St. Landry democrat., 1885-05-09
LOUISIANA POLITICS.
RACY PERSONAL SKETCHES OF PELICAN
STATE POLITICIANS.

The politics OF the fencan otate
have always been peculiar, since
the DAYS when John Slidell sent
three Steamboat loads of voters,
after they had deposited ther bal
lots in New Orleans, to Plaque
mine. and thus secured 1900 Dem
ocratic majority for James K. Polk
at that box. The politicians are rare
birds. Just now things are ip a de-
lightful condition in regard to the
"foaves and fishes" in that sugary
state this is pleasant to republicans,
who know how Democratic majori-
ties in that State are obtained.
There are two Democratic fac
tions who are fighting for the spoils.
Senator Gibson, ex-senator Jonas
and Representative King lead the
silk stockings. Two of them by vir-
tue Of their official positions, the
other, ex-senator Jonas, because OF
his power as member OF the ma
tional committee.
The "ring' and the roughs COM
pose the other faction. Senator
J. B. Eustis, a fossil Democrat OF
Jacksonian principles, with modern
attachments is the leader OF this
faction With him is Gov. McEnery,
the temperance Governor, who is
not held altogether guiltless OF the
blood of hundreds whose bones
whiten the swamps of Louisiana,
their only crime being color and
the desire to vote the Republican
ticket. r. N. Ogden, former COM
mander Of the White League, is
named as the Executive-the arm
Of this combination. He was former
" opposed by the ring beaten
for the nomination for Governor,
but State Treasurer Burke, who IS
the brains of this combination and
it's actual head, saw the necessity
for securing Ogden, and he was Sc
cured. Burke was Republican IN
Warmoth's day, and as late as 1877
swore before a committee Of Con
gress to that fact. But Burke is
Smart, and like Daniel at the feast
of Belshazzar, could translate the
handwriting on the wall, so that he
became a Democrat and stepped up
to the head Of the ring.
One of Burke S most efficient aids
is Jimmie" Houston, as he is popu-
larly known. He began his career
IN Louisville as Republican be-
cause the Republicans were on top.
An accident, fatal to the man who
was in his way, opened the way for
Houston's promotion, and he went
rapidly to the front. Burke showed
Jimmie" the green pastures that
lay on the Democratic side OF the
fence, and he slipped over, influence,
pistol and all. He was rewarded
with one of the most lucrative Of
fees in the State. Houston was
made strong by the sudden violent
death of an anti-ring Democrat In a
primary election row, and was ac-
knowledged "a boss 'Jimmie"
was manager for Eustis, and elected
him to the Senate over Jonas and
Chief Justice Manning, and is a pow
or. Last year, when Houston went
to New York, he carried a letter to
Manning from Burke, which closed
by referring to him as 'the best dan
ger-line man in Louisiana" and
chat is the highest praise that can be
given a man in that latitude. Hous-
ton is now here, having been sum-
moned by the principle leaders to
assist in securing certain Offices.
The ring want Gen. Ogden for col
Iector Of the port Of New Orleans.
They want Larry 10, ,Donnell as
United States District Attorney, and
wanted G. G. Cordell as Naval Off
Ger, 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
frst-class Mississippi River pilot,
whose only skill as a mechanic is to
pull the ''go-ahead" and backing"
bells and turn the wheel in the pilot
house.
Gibson and Jonas, who represent
the intelligence and wealth of Loui-
siana, succeeded in having Keno-
chan appointed Naval Officer. He