Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-22

| to the office, but connteds out by the
| gigantic system of ballot box stutfing so
successfully manGuvcred by the Repub
licans. In no wise daunted by this fall
ure, Mr.. Wilt was again candidate for
Mayor at the next election with the cer-
tainty Of being chosen for the Office, but
the Republican Legislature finding no
other escape from defeat, passed bill
postponing the election. When at last
| it came off, and Mr.. Wilt was elected
by an overwhelming majority, another
difficulty presented itself. Flanders, the
Republican Mayor, refused to vacate the
office. There is no knowing what might
have occurred then but for Mr.. Wiltz's
energy and determination. We might,
indeed, have lost the city as we soon af-
| ter lost the State Government. But SO
emphatic was Mr.. Wilt in his demand
for the City Hall that Mr.. Flanders turn
ed it over to him under protest, a pro-
test of which, however. nothing was ever
| afterwards heard.
In 1874, Mayor Witt was candi-
date for re election. He had apparent
ly majority of votes, but on the first
ballot there was misconnt. A new
ballot was called for and Mr. Leeds
nominated. Instead of sulking, like
Achilles in his tent, Mayor Wiltz grace
| fully acxuiesced in the result and de-
voted himself as earnestly as ever to
the interests of the people. The citi-
zens of his ward, without consulting
him, nominated and elected him q
member of the Legislature of 1875, the
first Democratic House that had met for
years. It was universally recognized
that Mr.. Wilt was the leading spirit
Of this body, and he was elected as
Speaker to carry out its intentions and
plans. The people expected much from
it and from him, and they were not
disappointed. When the fourth of Janu-
airy came around, under the leadership
of Mr.. Witt, peaceful revolution was
carried out in our State House which
would have resulted in wrestling the
State from the hands of the Repu6li-
cans then, as it was wrested two years
afterwards, but for the intervention of
the Federal troops under General De
Trobriand.
There are few pictures in the history
of Louisiana as worthy Of representa-
ton as the scene which then took place
10 our House of Representatives on that
memorable 4th of January. Chosen as
| Speaker by cap d'etat, Mr.. Witt oe-
cupied the position despite the fact that
the lobby was crowded with negro
strikers, and the buildings filled with
Metropolitans. The emp d'etat was Il
success and everything tended TO show
that, within few days, when Kellogg
should have been swept from the Office
which he had usurped, Mr. Wilt would
lee Acting Governor Orders from
Washington changed all this, however,
and the military marching, with clank
of guns into the Legislative Halls of
Louisiana suppressed its Assembly, as
Cromwell had of old. suppressed the
parliament Of England.
When 1876 came around, Mr.. Wilt
was prominent candidate for Cover
nor before the Democratic Convention.
i He found himself supported by nearly
the entire delegation from New Orleans.
He showed the greatest strength of any
candidate on the first ballot. When Gen.
Nichols was selected Governor, Wilt
was unanimously second second on the
ticket.
AsPresident of the Senate, he displayed
his abilities as presiding officer which
however, were still more conspicnOusly
shown as President Of the Constitutions
al Convention that followed soon after.
As head Of this body which framed
what is now the organic law of Louisi-
ana, he won golden opinions. Members
who had come to the Convention oppo-
sed to him were soon won over by the
strict and judicial impartlallty he dis
played. 1t was his services 5 Presi-
dent of the Convention that undoubt-
edly made him Governor. He had pos
sessed much popularity before, was
the favorite son of New Orleans, but
it was as President of the Senate and
the Convention that he won the support
of so many members from the country
who went home imbued with the idea
that the next Governor of Louisiana
must be Louis Alfred Wilt. They
pIONcu CUlIeCt III lutil ouliHtocS, lOI
then the Democratic State Nominating
Convention met at Baton Rouge, after a
warm and most exciting contest, he re-
ceived the nomination for Governor, and
was elected by an overwhelming ma
jority.
Of his course as Governor, it i, unnec-
essary to speak here. 1t Is sufficient to
say, that he won oyer many who had
! hitherto opposed him, and appeared de-
termined to see no good in him.
His health had not been good for some
time-he had worn himself out in his
political and official services-but it was
never too bad, he was never too weak
to attend to the duties of his office. He
clung to these, even when the physi.
clans advised rest and relief from duty.
1t became evident that this state of
: things could not exist much longer, and
that Governor Wilt would fall a victim
to his devotion to duty A few weeks
ago, a trip through Texas was resolved
upon. The change of air and scenery, il
was believed might work some improve
ment in his condition. He was very
weak when he left the city, too ii
for change to do him good. The cars
carried him from one point TO another
without any improvement in his condi-
ton, and, convinced that there was
] al 20 IL Il