to do about it yes but cater as usual there was another kind of pressure group in there the wrong kind yes but there needn't have been the wrong kind after all you can't judge a pressure group on the basis of the rightness or wrongness of its opinions everyone is entitled to his say in a democracy pressure groups representing selfish interest are sometimes right and groups with Noble humanitarian motives are sometimes wrong although I'll admit It's usually the other way around well perhaps so but then Senator how do you judge a pressure group what by the methods they use that's how the question is this does a group work in an underhanded way to deceive the public to misrepresent its case and to try to influence the action of public officials through corruption or threats or does the group present its case fairly and openly in the Forum of public discussion trying to gain public support and influence the action of public officials by Honest arguments yes that's certainly the question but isn't there some way to keep pressure groups in check to make certain that they use Democratic methods yes yes there is a way and that's by constant vigilance both private citizens and public officials should watch over pressure groups just as carefully as we watch over everything else in our political system this is essential to the Democratic process keep one thing in mind fellas you can only have pressure groups in a democratic country can you imagine trying to organize a pressure group under a despotism in Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia for example right Senator yes pressure groups can exist only in democratic nations where citizens are free to express opinions on public questions and to engage in political action to further those opinions in a democratic political system citizens naturally organize themselves into pressure groups to make their opinions heard pressure groups bring important important political issues to public attention and arous citizens to take action on them pressure groups disseminate information on these issues and assist citizens to form opinions about them pressure groups provide citizens with convenient channels through which they can express their opinions directly to public officials out of the action of democratically organized pressure groups in the give and take of public discussion and debate the interplay of political pressure and counter pressure the Democratic process of government grows stronger giving citizens a larger share in the making of the decisions that affect their welfare