The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-09-30
Movement In Congress Expect
ed to Bring Results.
MAY TAKE DRASTIC ACTION.
Underwood Tells Why He Is Going to
Seek Election as Senator-Lively
Scramble For Leadership IN House
Expected to Follow His Retirement
Fears Fate Of Ex-Leaders.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN N.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Sept 20. - Special. -
Although tariff and currency are the
only big questions which the present
slider there has been going on a quiet
campaign for good roads which may
bring results in the next session.
Chairman Shackleford Of the roads
committee has been endeavoring to
line up the Democrats of the majority.
and G. Bascoln Slemp, the ranking
Republican member, has been making
the same sort of a canvass among the
Republicans. the object being to secure
sonable. effective and genuine road
proposition when the subject is consid=
cred next session
May Take Drastic Action.
Opposition to the good roads move
ment is based upon the fact that once
the government starts upon that line
there will be no end to the eSpen1i-
ture, and of course all the economy ad
vocates are against roadmaking by
the government This may necessitate
drastic action on the part OF the road
men if they have a sufficient majority
to control the house. They can take
charge of the house procedure. They
can block everything else and compel
action upon their good roads bill, just
as has been done in the past when the
leaders refused consideration Of meas
ures which a majority was determined
to have passed.
Shackleford is willing to lead such
movement on behalf of the Democrats,
and Slemp has signified his willing
ness to go the limit in behalf Of roads.
The Virginia congressman says that
road improvement in his state will re
turn tenfold the investment in few
years.
A military" Road.
A southern member recently intro
duced bill for military road from
one post in his state to another. Of
course we do not build military roads
in this country any more. That was
an industry belonging to a period be
fore railroads reached all available
points 1t is generally understood that
the military road OF the southern
member would actually have been for
the benefit Of his constituents. Prob
once in a dozen years unless simply
for practice marches.
Leaders Tire Of Hard Work.
While the house Of representatives is
attractive to a great many men. 9th
ers tire Of the service after awhile
Many have strong ambition for the
senate, and. failing in that. they are
willing to retire to private life if they
have in prospect an income more than
is paid to members of congress-
Even If Oscar w. Underwood is not
elected to the senate he will no doubt
retire from congress THE only way
d leader can denote himself" he told
me. lis to get out cannot stand the
heavy strain which the leadership Of a
party IN this house entails And so
that is why l am going to retire.
Mr.. Underwood has in mind the I'M
pleasant fate of ex-leaders. He has
known several in his time. both on the
minority and majority side. The latest
example is that of Uncle Joe Cannon.
who sat for two years IN the house.
where he had been the dominating
force, and saw another man handle his
party. On the minority side. even. the
denoted leader finds himself il an IN
pleasant position.
Underwood's Successor
or course there will be quite a scram-
BILE for the position of Democratic lead
er when Underwood goes out partic-
ularly If tho Democrats retain control
of the house. II they are in the mi
nority the leadership will fall natural
" to Champ Clark. If Underwood
should remain in the house and the
Democrats were in the minority there
would be nice question to settle De
tween himself and Champ. and it
would have to be settled by vote OF
the Democrats.
"Warriors" in the Senate.
II make no pretense Of speaking tos
the committee of which | am chair
man" said Senator Owen Of Okla
homa. referring to the banking ana
currency committee You see. all
senators are warriors or think they
are. and they would resent having any
body speak for them
The use Of the word warriors be-
trayed Owens Indian blood. The az
erage warrior" in the Indian tribes
allowed no one to talk for him.
1t Caused Laughter.
There was a measure before the
house which involved the civil service.
and Fitzgerald Of New York had
made point Of order Il am believer
in the merit system" said Fitz. anc
the house broke forth in laughter.
which was renewed at times because
the members regarded that as real
Joke. Aud Fitz repeated his assertion.