The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-04-14
A CARD.
To my Fellow Citizens Of ouachita

70 my Fellow Citizens Of Ouachita
Parish:
But for the fact that the course
which I saw fit to pursue on one or
two occasions during the present poll
tical contest in this parish and which
If unexplained and being coupled with
some mistatements of facts in the
cards of Judge Garrett and Mr.. Benoit
In the Bulletin of this week would
perhaps induce the uDprejudiced rea-
der to conclude that I, or my friends
had sought to promote my interest at
the sacrifice of our cause or of its res
gular nominees, ] would not make
this public defense, but for answer to
the imputation of unfairness which have
In these communications been sought to
put upon me, rely upon my character
aud the record of my life in my inter-
course with my fellow uen, for IAN
honorable vindication.
The cause which We had espoused
and for which from the time of its in
ception have honestly, earnestly ana
energeticaiiy fabored, and 10 which
only \ few days ago was held out the
promise of success, Ia for time at
least lost. A brief review OF the Incl
dents OF the campaign which I propose
to make, and in which ask the rea-
der to kindly follow me, may show
that it is the purpose of these cards, at
the expense Of my good ratne, to shit
from those who are chargeabie with
our defeat, the responsibility therefor.
AT a time when the campaign was
progressing satisfactorily to US, without
the advice or approval of our Exccu-
tive Committee, the gentlemen whom
we had nominated, submitted through
the press proposition to the other
side which resulted in our committee
being confronted with the counter
proposition to refer our differences to
card Judge Garrett states nihe resolu-
ton accepting the proposition to arbi-
trate was offered by Mr.. ID. NJ. Shoiars
and unanimously adopted by the COM
nittee" but be did not state the very
material fact, that I, as did every
other member of the committee, ap-
proved the compromise, and only
Withdrew our opposition after he and
Mr.. Benoit had distinctly aud etnphat
icafty stated that unless the PROPOSE
ton to arbi,rate was accepted they
would at once withdraw from the
canvass. AS it was then deemed idle
to continue the contest without these
gentlemen, and without the aid aud
influence Of their friends, there was
no other alternative but to arbilrate,
aud the resolution was prepared by
me and offered in order that in re-
gular manner might be done that
which they bad compelled us TO do.
At this period in the campaign it is
we'll to bear in mind that our COM
mittee were confident in the belief that
we would elect our ticket, that l and
my friends were actively working for
its success, that l was not candidate
for any Office, and that we were unit
in opposing a compromise.
The action of NIessrs. Garrett and
Benoit in forcing compromise re-
suited in u feeling OF antagonism
springing up against them ON the part
of majority Of our committee. This
feeling did not share and no member
o: our committee, nor can any one else
say, that it was encouraged by me.
That did not share il, is evidenced
by the fact that subsequent to the
meeting OF our committee above re-
ferred to, in discussing with an iuflu-
entail gentleman Of the other side the
probable personnel of a compromise
ticket, Judge Garrett was put down by
me for District Attorney.
AS to the executive session OF our
committee froH, which candidates were
excluded, I not only did not advise it,
bat was not consulted about il and did
not know that an executive session
was determined on until orr commit
tee met and the doors were closed.
The executive session doubtless result
ed from the abuse our committee re-
ceived from our friends for having per-
mitted our candidates to be present
when the important matter of compro.
mise was being considered, and which
they opposed almost to Il man.
Again In connection with the efforts
made by our subcommittee to com.
promise, speaking of the Office of Dis
trict attorney, Judge Garrett says,
"your committee urged persistert!y the
name of d. M. Sholars for the place.
Since Judge Garrett was not present,
the information unpou which this
statement was based I am compelled
to say is not true. My name was no,
mentioned in connection with the office
until we were discussing the situation
in the presence of the State Executive
Committee when in reply to quest
ion from them it was stated by Mr.
Miilsaps that my name would doubt.
less be acceptable to our Executive
Committee