The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-04-07
To The Voters of the Eleventh,
Senatorial District COmpo-
sed of the Parishes of he
ria, St. Martin and
Lafayette.

Being a candidate for the office Of State
Senator have the honor OF submitting
my name to you for your sitfrages. AMI
of soliciting your votes on April 18th
1888. Born and raised in the South a
resident OF this section Of our State for
twenty-three years with considerable and
varied experience in public affairs gives
me general knowledge Of the wants Of
the people.
On general principles believe that
legislation should he in the interest Of
the greatest number Of the people in or
der that the greatest good can be secured
tn the greatest number.
Feeling that every candidate for the
suffrages Of the people should pledge
himself to well defined line of policy
take pleasure in outlining aud p!edging
myself to ,rse all honorable efforts to sc
cure the passage OF laws on the follow
ing subjects if am elected TO wit:
An amendment to the Constitution of
the State giving each parish one District
Judge, and one prosecuting Attorney: the
Parish Of Orleans excepted, requiring
Judges to Keep their courts open for tri-
al Of cases the year round Sundays and
legal holidays excepted, and liking the
salaries OF Judges and prosecuting Oh a
fair basis to be regulated by the pOpula-
ton OF the parishes i'll which they serve.
An amendment to our immigration
laws enlarging the powers and dulles OF
the Commissioner, and adding thereto a
bureau Of Labor Statistics requiring each
assessor to make diligent inquiry and
thorough investigation on all state and
municipal works.
The enactment OF law providing rules
for arbitration between employers and
employed and to enforce the same through
the courts without delays and discrimi-
nations. The passage Of law TO prOhi
bit the hiring out Of convict labor. The
amendment OF the present law on cOrpo-
ratiOns 30 as to include therein trades
unions, orders and such other assOcia
tiOns az may he organized by the work
ing masses to improve their educational
moral and financial condition.
The amendment Of our road laws so rs
to force Police Juries and other authOri-
ties to keep all public roads and high
ways in good condition.
The enactment Of law to secure a sys
TEN Of community drainage.
The passage OF law defining and fix
ing the duties of Sreriffs, Clerks. Justi-
ces of the Peace and COnstables, fixing
their cOmpensatiOns, and providing d
mode by which poor litigants will have q
chance to litigate without having to ad-
vance and pay eXhOrbitant costs.
To amend the code Of practice relative
OF pleadings 50 as to require both plaln.
tiffs and defendants to make oath tC
their petition answer and other pleas be
fore the same be filed, giving preference
to the trial IT cases on prOmiSOry notes
accounts, bills Of exchange injunctiOns
seQuestratiOns and provisional seizures
over other cases.
The enactment of law prohibiting
the sale Of timbered land by the State
to spectators and reserving the same
for actual settlers, lImbermen or man
ufactures Of lumber doing business IN
the State.
The enactment OF q law requiring all
large tracts OF agricultural land sold
under decree Of court to be sub-iiyided
into farms or tracts of not less than
twenty or more than one hundred ana
sixty acres each and requiring such
Subdivisions to be appraised and sold
separately in order to enable small far
mers to acquire homes.
will support with my influence and
vote all measures which may be offered
that are for tile benefit of the whole peO-
pie.
When exercising the constitutional
right 10 advise and consent to appoint
mentments made by the Governor | will
neither advise or consent to the appoint
ment OF any person to office who do not
consider morally and intellectually CON-
petent to fill such Office.
W. R. MERCHANT.
Il. Audibert has just received the finest