IT ALL DEPENDS HOW YOU LOOK AT THINGS

By Len A.Hynds

One hears very little of the expression 'Political Spin' these days, but politicians have always been expert at turning harsh fact into fiction. Let me convey you to America on my magic carpet of story telling.

A lady carrying out a survey of family history, discovered that not only was she related to a present day congressman at the Whitehouse, but they were both related to a 19th century horse thief and train robber, who had been publicly hanged for his crimes in 1889 in Montana territory.

In all innocence she wrote to her distant cousin the congressman, informing him of these facts, and she received this reply from his Public Relations Office.

"Yes, the Congressman is aware that this person was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include equestrian assets, and he had intimate dealings with the Montana Railroad Company. Beginning in 1883 he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, he passed away during an important civic function held in his honour, when the platform he was standing upon collapsed."