The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-04-14
ToThc Voters Of the Eleventh
Senatorial District COmpO-
scd of the Parishes Of lbe-
ria, St. Martin and
Lafayette.

BEING a candidate for the office OF state
Senator have the honor OF submitting
INV name to you for your suffrages, and
Of Soliciting your votes on April lIth
1888. Born and raised in the South,
resident of this section Of our State f0I
twcDty-three years with considerable and
varied experience In public affairs gives
me a general knowledge OF the wants OF
the peOple. A.,
ON general principles l believe that
legislation should be in the interest OF
The greatest number OF the people III or.
der that the greatest good can be secured
to the greatest number.
Feeling that every candidate IOr ihe
suffrages OF the people should pledge
himself to a we'll defined line OF policy
take pleasure i'm outlining and p!edgiDg
myself to use all honorable efforts to Sc
cure the passage Of laws on the f0liow-
ing subjects If | am elected to wit: i
An amendment to the Constitution OF
the State giving each parish one District
Judge, and one prosecuting Attorney: tne
Parish Of Orleans excepted, recurring
Judges to Keep their courts open for trl,
al OF cases the year round Sundays ana
legal holidays excepted, and liking the
salaries Of Judges and prosecuting on
fair basis to be regulated by the pOpula-
ton Of the parishes in which they serve.
An amendment to our immigration
laws charging 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 ana
municipal works.
The enactment of a law providing rules
for arbitration between employers and
employed and to enforce the same through
the courts without delays and discriml-
nations. The passage of a law to prOhl-
bit the hiring out of convict labor. The
amendment of the present law on c0rpO-
ratiOns 20 as to include therein trades
unions. orders and such other assOcia-
tons as may be organized by the work
ing masses to improve their educational
moral and financial condition.
The amendment of our road laws so as
to force Police Juries and other auth0rl-
ties to keep all public roads and high
ways in good condition.
The enactment of law to secure SyS-
tenn Of community drainage.
The passage of Il law defining and fix
Ing the duties of Sreriifs, Clerks, Justi-
ces OF the Peace and COnstables, liking
their cOmpensatiOns, and providing a
mode by which poor litigants will have a
chance to litigate without having to ad-
vance and pay exhOrbitant costs.
To amend the code Of practice relative
of pleadings so as to require both PLAIN
tiffs and defendants to make oath to
their petition answer and other pleas be-
fore the same be filed, giving. preference
to the trial Of cases on prOmisOry notes
accounts, bills OF exchange injunctiOns
representations and provisional seizures
over other cases.
The enactment of law prohibiting
the sale OF timbered land by the STATE
to Spectators and reserving tine SAINT
for actual settlers, lumbermen or man
ufactures of lumber doing business in
the State.
The enactment of law requiring al
large tracts Of agricultural land SOLE
und or decree Of court to be subtliyitet
into farms or tracts of not less thar
twenty or more than one hundred ant
sixty acres each and requiring sucl
subdivisions to he appraised and sol
separately in order to enable small far
mCrs to acquire homes.
| will support with my influence ant
vote all measures which may he Of!ere'
that are for the benefit Of the whole peO
pie.
Wien exercising the constitutions
right 10 advise and consent TO appoint
mentments made by the Governor | vii
neither advise or consent to the appoint
ment OF any person to office who do not
consider morally and intellectually com
petent to fill such office.
W. B. MERCHANT.