Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-02-05

That all the big men ln WaShln2- ton stand squarelv benind the presi- dent. that Secretary Baker is really an unusually capable man, that the war will be long, that the Arkaneas delegation in congress is an extra ordinarily strong one, and that Gov ernor Brough knows everyone In Washington from the president to the hotel porter are some of the convictions expressed by Mayor Simon Bloom, who returned from the capital yesterday after going with the Arlansas-Louisiana highway commis- sion to pepresent the Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce.
 The party consisted of Governor Brough, Judge Toney of Lake Village, Judge Ewing. Judge Loughbrougil. Highway Engineers Carte" and Me Rae, Mayor Simon Bloom, represent ing the Pine Bluff Chamber of Com merce, and the ten highway commits sioners representing the tax payers. Mayor Simon Bloom is enthusiastic about the results of the trip and what | it will mean to this section of Arkan- 1 sas. He says that the commission met with a remarkable reception, ev- erything being done to facilitate their work. They conferred on immediate l ly upon their arrival with the en- | tire Arkansas congressional deleSa- tion. Three hours after this meet | ing the commission had engagements with Secretary McAdoo, Secretary Baker, Secretary Houston Assis- 1 tant Secretary Of Agriculture Page, and Chief of Engineers Black. Their project was quickly endorsed by Sec retaries Houston and Page, and by General Black. The way here was made easier thru the fact that Sec | retary Houston and Governor Brough | are strong personal friends.
 Baker Capable Man.
 The interview with Secretary Bak CT particularly impressed the mayor, ne says. Mr. Baker refused to con sider the highway as military meas ure. but when Mir. Bloom suggested that it was rather as wartime com mercial measure that It was val uable. MT Baker immediately ap- proved. The commission was impress ed with MT. Bakers quickness of de- cision and his grasp of details.
 With the approval of the other of fcials, that of MT. McAdoo, as sec retary of the treasury in authorizing the board issue, and as difector-gen- eral of railroads in allowing the use of cars for construction work, was easily obtained.
 The mayor states that il. the con ferences it developed that the Ark ansas-Louisiana highway district is l the biggest single road district ever formed n the United States, and all of the high officials showed much in terest in the possibilities t tying up a rich agricultural section with the river thru this project.
 "Uncle JOe' Backs Woodrow
 Among other celebrities, Mr. Bloom met "Uncle Joe" Cannon. He states that the old campaisner, rock-ribbed Republican that he is, is one of the presidents staunchest supporters i'll Washington, and that he Insists on
 reporting at the lcapitol regularly despite being badly crippled thru recent fall on the ice.
 The major reports wartime Wash ington is over-crowded with war act (iyities and thronged with war work CTS. He says that the general opln
 ion appears to prevail in all wei
 informed quarters that the war vii be long drawn out, and will last 10
 at least three more wears.
 The commissioners adopted a UT
 animous vote of thanks to the Pin'
 Bluff Chamber of Commerce for 1t
 activity in the highway matter. The.
 also expressed great appreciation 0
 the courtesies shown by officials 0
 the Pennsylvania railroad, wh
 placed a car at their disposal iron
 St. Louis east, and showed then
 many attentions thru J. P. Appe
 general passenger agent at St. Louis
 and w. G. iParmlee, division passef
 ger agent.
 The ArkansaslI. hishwa
 will run thru the counties Of Llncoil
 Drew. Desha, Ashley, and Chlcot l Arkansas, and thence thru Loulslan ,Ao Alexandria. giving direct connect hion with Camp Beauregard. It wi Ncounect with the Jefferson pike fGrady, thus practically running int
 p;no pluff According to the cOl