The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-13
Preliminary Election.
From the Thibodeaux Sentinel

The Conservative citizens of La
fourche are being arOused-they are de-
termined that in the selection of candi-
dates for the various Parish offices the
voice of the people shall be heard and
respected. Dissatisfied with the man
ner in which nominating conventions
have been carried ON in the past-they
insist that apreliminary election shall be
held in the Parish for the purpose of Sc
1ecting candidates for offices. The peO-
ME by their votes decide who shall fill
offices. why then should not the people
exercise the lesser right OF deciding who
shall be the candidate for each office,
and in what fairer manner can this be
done than by holding a preliminary
In another column we publish a call
signed by the cititizcns of IMbodeaux
and immediate vicinity requesting five
disinterested gentlemen selected from
various parts Of the Parish to act as al
executive committee with full authoT1-
ty to fix the day and name commission
ers of election and make alTprepara-
lions necessary for h purpose OF
holding preliminary election in the
Parish. Several lists are being clrcu-
! lated throughout the Parish andrepOrts
come in that the call is being signed by
every voter who is approached, Never
was there any political plan ingugura-
| ted in Lafourche that so readiE COM
mended itself to general popularity.
| The pIan meets not only with faWr but
with something like enthusiasm.
We understand the COMMITTEES will
meet on next Saturday. Each asarant
for a nomination will no doubt re-
orired to pledge his support to hose
| Who will receive the highest numM of
votes at the preliminary election In
| case of a tie vOtG-sOmething Whie is
not likely to occur, the election between
the two receiving an equal numbe OF
the highest votes could be thrown atO
the hands of the executive cOmmihe.
Should one present himself who, lbs
suspected would not support the t1ckt
at the regular election in November, e
could be required to take an oath tg
he is q conservative citizen i'll the cOn
mon a~cceptation of the term i'll tn
State and that he will vote for the cal
dates who may be selected at the pr
preliminary election.
In nearly all the Northern and We
tern States candidates are myarlab
chosen by holding preliminary election
Elections of that kind have been wi
messed by the following named gentl
men of our parish, viz Mr.. BInnlngS
New York, MI. Harvey IN Aassach7
sets, and Mr.. Seeley in Missouri, al
these three gentlemen speak IN Il
highest terms not only OF the popular
ty of preliminary elections but OF Il
general satisfaction that follow, SUI
elections. Nj. Seeley Il OF the e
teemed members of u Police JU
saws: attended a preliminary Eclectic
in Missouri some six months ago and
never before saw candidates selects
who were more acceptable to the pc
nile. nor did I ever before see unsucces
full a~sDirants for a nomination subn
with better grace to the will Of the M
jority."
Several weeks before our State Go:
yentiOns met in New Orleans the Tim
urged that our State ticket should
selected by the people and not by AGO
yentiOn-if the plan had been adopt
we would not to to-day see division, a
imosity and dissatisfaction engender,
where kind feelings should have be-
kindled and where concord and enthuS
asm could so easily have been made
prevail.
The executive committee chosenin o
Parish is composed of competent, hig
+ toned gentlemen who will spare
= mains to reach a fair and large vote
The people. There will be q suffice
number of boxes distributed in the V
rious wards so that each voter with
little inconvenience as possible as far
distance is concerned can go to the nes
est poll and cast his vote.
Aspirants for a nomination will a
nounce themselves-prepare their tic
cts and begin electioneering at an eal
dav. The electioneeFing will ArOU
people and make them ponder W
: that they are on the eve of the Mover
Der election-the most important in
respects and all regards ever held
our State.