St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-03-29
TO the ST. Landry Democrat.

Mr.. EDITOR:
In its last issue, the Washington Ar
gus calls the Independents to account
for not having any platform. As one
of the nominees of the independent
Democrats, | say, without any heslta-
ton whatever, that have most I'M
equiyocal aud decided platform. | have
accepted their nomination, as one of the
candidates for Representative of St.
Landry in the General Assembly; and
nv fellow citizens have right to know
nv views on the important questions
that ought to be brought up for cOnsid-
Grafton, in the next session of our Leg
| islature.
II / am houored by the voters of st.
LANDRY, in being chosen as one of their
REPRESENTATIVES, honestly pledge my
self to the support of the following
measures. by my vote, by my voice, and
with all the strength at my command.
1st. ] advocate the repeal of the OBJ
iectionable features of the present cleo
| ti0n law such as relate to a Returning
officer, and to printed ballots on special
| paper.
end. urge the immediate repeal of
| the Act empowering the Governor to
appoint Police Jurors, &c. !; and favor
1 Cs
rectiDg an early election of Police Jul
| rors by the qualified electors of each
| Parish.
| 3rd, / favor the repeal of the annoy
ing and expensive laws regulating the
| inspection of weights and measures.
| 4th. / maintain that the labor of the
penitentiary convicts should not be let
ont to any individual for private gain.
/ wish to see this labor, SO utilized as
to protect, as far as possible, our I'M
! fortunate citizens subject to overflow !;
or else, so used, as to reimburse the tax
PAYERS, who have borne the expenses of
/ The convictions. Convicts are human
! beings, and should be SO treated. l
4 shall support any good law, on this sub
ject, within the above limits.
stu. ] am heartily in favor of an
equitable law regulating freights and
fares on all Railroads within the State !;
and also a law defining the liabilities
OF Railroads for damages to persons, or
stock, or lands, or to other property.
9th. | believe the Louisiana State
/ Lottery Co, has an evil influence
i both morally and politically. | favor
the repeal of its charter. Failing in
/ this, [ would see it restricted within the
narrowest bounds.
9TH. | distinctly pledge myself to OPP
/ pose all other m0nOpolies, under any
guise whatever.
| 9th. | advocate the remodeling and
| simplifying Of our present school laws
am fully opposed to the diversion of
! any of the common school funds for the
support of universities and colleges
| 1t is my belief, that the main body of
our citizens favor the increase of the
common school funds, i'm order that the
sessions of our public schools may be
prolonged, and that the teachers may be
paid living salaries. j think it but just
that the funds levied for schools should
be expended, as nearly as possible, in the
parishes or even in the wards, where
raised.
In conclusion, will say that St. Lam
dry has been my home from birth, Tex
pect always to live here, and once TO
die here. The interests of the people of
this parish are my interests. serve
no one man, or any set of men hut
am free to battle, for the rights of all
the people, and to strive for their hap
piness and material prosperity.
The regular democratic nominees for
the General Assembly seem to have no
platform. They have not even public
ly pledged themselves to follow the in
strnctiOns of their convention.
Wherefore, gentlemen, are you silent.
Respectfully.
G.. G. SwAYZE.
Opelousas, March IS, 1884.