U.S. [f. LOBBY sb.]
1. trans. To influence (members of a house of legislature) in the exercise of their legislative functions by frequenting the lobby. Also, to procure the passing of (a measure) through Congress by means of such influence. (Used occas. in reference to the House of Commons.)
1850. Lyell, 2nd Visit U. S., 28. A disappointed place-hunter, who had been lobbying the Houses of Legislature in vain for the whole session.
1862. J. Spence, Amer., 37. How is it to be expected that a needy and ambitious lawyer … having nothing but his three or four dollars a day … shall not be open to the influences of those who lobby him?
1864. Sala, in Daily Tel., 29 Sept., 5/3. The American Emigration Company was cleverly lobbied through Congress.
1868. Nat. Encycl., I. 619. To lobby through, is to get a bill adopted by such influence.
1887. Goldwin Smith, in Contemp. Rev., July, 11. The people, at all events, cannot be lobbied, wheedled, or bull-dozed.
1894. Yorksh. Post, 4 April, 5. To send delegates to London … to ‘lobby’ members for their respective constituencies with a view of obtaining the largest possible majority.
2. intr. To frequent the lobby of a legislative assembly for the purpose of influencing members’ votes; to solicit the votes of members.
1855. in Ogilvie, Suppl.
a. 1859. N. Y. Tribune (Bartlett). There is a quarrel in Philadelphia about Mr. W—’s appointments. Some of the Loco-focos have come out to lobby against him.
1864. E. Sargent, Peculiar, III. 32. You were biased by the semi-loyal men who were lobbying for slavery.
1879. Cath. & C. Tait, Mem., 570. Bishop Williams of Connecticut, whose handsome figure may be seen at most times in the smoking-room, either lobbying or telling good stories.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. III. lxxv. 619. Manufacturers who have had to lobby in connection with the tariff.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 27 April, 2/1. The large majority against this Westminster Bill was in part a protest against the way in which its promoters had lobbied in its interests.
fig. 1876. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. II. 98. In the Greek epic, the gods are partisans,… they lobby and log-roll for their candidates.
Hence Lobbying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1855. in Ogilvie, Suppl. (s.v. Lobby v.)
1862. Times, 6 Jan., 10/6. ‘Lobbying,’ as it is termed, is a well-known institution at Washington.
1864. Reader, No. 88. 297/1. Lobbying—this is,… buying votes with money in the lobbies of the Hall of Congress.
1873. Spectator, 22 Feb., 237/1. They will not knowingly choose the agents of the ‘lobbying’ Rings.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., I. I. App. 556. What is known as lobbying by no means implies in all cases the use of money to affect legislation.
