National Republican., 1885-04-21
LOUISIANA POLITICS.
Racy Personal Sketches OF Peculiar
Pelican state Politicians.

John Slidell sent throc steamboat loads Of |
voters, after thoy had deposited their /.
ballots in Now Orleans, to plaquemino,
and thus secured ] 200 Democratic major F,
ity for James X. Polk at that box. The
politicians are rare birds. Just now things
are in delightful condition with regard
to tho "loayos and fishes in that sugary
state. This is pleasant to Republicans,
who know how Democratic maioritios in
that state ore obtained.
There are two Democratic factions who
are fighting for the spuils. Senator Glib
son, ex-senator Jonas, and Representa-
tive King lead tho silk stockings. Two
Of thom by virtue of their official posi-
tions, tho other, ex-senator Jonas, he
cause of his power as member of the
national committee.
Tho "ring" and the roughs compose the
other faction. Senator j. b. Eustis. n
fossil Democrat Of Jacksonian principles,
with modern attachments, is the leader
OF this faction With him is Gov. Me-
/ Emery, the temperance governor, who is
/ not held altogether guiltless of the blood
/ of hundreds whose bones whiten tho
swamps Of Louisiana, their only crime
/ having been color and tho desire to vote
| tho Republican ticket. +. n. Ogden,
/ former commander Of the White League,
| is named as the cNecutive-the arm of
| this combination. He was formerly OPP
posed by tho ring and beaten for the
/ nomination for governor, bu State Treas
urcr Burke, who IL the brains Of this conf
bination and its actual head, saw tho
necessity for securing Ogden, and he was
secured. Burke was Republican in
Warmoth's day, and as late as 1877
sworo before committee of Congress to
that fact. But Burke is smart and, like
Daniel at tho feast Of Belshszzar, could
translate the handwriting on the wall, so
that ho became a Democrat and stepped
up to tho head Of the ring.
Ono of Burko's most efficient aids Is
Donnie" Houston, as he is popularity
known. He began his career in Louis.
lana as Republican because the Rspub-
licans were on top. An accident, fatal to
the man who was in his way opened the
way Tor Houston's promotion, and he
went rapidly to the front. Burke showed
Donnie the green pastures that lay on
the Democratic side Of the fence, and ho
slipped over, influence, pistol, and all.
lie was rewarded with one Of tho most
lucrative offices in tho state Houston
was mado strong by the sudden violent
deSth Of an anti-rinR Demoerat in a
primary election row, and Wa acknowl-
edged "a boss" "DunnieyJwas managor
for Eustis, and elected Inn to tho Senate
over Jonas and Chief y5ustice Manning,
and is power. Lasfyear when Hous-
ton went to New I5fk, he carried let
ter to Manning fLen Burke, which closed
by referring to MIN as "the best danger
line man In Louisiana" and that Is the
highest praI that can be given man in
that latitpde. Houston is now here,
having bftn summoned by the principal
leaderXto assist In securing certain offices.
Th9fing want Gen. Ogden for collector
of ne port of New Orleans They want
LAfry O'D0nnell rs United States district
aRtorney, and wanted G. G. Cordil as
3hayal officer and failed to get him, and
they want Ealer, Houston's brother-in-
, law, as supervising inspector of steam
boilers for the tenth district, though he
Is not an engineer but tirs.-class Missis-
sippi river pilot, whose only skill as a
mechanic is to pull tho Ego ahead" and
! backing" bells and turn the wheel in tho
pilot house.
Gibson and Jonas, who represent tho
intelligence and wealth of Louisiana,
succeeded in having Kernochan appointed
naval officer. He is gentleman of good
standing. and this alarmed Eustis and
Burke, so they sent for "the best man
on the danger line in Louisiana" and
Donnie" is here. Cordell, whom Eustis
wanted appointed, used TO train with the
Republicans, and the reason he is pushed
for this office is because Of his skill as n
counter After he "jined tho cavalry"
, he succeeded in counting up 5000 Demo-
cratic majority in Teusas parish, though
it has about that much Republican ma
, jority. .,i'|. ua..
Larry O'Donnefl was an active suppor-
ter Of Hayes in 1876 clerk to the board
Of election supervisors of Plaquemino
parish, and If the testimony on page 800,
, of the fifth part of Miss. Doc. "a, second
session, 4lth Congress, is to believed,
would be a very valuable man to the
ring rs district attorney, Tor his counting
I abilities in 1876 were as good rs those of
{ Cordell. and his services in helping to
count the relormer 1ilden out of the
Louisiana vote entitle him to high cou-
sidertiOn.
The capture of tho federal patronage of
S Louisiana is sn absolute necessity for the
: ring. They control the state. They
q count it for the Democracy. no matter
how 1t votes, and they have promised to re.
ward their followers, the fellows who dc
; the dirty work. TO do this they must
n have the federal Offices and that will en-
h able them to carry the state for theiI
f own men in the state election.
- Tho legislature Of Louisiana holds fouI
years, and the one to be elected this yeai
= selects the successors of both Gibson anC
: Eustis in tho United States Senate
G Hence the efforts of the latter to got hi
: men in Office. Maj. Burke has his eyt
on Gibson's seat, and wants friend Il
succeed him as state treasurer when hI
Il retires from that Office.
+ These facts account for the struggl,
q that is being made, and the necessity io
:, the services of tho best man on tn,
, danger line" and also for the postpone
n ment of the "trip TO New Orleans will
l. the journalists and turning them over t,
# Maj. PangbOrn, while Burke remained
IL here, ro-enlorced by Houston, to max
u another eiiort-a long and strong pull TO
~ the Offices.
Burke's kilograms to w. f. c. at tn
IS Republican convention in Chicago, an
10 the letters written at his suggestion u
I. the same time, ought to be in the hand
of tho President, and possibly they vii
= be soon, in which event the ring vii
probably be shown to back seat.