Yellowstone monitor., 1914-02-19
TOM STOUT'S LETTER
Interesting sdelights on men and things political

IS Interesting sidelghts q
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I Washington, D. G., Feb. llth, 1914
Tn previous communications / have
referred to the fact that there will be
no pork barrel at this session Of con.
oress and self abnegation on the part
| of nv brethren. It would appear that
T was trife previous in my mad desire
to construct proper and fitting halo
for the members Of the present national
assembly. ! offer as my excuse that !
was ignorant of the fact that pork bar
reIs come in different sizes and shapes.
The pork barrel that / have been re-
ferring to is the one which carries ap-
propriations for public buildings and
rivers and harbors improvements. That
is the time -honored, time-tested variety
which is guaranteed not to leak, bulge
or blow out bunghole it matters not
how great the strain upon its capacity.
It has been the friend in need Of un-
told numbers Of congressman who have
required it's assistance in convincing
the folks back home that they are de-
livering the goods.
When it became generally accepted
that there should be no public buildings
and few, if any, river and harber ap-
propriations at this session, all of the
fellows resigned themselves to the in
evitable and commenced to east about
for other life saving devices. That is
all of them with the exception Of the
Hon. Dorsey w. Shackelford of the
eighth Missouri district. The Hon. Dor
sew had few ideas Of his own as will
presently develop. Tn fact, he has a
head full Of ideas among them being
all of the most approved and success.
full ideas pertaining to the art of COM
ing back to congress as is best evidenc-
ed by the fact that he is now serving
his eighth successive term. As is the
case with many other big mer in the
house, "Shack,' as he is familiarly
known among his associates, seldom
makes speech on the floor Of the
house. but when he does it is worth lis
tening to. He is a quiet, unobstrusive
sort of fellow, a hard worker and
tinker from the forks Of the creek.
He represents one Of the richest agrl-
cultural districts in the United States
and his very effective activities usual
ly take the shape of lending aid and
comfort to the boys who till the soil.
Shack is friend of the farmer and
admits it. Withal, he is not averse to
giving his fellow-members boost and
if was looking about for booster
who knows how to boost, would not
look past the statesman from the
eighth Missouri district. Thus it came
about that when Judge Shckefoyd saw
that the boys were to be deprived Of
their sustenance which usually comes
in. the guise of post Office buildings and
of rivers and harbors, he
set about deuising something just as
good or better. That he has succeeded
with his usual thoroughness is very
generally conceded.
Of all Of the live problems now claim
ing the attention of the American peo-
pie, none possesses more abounding
vitality than does the subject Of good
roads. Naturally, the farmer is more
directly interested in this problem than
any other class Of our citizens. Gen.
tlemen who like to daily with statistics
have figured out just how many billions
If dollars annually would be saved to
our agriculturists if they could haul
heir products to market over macad- |
amized highways instead Of through
-he mud. Most of the states have pass
ID new laws providing for the i'm |
Of their tonnage highways.
t is movement national in character, !
although, thus far the national govern
nent has not seen fit to take much Of a |
land in the game. Observing all of |
;hese facts and being in addition good
eals advocate of unquestioned sim
erity, Judge Shackelford got busy on
good roads bill. Aside from his other
hitherto referred to, he
vas the proper man for the job by rea-
on Of his position as chairman Of the
louse committee on roads and high
Ways. He not only prepared the bin
nd had it duly and properly reported
ut Of his committee but he deftly set
he machinery in motion for getting his
,ill through the house. He didn t
ave much trouble there for even the
eriest tyro Of statesman could read
y see the outlines Of a fat pork barrel.
killfully concealed, but politically ef-
ective nevertheless, in the Shackel-
ord road bill.
The bill, in brief, carries an appro-
ration of $25, ,ooo, 100000 for use on
ur public roads. It is divided among
he states, one-half in proportion to
ne miles Of post roads and one-half in
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